Experience, mind merged with God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
स्वामीचिया सत्ता । आधीं वर्म येतें हाता । पुढती विशेषता । लाभें लाभ आगळा ॥1॥
करीं कवतुकाचे बोल । परि जिव्हाळ्याची ओल । आवडे रसाळ । मायबापा लाडाचें ॥ध्रु.॥
मनें मेळविलें मना । नाहीं अभावी शाहणा । अंतरींच्या खुणा । वरि दिल्या उमटोनि ॥2॥
नाहीं पराश्रमें काळा । अवघ्या जागविल्या वेळा । देवासी निराळा । तुका क्षण न सोडी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By the master's authority, the secret first comes to hand, and then special gain grows ever greater. The Lord speaks words of endearment, but within them lies the moisture of deep affection, as a beloved child delights its parents. Mind has merged with mind, and the wise one harbors no disbelief. The inner signs have surfaced outwardly. Says Tuka, without depending on another's labor, all moments have been awakened, and he does not leave God's side for even an instant.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By the master's authority the secret first comes to hand, and then the gain grows greater and greater. He speaks playful words of fondness, but within them is the moisture of love, sweet, the dear words of a mother and father to a beloved child. Mind has merged with mind. The wise one holds no disbelief. The inner signs have risen and shown on the surface. Without leaning on anyone else's labor, every moment is awake. Tuka says: he never lets God leave his side for an instant.
What it means
Tukaram describes intimacy with God ripening from a first secret given by grace into a gain that keeps growing. God's words come like a parent's loving teasing of a beloved child, light on the surface but soaked in tenderness underneath. The bond deepens until mind has merged with mind, doubt is gone, and the inner signs surface visibly. None of it leans on borrowed effort; he keeps every moment awake and refuses to let God out of his presence for even an instant. This is the experience of love made constant.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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