Devotion, the boat for high and low
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दीन आणि दुर्बळांसी । सुखरासी हरिकथा ॥1॥
तारूं भवसागरींचें । उंचनीच अधिकार ॥ध्रु.॥
चरित्र तें उच्चारावें । केलें देवें गोकुळीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आवडी धरीं । कृपा करी ह्मणऊनी॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
For the lowly and the destitute, the story of Hari is a treasure of joy. It is a vessel to cross the ocean of existence, open to all, high and low alike. One should recount the deeds the Lord performed in Gokul. Says Tuka, hold this love close, for it is by this that His grace is won.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
For the lowly and the weak, the story of Hari is a heap of joy. It is a boat to cross the ocean of this world, open to all, high and low alike. Tell out the deeds the Lord did in Gokul. Tuka says: hold this love close, for by it his grace is won.
What it means
Tukaram points to Hari's story as a treasure made especially for the poor and the powerless, a joy that costs nothing. He calls it a boat across the ocean of worldly existence, and insists the boat is open to everyone, no rank required, high and low welcomed together. The way aboard is simple: recount the deeds God did in Gokul, keep that telling alive. He closes by naming the means and the end in one breath: hold this love close, because it is love, not status, that wins God's grace.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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