Longing, claiming the bond
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझे विषयीं तुज पडतां विसर । नको धरूं दूर पांडुरंगा ॥1॥
तुझा ह्मणवितों हे चि लाज तुला । आतां झणी मला विसरेसी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझी माझी नाहीं उरी । आतां केली खरी देवराया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If You should forget me, O Panduranga, do not keep me at a distance. I call myself Yours; let that be a matter of honor for You. Do not ever forget me now. Says Tuka, between You and me, let there be no remaining separation; let this bond be made certain, O Lord.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If You should forget me, Panduranga, do not keep me far from You. I call myself Yours; let that be Your honor to keep. Do not ever forget me now. Tuka says: between You and me there is nothing left to separate us. Now it is settled for certain, O Lord.
What it means
Tukaram has staked his whole identity on belonging to Vitthal, and here he holds God to that claim. He admits God might forget him, and still asks only that the distance never grow. His argument is bold: since he openly calls himself God's own, God's reputation is now bound up with how he is treated. He declares the bond closed and final, with no gap left between them, and dares the Lord to honor it.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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