Longing, claiming what is already mine
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझें मज द्यावें । नाहीं करवीत नवें ॥1॥
सहस्रनामाचें रूपडें । भक्त कैवारी चोखडें ॥ध्रु.॥
साक्षीविण बोलें । तरी मज पाहिजे दंडिलें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माल । माझा खरा तो विठ्ठल ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Give me what is rightfully mine; I am not asking for anything new. You are the one of a thousand names, the pure champion of Your devotees. If I speak without witness, then let me be punished. Says Tuka, my true treasure is that Vitthal.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Give me what is mine. I am not asking for anything new. You bear a thousand names; you are the pure champion of your devotees. If I am speaking without truth behind me, then punish me. Tuka says: my real treasure is that Vitthal.
What it means
Tukaram presses a claim rather than begging a favor. He asks God only for what already belongs to him, insisting it is no new or extra demand, and he leans on God's own titles: the one of a thousand names, the sworn defender of his devotees. Then he stakes everything on his honesty, inviting punishment if his words have no truth behind them. The last line names what he is claiming: Vitthal himself is his true wealth, the only treasure he wants returned.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
More in this theme →