Nature of God, complete in all virtues
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सकलगुणें संपन्न । एक देवाचें लक्षण ॥1॥
वरकड कोठें कांहीं । एक आहे एक नाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
षड्गुण ऐश्वर्य संपन्न । एक भगवंतीं जाण ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जेंजें बोला । तेंतें साजे या विठ्ठला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To be endowed with all virtues, that is the singular mark of God. In all others, something is present and something is lacking. The six divine glories in their fullness belong to the Lord alone. Says Tuka, whatever you say, it all befits this Vitthal.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To be full of every virtue: that is the one mark of God. In all others, one thing is there and another is missing. The six divine glories in their fullness belong to the Lord alone. Tuka says: whatever you say of Him, it all fits this Vitthal.
What it means
Tukaram offers a simple test for what God is: the one who is complete in every virtue. Everything else falls short, having some qualities and lacking others, so it cannot be God. The six lordly glories that scripture names belong in their fullness to the Lord alone, never partially. He ends by pinning this to a name and face: whatever lofty thing you can rightly say of God, all of it fits this Vitthal standing before him.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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