Devotion, the cherished child of the house
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सुराणीचीं जालों लाडिकीं एकलीं । वडील धाकुलीं आह्मी देवा ॥1॥
ह्मणऊनि कांहीं न घडे अव्हेर । गोमटें उत्तर भातुकें ही ॥ध्रु.॥
कांहीं एक नाहीं वंचिलें वेगळें । मुळऴिचया मुळें िस्थराविलें ॥2॥
लेवविलीं अंगीं आपुलीं भूषणें । अळंकार लेणें सकळ ही ॥3॥
सारितां न सरे आमुप भांडार । धना अंतपार नाहीं लेखा ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मी आळवूं आवडी । ह्मणऊनी जोडी दाखविली ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have become the sole beloved child of a noble lineage, both eldest and youngest before You, O Lord. Therefore nothing of neglect can come my way; sweet words and gifts are all I receive. Nothing has been withheld or separated; I have been steadied by the original root. I have been adorned with Your own ornaments and every form of decoration. This immeasurable treasury cannot be exhausted; there is no end or limit to its wealth. Says Tuka, I sing of my love, and so I display the abundance that has been given.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have become the one cherished child of a noble line, both the eldest and the youngest before you, O God. So nothing is ever denied me; sweet words and treats are all I get. Nothing has been held back or kept apart from me. I am settled now in the root of all roots. You have dressed me in your own ornaments, every jewel and adornment. This great treasury never runs out however much you draw from it; there is no end or limit to its wealth. Tuka says: I sing of my love, and so I show off the abundance I have been given.
What it means
Tukaram describes the soul as the favorite child in God's household, doted on as both eldest and youngest, so that nothing is ever refused and only kindness comes its way. He says nothing has been withheld and he is settled in the original root, the source from which everything comes. The image of being dressed in God's own ornaments says the devotee is adorned not with his own merits but with what God lends him. The treasury that never empties is divine grace itself, inexhaustible no matter how much is drawn; his singing of love is simply showing off this unearned abundance.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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