Devotion, the giver who comes running
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ब्रीद याचें जगदानी । तो चि मनीं स्मरावा ॥1॥
सम पाय कर कटी । उभा तटीं भींवरेच्या ॥ध्रु.॥
पाहिलिया वेध लावी । बैसे जीवीं जडोनि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे भक्तिकाजा । धांवें लाजा लवलाहें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
His title is the benefactor of the world; He alone should be remembered in the mind. He stands with hands upon His hips on the banks of the Bhima. One look at Him plants a longing that lodges deep within the jiva. Says Tuka, for the sake of His devotees, He runs swiftly, guarding His own honor.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
His title is the giver to all the world. He alone is the one to remember in the mind. His feet are level, his hands on his hips, and he stands on the bank of the Bhima. One look at him plants a longing that lodges deep in the soul. Tuka says: for the sake of his devotees he comes running, fast, to keep his good name.
What it means
Tukaram fixes the mind on Vitthal at Pandhari, standing in the well-known pose on the bank of the Bhima river, and names his very title: the one who gives to the whole world. A single sight of that form is enough to set a longing that sinks deep into the soul and stays. The closing image is the heart of his faith: God is not distant or slow but comes running to his devotees, swift to help. He does so to guard his own honor, because his name as protector is at stake.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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