Ecstasy, heaven brought home
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय उणें मज पांडुरंगा पायीं । रििद्धसििद्ध ठायीं वोळगती ॥1॥
कोण पाहे सुखा नासिवंताकडे । तृष्णेचें बापुडें नहों आह्मी ॥ध्रु.॥
स्वर्गसुखें आह्मीं केलीं पावटणी । पापपुण्यें दोन्ही उलंडिलीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे घरीं आणिलें वैकुंठ । वसविली पेठ वैष्णवांची ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What am I lacking at the feet of Panduranga? All powers and perfections wait upon me there. Who would look toward perishable pleasures? We are not the wretches of craving. We have made heavenly joys our stepping-stones and vaulted beyond both sin and merit. Says Tuka, we have brought Vaikuntha into our very home and established a settlement of Vaishnavas.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What do I lack at Panduranga's feet? All powers and perfections wait upon me there. Who would look toward pleasures that perish? We are not the wretches of craving. We have made the joys of heaven our stepping-stones, and stepped over both sin and merit alike. Tuka says: we have brought Vaikuntha into our own home and settled a whole market town of Vaishnavas.
What it means
Tukaram says that at Vitthal's feet he lacks nothing, for every power and perfection already serves him there. He refuses perishable pleasures and denies being one of craving's wretches. Then he raises the claim higher: even the joys of heaven are only a stair he steps on, and he has stepped clean over both sin and merit, beyond the whole bargain of reward and punishment. The end is bold: Vaikuntha, God's own abode, has been brought into his very home, and around it a whole settlement of devotees has grown up.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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