Devotion, worship that costs nothing held back
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझे तों फुकाचे कायेचे चि कष्ट । नव्हे क्रियानष्ट तुह्मांऐसा ॥1॥
कांहीं च न वंचीं आजिचा प्रसंगीं । सकळा ही अंगीं करीन पूजा ॥ध्रु.॥
द्यावें काहीं तुह्मीं हें तों नाहीं आस । असों या उदास देहभावें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझी मावळली खंती । समाधान चित्तीं सर्वकाळ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My efforts cost nothing, for they are merely the toils of this body. I am not a hypocrite like others who shirk their duty. I will not withhold anything on this occasion and will worship You with my whole being. I have no expectation that You should give me anything. Let me remain indifferent to this body. Says Tuka, my anxiety has subsided, and my mind is content at all times.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My efforts cost nothing; they are only the labors of this body. I am no fraud like those who shirk their duty. I will hold nothing back on this occasion; I will worship you with my whole being. I have no hope that you should give me anything in return. Let me stay indifferent to this body. Tuka says: my anxiety has melted away, and my mind is content at all times.
What it means
Tukaram offers worship without holding anything back and without asking for anything in return. He insists his service is genuine, not the empty show of those who shirk; whatever the body can give, he gives it whole, here and now. Crucially, he expects no reward, and he stays indifferent to the body's claims. Because he wants nothing back, his anxiety has dissolved and his mind rests in steady contentment. The freedom comes from the giving, not from any payment.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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