Devotion, the undivided mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां वांटों नेदीं आपुलें हें मन । न सोडीं चरण विठोबाचे ॥1॥
दुजियाचा संग लागों नेदीं वारा । आपुल्या शरीरावरूनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
यावें जावें आह्मीं देवा च सांगातें । मागूनी करीत हें चि आलों ॥2॥
काय वांयां गेलों तो करूं उद्वेग । उभा पांडुरंग मागें पुढें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे प्रेम मागतों आगळें । येथें भोगूं फळें वैकुंठींचीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now I will not let my mind be divided. I will not release the feet of Vithoba. I will not let the breeze of any other's company touch my body. Coming and going, I will always walk with God; this is what I have been doing all along. Says Tuka, if we have not gone to waste, why should we fret? Panduranga stands before us and behind us. I ask for a love beyond measure; let me taste the fruits of Vaikuntha right here.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now I will not let this mind of mine be divided. I will not let go of Vithoba's feet. I will not let the wind of any other's company touch my body. Coming and going, I keep company with God alone; this is what I have been doing all along. Why should I fret that I have been wasted? Panduranga stands behind me and before me. Tuka says: I ask for a love beyond measure. Let me taste the fruits of Vaikuntha right here.
What it means
Tukaram resolves to keep his whole attention on one object. He refuses to split his mind or loosen his hold on Vithoba's feet, and he will not even let the influence of other company brush against him. His one companion in all his coming and going is God, and he notes this has long been his way. He sets aside the worry of having wasted his life by pointing to a Lord who guards him front and back. What he asks for is not heaven later but more love now, enough that the fruits of Vaikuntha are tasted here in this life.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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