Ecstasy, the self becomes Hari
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ध्यानीं ध्यातां पंढरिराया । मनासहित पालटे काया॥1॥
तेथें बोला कैची उरी । माझें मीपण जाला हरि ॥ध्रु.॥
चित्तचैतन्यीं पडतां मिठी । दिसे हरिरूप अवघी सृिष्ट ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सांगों काय । एकाएकीं हरिवृित्तमय ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
While meditating upon the King of Pandhari, both mind and body are transformed. What room is left for words when my very sense of 'I' has become Hari? When consciousness merges into pure awareness, the entire creation appears as Hari's form. Says Tuka, what more can I say? All at once, everything has become pervaded by Hari.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
As I meditate on the King of Pandhari, my body changes along with my mind. What room is left there for words? My own sense of 'I' has become Hari. When the mind embraces pure awareness, the whole creation looks like Hari's own form. Tuka says: what can I tell you? All at once, everything is filled with Hari.
What it means
Tukaram is describing what happens in deep meditation on Vitthal, the King of Pandhari. Mind and body are both transformed, and words fail, because the very 'I' that would speak has dissolved into Hari. When his awareness merges with pure consciousness, the whole world appears as nothing but Hari's form. He ends by admitting that this state is beyond report: in a single moment, everything is steeped in Hari.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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