Ecstasy, the body filled with Brahman
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां नव्हे गोड कांहीं करितां संसार । आणीक संचार जाला माजी ॥1॥
ब्रह्मरसें गेलें भरूनियां अंग । आधील तो रंग पालटला ॥ध्रु.॥
रसनेचिये रुची कंठीं नारायण । बैसोनियां मन निवविलें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां बैसलों ठाकणीं । इच्छेची ते धणी पुरईल ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Worldly life no longer tastes sweet, for a new presence has entered within. The whole body has been flooded with the essence of Brahman, and the old colors have changed. On the tongue rests the taste of Narayana, and by sitting down in the Name, the mind has been soothed. Says Tuka, I have now settled in my resting place; the fulfillment of all desire will follow.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now worldly life tastes sweet no more, doing what I do. Something else has come to live inside me. The essence of Brahman has filled my body; the old color has changed. On my tongue is the taste of Narayana; my mind has sat down and grown still. Tuka says: now I have settled in my place. The fullness of every desire will come.
What it means
Tukaram reports a change that has already happened inside him. Worldly life has lost its sweetness because a new presence has moved in and taken its place. He describes it physically: the essence of Brahman has flooded his body and changed its former color, and the taste of Narayana sits on his tongue. With this, his restless mind has finally sat down and cooled. He ends in quiet confidence: settled now in his true resting place, he trusts that the fulfillment of all longing will follow on its own.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
More in this theme →