Autobiography, the cry of the unaccepted
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जेथें जातों तेथें पडतो मतोळा । न देखिजे डोळां लाभ कांहीं ॥1॥
कपाळीची रेखा असती उत्तम । तरि कां हा श्रम पावतों मी ॥ध्रु.॥
नव्हे चि तुह्मांस माझा अंगीकार । थीता संवसार अंतरला ॥2॥
भोग तंव जाला खरा भोगावया तो । भांडवल नेतो आयुष्य काळ ॥3॥
कोठें तुझी कीर्ती आइकिली देवा । मुकतों कां जीवा तुका ह्मणे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wherever I go, I encounter only loss; no gain is visible to my eyes. If the lines on my forehead were favorable, why would I be suffering like this? You have clearly not accepted me as Your own, and the settled life I knew has slipped away. The suffering I was destined to endure has proven real enough, while time carries away the very capital of my lifespan. Where had I heard of Your fame, O Lord? Says Tuka, why then am I losing my life?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wherever I go, I run into loss. My eyes see no gain anywhere. If the lines on my forehead were good, why would I be suffering like this? You have plainly not taken me as your own. The settled life I had has slipped away from me. The suffering I was fated to bear has turned out real enough. And time keeps carrying off the capital of my years. Where was it I heard of your fame, O God? Tuka says: why then am I losing my very life?
What it means
Tukaram pours out the despair of one who feels unclaimed by God. Everywhere he turns brings loss, his fortune seems written against him, and the ordinary settled life he once had has slipped through his fingers. The stakes are stark: his destined suffering has proved real while time spends down the capital of his remaining years. The sting in the final lines is reproach turned into appeal, asking where he ever heard of God's saving fame if his life is simply draining away unanswered, a complaint addressed to the very Lord he refuses to stop calling on.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →