Ecstasy, content without heaven
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मी तों बहु सुखी आनंदभरिता । आहें साधुसंतां मेळीं सदा ॥1॥
देवा कांहीं व्हावें ऐसें नाहीं माझ्या जीवा । आणीक केशवा तुजविण ॥ध्रु.॥
न लगे वैकुंठ मोक्ष सायुज्यता । सुख वाटे घेतां जन्म ऐसें ॥2॥
मृत्युलोकीं कोण धरिलें वासना । पावावया जनासवें दुःख ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझा दास ऐसें लोकां । कांहीं सकिळकां कळों यावें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I am truly content, filled with bliss, always in the company of saints and holy ones. O Keshava, I have no desire for anything in my jiva other than You. I need neither Vaikuntha, nor liberation, nor union. It feels blissful to be born like this. Who has chosen to dwell in this mortal world? Only one who wishes to share in the suffering of all people. Says Tuka, let the world know that I am Your servant.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I am full of joy, brimming with bliss, always in the company of saints and holy ones. O Keshava, my life wants nothing to happen to it, nothing at all except you. I do not need Vaikuntha, nor release, nor merging into you. It feels sweet to take birth like this. Who in this mortal world would still hold a desire? Only one who wishes to share the people's sorrow. Tuka says: let everyone come to know I am your servant.
What it means
Tukaram declares a happiness so complete that he refuses even the highest rewards of religion. Living among saints and turned wholly toward Keshava, he wants nothing more to befall him except God himself. He waves away Vaikuntha, liberation, and even merging into God, finding it sweet instead to keep being born. The one desire he allows is striking: to remain in the mortal world in order to share in the suffering of ordinary people. His only ambition is that everyone should know him simply as God's servant, which he treasures above every heaven.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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