Autobiography, stripped bare and calling it good
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाला हा डांगोरा । मुखीं लहानाचे थोरा ॥1॥
नागविलों जनाचारीं । कोणी बैसों नेदी दारी ॥ध्रु.॥
संचिताचा ठेवा। आतां आला तैसा घ्यावा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देवें । ह्मणों केलें हें बरवें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A proclamation has been made from every small and great mouth: I have been stripped bare by worldly convention, and no one lets me sit at their door. The treasure of destiny must now be accepted as it comes. Says Tuka, God has done this, and let us call it good.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The cry has gone out, in every mouth, small and great. I have been stripped bare by the ways of the world; no one lets me sit at their door. The store of my destiny must now be taken just as it comes. Tuka says: God has done this, and let us call it good.
What it means
Tukaram speaks of public disgrace. Word has spread from every mouth, high and low, that worldly custom has left him with nothing, and no one will even let him sit at their doorstep. He accepts what destiny has stored up for him exactly as it arrives, without bargaining. The turn comes in the last line: since God is the one who has done this, he chooses to call it good. The verse takes ruin and reads it as God's own work, and so as blessing.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →