Ecstasy, the mind at rest in Govinda
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
खेळों मनासवें जीवाच्या संवादें । कौतुक विनोदें निरांजनी ॥1॥
पचीं पडिलें तें रुचे वेळोवेळां । होतसे डोहळा आवडीस ॥ध्रु.॥
एकांताचें सुख जडलें जिव्हारीं । वीट परिचारीं बरा आला ॥2॥
जगाऐसी बुिद्ध नव्हे आतां कदा । लंपट गोविंदा जालों पायीं ॥3॥
आणीक ते चिंता न लगे करावी । नित्य नित्य नवी आवडी हे ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे धडा राहिला पडोन । पांडुरंगीं मन विसांवलें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I play with my own mind in joyful dialogue with the jiva, reveling in the formless One. What has seeped in deep delights me again and again; the cravings grow in sweet anticipation. The bliss of solitude has lodged in my very core; the weariness of outward ritual has served its purpose well. The mind will never again be like the common worldly mind, for I have become absorbed at the feet of Govinda. No other concern remains to trouble me; this love renews itself daily. Says Tuka, the struggle has fallen away, and my mind has found its rest in Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I play with my own mind in conversation with the soul, delighting and joking in the flameless light. What has soaked in deep pleases me again and again; my longing grows like a craving. The joy of solitude has lodged in my very core; the weariness of outward ritual has done its good work. My mind will never again be like the common worldly mind, for I have become absorbed at the feet of Govinda. No other worry is left to carry; this love renews itself fresh, day after day. Tuka says: the struggle has fallen away, and my mind has come to rest in Panduranga.
What it means
This is Tukaram describing arrival, the settled joy after long effort. He plays in inward dialogue, mind and soul conversing in a quiet, lampless light, and what has steeped into him keeps tasting sweet, so that his longing itself becomes a happy craving. He honors the outer rituals not by despising them but by noting they served their purpose and led here, to the bliss of solitude lodged at his core. He marks a clear break: his mind can no longer run like the ordinary worldly mind, because it is now stuck fast at Govinda's feet. The close names the gift, no remaining anxiety and a love that renews daily, as the old struggle dissolves and the restless mind finally rests in Panduranga.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
More in this theme →