Ecstasy, the fearless servant
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भोळे भाविक हे जुनाट चांगले । होय तैसें केलें भक्तिभावें ॥1॥
ह्मणउनि चिंता नाहीं आह्मां दासां । न भ्याें गर्भवासा जन्म घेतां ॥ध्रु.॥
आपुलिया इच्छा करूं गदारोळ । भोगूं सर्वकाळ सर्व सुखें ॥2॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
These innocent, devout, old-fashioned faithful ones are truly fine. Whatever happened, they accepted it with loving devotion. Therefore we servants have no worry; we do not fear the womb or taking birth again. At our own pleasure we will raise a joyful uproar and enjoy every happiness at all times.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
These simple, trusting, old-fashioned faithful ones are truly good. Whatever came, they took it with loving devotion. So we servants have no worry. We do not fear the womb, we do not fear taking birth again. As we please we will raise a joyful uproar and enjoy every happiness at all times.
What it means
Tukaram praises the old, plain-hearted devotees who met whatever life brought them with love rather than complaint, and then claims their freedom for himself and his fellow servants. Because such trust has shut out fear, the thing people dread most, the womb and another birth, has lost its terror. Rebirth, the engine of worldly anxiety, becomes nothing to flee. What remains is not grim endurance but celebration: free of dread, the servants make a joyful noise and take every happiness as it comes. The fearlessness and the festivity are the same gift seen from two sides.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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