Surrender, stake everything or stay bound
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सर्वस्वाची साटी । तरि च देवासवें गांठी ॥1॥
नाहीं तरी जया तैसा । भोग भोगवील इच्छा ॥ध्रु.॥
द्यावें तें चिं घ्यावें । ह्मणउनि घ्यावें जीवें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे उरी । मागें उगवितां बरी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Only by staking everything does one forge a bond with God. Otherwise, one's desires will lead one through whatever experiences they dictate. What must be given must be given. That is why it must be offered with the whole life. Says Tuka, it is better to settle the account and leave nothing behind.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Only by staking everything do you forge a bond with God. If you do not, then your own desires will drag you through whatever they please. What must be given must be given; so give it with your whole life. Tuka says: it is better to settle the old account and leave nothing behind.
What it means
Tukaram sets out the cost of true union with God and refuses to lower it. There is no partial bond: either you stake your whole self, or your unsurrendered desires keep dragging you through their cravings. The middle line presses the demand, what has to be given must be given, so hold nothing back and offer your very life. The closing image is of clearing a debt: settle the old account fully, leave no remainder of self behind. The poem treats half-surrender as no surrender at all, and names the total gift as the only way out of being ruled by desire.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
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