Ecstasy, the joy of kirtan and holy company
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आनंदें कीर्तन कथा करीं घोष । आवडीचा रस प्रेमसुख ॥1॥
मज या आवडे वैष्णवांचा संग । तेथें नाहीं लाग किळकाळा ॥ध्रु.॥
स्वल्प मात्र वाचे बैसलासे निका । राम कृष्ण सखा नारायण ॥2॥
विचारितां मज दुजें वाटे लाज । उपदेशें काज आणीक नाहीं ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे चित्त रंगलेंसे ठायीं । माझें तुझ्या पायीं पांडुरंगा ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
In bliss I perform kirtan, telling the divine story with fervor. The essence of devotion is the sweetness of love. I adore the company of Vaishnavas, for there the grip of time and death has no hold. With even a few words settled rightly on the tongue, Rama, Krishna, the friend Narayana, are present. When I reflect, everything else seems shameful. No other teaching serves any purpose. Says Tuka, my mind has become absorbed right there, at Your feet, O Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
In bliss I sing kirtan and tell the story aloud. The juice of love is the sweetness I taste. I love the company of the Vaishnavas. There, time and death cannot reach. Just a few words sit rightly on the tongue: Rama, Krishna, the friend Narayana. When I think it over, everything else seems shameful. No other teaching is of any use to me. Tuka says: my mind has soaked into one place, into your feet, Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram describes where his joy actually lives: in singing and telling God's story, where love itself is the sweetness on the tongue. The company of devotees is precious because in it the grip of time and death loses hold. Almost nothing is needed, only a few holy names settled rightly, Rama, Krishna, Narayana the friend, and that is enough. Set beside this, every other pursuit and teaching looks shameful and useless to him. The poem ends with the reason: his mind is dyed through and absorbed at Vitthal's feet, so it has no appetite left for anything else.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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