Longing, waiting on the path
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कळों येतें वर्म । तरी न पवतों श्रम ॥1॥
तुह्मां शिरीं होता भार । आह्मां कैचा संचार ॥ध्रु.॥
होतें अभयदान । तरी िस्थर होतें मन ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे पाहें । ऐसी वाट उभा आहे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If I knew the secret, I would not suffer this toil. When the burden was on Your head, how could I have any interference? If You had given the assurance of fearlessness, then my mind would have been steady. Says Tuka, look, I stand here waiting on the path.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If I understood the secret of it, I would not be worn out like this. The burden was on Your head; what stirring could there be from my side? Had the gift of fearlessness been given, my mind would have grown steady. Tuka says: look, I am standing right here on the path.
What it means
Tukaram is laying his exhaustion at God's feet and quietly handing back the responsibility. He admits he does not know the secret of the path, and says if he did he would not be wearing himself out trying. Then he presses the point that the burden was placed on God's head, not his, so his own effort could never be what carries it. What he is really asking for is the gift of fearlessness, the assurance that would let his restless mind settle at last. He ends by simply pointing to himself: look, I am standing right here on the path, waiting for You to act.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
More in this theme →