Devotion, the Lord who comes running
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मी दास तयांचा जयां चाड नाहीं । सुखदुःख दोहीं विरहित ॥1॥
राहिलासे उभा भीवरेच्या तीरीं । कट दोहीं करीं धरोनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
नवल काय तरी पाचारितां पावे । न स्मरत धांवे भक्तकाजा ॥2॥
सर्व भार माझा त्यासी आहे चिंता । तो चि माझा दाता स्वहिताचा ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे त्यासी गाईन मी गीतीं । आणीक तें चित्तीं न धरीं कांहीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I am the servant of those who have no wants, who are free from both joy and sorrow. He stands on the bank of the Bhima river, hands resting on His hips. Is it any wonder that He comes when called, that He rushes unbidden to serve His devotees? All my burden and all my concern rest with Him. He alone is the giver of my true welfare. Says Tuka, I shall sing to Him in my songs and hold nothing else in my mind.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I am the servant of those who want nothing, who are free of both joy and sorrow. He stands upright on the bank of the Bhima, both hands resting on His hips. Is it any wonder? Called, He comes; without even being remembered, He runs to do His devotee's work. All my weight, all my worry, rests with Him; He alone is the giver of my true good. Tuka says: I will sing to Him in my songs, and hold nothing else in my heart.
What it means
Tukaram first names whom he truly serves: the desireless ones who have risen above both pleasure and pain. Then he turns to the Lord himself, standing on the bank of the Bhima at Pandhari with hands on hips, ready and waiting. The wonder he points to is God's eagerness: He answers when called and even runs unasked to do His devotee's work. Having laid his whole burden and anxiety on such a God, Tukaram needs nothing else, and vows to keep his mind on Him alone, singing.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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