Nature of God, kin of the lowly
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अंतरींची घेतो गोडी । पाहे जोडी भावाची ॥१॥
देव सोयरा देव सोयरा । देव सोयरा दीनाचा ॥ध्रु.॥
आपुल्या वैभवें । शृंगारावें निर्मळ ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे जेवी सवें । प्रेम द्यावें प्रीतीचें ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He savors the sweetness within and seeks the companionship of devotion. God is kinsman, God is kinsman, God is kinsman of the lowly. With His own splendor He adorns the pure. Tuka says: He dines alongside them. One should give the love of affection.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He tastes the sweetness that is inside you, and looks for the bond of real devotion. God is your kin. God is your kin. God is the kin of the lowliest. With his own splendor he dresses and adorns the pure of heart. Tuka says: he sits and eats beside them. So give him the love that comes from real affection.
What it means
The heart of Tukaram's picture of God: not a distant judge but a kinsman, and above all the kinsman of the lowly, the people the world overlooks. God is not impressed by show; he tastes the sweetness within and wants only true devotion. He clothes the pure-hearted in his own glory and sits down to eat at their side, the most intimate, domestic sign of belonging. The instruction that follows is simple: since God comes this close, meet him with real affection, the love of family, not formal worship.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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