Ecstasy, the blessed day
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धन्य दिवस आजि डोिळयां लाधला । आनंद देखिला धणीवरी ॥1॥
धन्य जालें मुख निवाली रसना । नाम नारायणा घोंष करूं ॥ध्रु.॥
धन्य हें मस्तक सर्वांग शोभलें । संताचीं पाउलें लागताती ॥2॥
धन्य आजि पंथें चालती पाउलें । टािळया शोभले धन्य कर ॥3॥
धन्य तुका ह्मणे आह्मांसी फावलें । पावलों पाउलें विठोबाचीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Blessed is this day that my eyes have attained. Joy is seen to overflowing. Blessed is this mouth, and blessed is the tongue that chants the name of Narayana. Blessed is this head and this whole body, now graced by the touch of the saints' feet. Blessed are the feet that walk this path, and blessed are the hands that clap in devotion. Says Tuka, blessed are we, for we have reached the feet of Vithoba.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Blessed is this day my eyes have won; I have seen joy to the full. Blessed is this mouth, my tongue is cooled, as we raise the cry of the name of Narayana. Blessed is this head, my whole body shines, for the saints' feet touch it. Blessed today are the feet that walk this path; blessed are the hands that shine as they clap. Tuka says: blessed are we, it has come to us, we have reached the feet of Vithoba.
What it means
This is a hymn of pure thanksgiving where Tukaram blesses each part of his body in turn for its share in the moment. Eyes see, tongue chants, head bows to the saints, feet walk the pilgrim road, hands clap in song; every limb is sanctified by being used for God. The repeated word blessed makes the whole body an instrument of worship rather than an obstacle. The arrival is concrete: he has reached the feet of Vithoba at Pandhari, and that contact is what makes the day, and the body, holy.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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