Devotion, the heart over the show
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मधुरा उत्तरासवें नाहीं चाड । अंतरंगीं वाड भाव असो ॥1॥
प्राणावेगळा न करी नारायण । मग नसो ज्ञान मूर्ख बरा॥ध्रु.॥
जननिंदा होय तो बरा विचार । थोरवीचा भार कामा नये॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे चित्तीं भाव निष्टावंत । दया क्षमा शांत सर्वां भूतीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let sweet words not be accompanied by empty affection. Let the inner devotion be truly great. May Narayana never separate from the soul. Then even ignorance is better than knowledge. Let worldly censure come; that is a good sign. The burden of reputation serves no purpose. Says Tuka, let the chitta be steadfast in devotion, with compassion, forgiveness, and peace toward all beings.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let sweet words not be paired with empty affection. Let the inner devotion be truly great. May Narayana never be parted from my soul. Then even ignorance is better than knowledge. Let the world's scorn come; that is a good sign. The weight of reputation is of no use. Tuka says: let the heart be steadfast in devotion, with compassion, forgiveness, and peace toward all beings.
What it means
Tukaram weighs the inner heart against the outward show and chooses the heart every time. Sweet speech with no real love behind it is worthless; what matters is great devotion within. If God stays joined to the soul, then unlettered simplicity beats clever knowledge. He even welcomes the world's contempt as a good sign, since the burden of a fine reputation serves nothing on this path. What he asks for instead is a steady heart marked by compassion, forgiveness, and peace toward every living being.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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