Joy, sheltered by the Mother
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भाग्यवंत आह्मी विष्णुदास जगीं । अभंग प्रसंगीं धैर्यवंत ॥1॥
नाही तें पुरवीत आणुनि जवळी । गाउनी माउली गीत सुखें ॥ध्रु.॥
प्रीति अंगीं असे सदा सर्वकाळ । वोळली सकळ सुखें ठायीं ॥2॥
आपुल्या स्वभावें जैसे जेथें असों । तैसे तेथें दिसों साजिरे चि ॥3॥
वासनेचा कंद उपडिलें मूळ । दुरितें सकळ निवारिलीं ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे भक्तजनाची माउली । करील साउली विठ्ठल आह्मां ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We are the fortunate ones, servants of Vishnu in this world, steadfast and courageous in every trial. Our Mother provides what is lacking and brings it near, singing Her song of joy. Love dwells in our being at all times; every happiness has settled in its place. In our natural state, wherever we are, we appear radiant and fresh. The root of desire has been uprooted; all sins have been destroyed. Says Tuka, Vitthal will spread His shade over us, the children of His devotees.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We are the fortunate ones, servants of Vishnu in this world, unbroken and steady in every trial. Our Mother brings near whatever is missing, and sings Her song of joy. Love is in us always, all the time; every happiness has settled into its place. Just as we are, wherever we are, we look fresh and lovely. The root of desire has been pulled up; every sin has been cleared away. Tuka says: Vitthal, the Mother of His devotees, will spread His shade over us.
What it means
Tukaram counts the wealth of those who belong wholly to God. He calls the devotees fortunate and steady in any trial, because the Lord, here named as Mother, supplies what they lack and fills them with song. With love settled in them and every joy in its place, they need no improvement: as they naturally are, wherever they happen to be, they shine. The transformation is described as desire torn out by the root and sin wiped clean. The poem ends in shelter: Vitthal, mothering His devotees, spreads His shade over them.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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