Devotion, Vitthal alone is real
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विठ्ठलावांचोनि ब्रह्म जें बोलती । वचन तें संतीं मानूं नये ॥1॥
विठ्ठलावांचूनि जेजे उपासना । अवघा चि जाणा संभ्रमु तो ॥ध्रु.॥
विठ्ठलावांचूनि सांगतील गोष्टी । वांयां ते हिंपुटी होत जाणा ॥2॥
विठ्ठलांवाचूनि जें कांहीं जाणती । तितुल्या वित्पित्त वाउगीया ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे एक विठ्ठल चि खरा । येर तो पसारा वाउगा चि ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Any talk of Brahman that does not include Vitthal should not be accepted by the saints. Any worship that does not include Vitthal is nothing but confusion. Any discourse that does not speak of Vitthal is only futile rambling. Any knowledge that does not know Vitthal is mere empty cleverness. Says Tuka, Vitthal alone is real. Everything else is a vain display.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Any talk of Brahman that leaves out Vitthal, the saints should not accept. Any worship that leaves out Vitthal, know it for pure confusion. Any teaching that does not speak of Vitthal is only empty rambling. Any knowing that does not know Vitthal is mere hollow cleverness. Tuka says: Vitthal alone is real. All the rest is a vain display.
What it means
Tukaram makes Vitthal the single test of every spiritual word and act. Speech about the Absolute, worship, teaching, and knowledge are all weighed by one question: do they hold Vitthal at the center? Whatever leaves him out he calls confusion, idle talk, and empty cleverness, however learned it sounds. The claim is deliberately absolute: only Vitthal is finally real, and every path or doctrine that bypasses him is just show. He is naming the danger of religion that is impressive but God-less.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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