Gratitude, the guide who led me home
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पुत्र पौत्र संपन्न भारी । तेणें कृपा केली आम्हांवरी गा ॥१॥
म्हणउनि आलों या देशा । होतों नाहीं तरी भुललों दिशा ।
दाता तो मज भेटला इच्छा । येउनि मारग दाविला सरिसा गा॥ध्रु.॥
सवें घेउनि चौघेजण । आला कुमर सुलक्षण ।
कडे चुकवुनि कांटवण । ऐका आणिली तीं कोण कोण गा ॥२॥
पुढें भक्तिनें धरिलें हातीं । मागें ज्ञान वैराग्य धर्म येती ।
स्थिर केलीं जीं आचपळें होतीं । सद्धि आणुनि लाविलीं पंथीं गा ॥३॥
केले उपकार सांगों काय । बाप न करी ऐसी माय ।
धर्में त्याच्या देखियेले पाय । दिलें अखय भय वारुनि दान गा ॥४॥
होतों पीडत हिंडतां गांव । पोट भरेना राहावया ठाव ।
तो येणें अवघा संदेह । म्हणे फेडियेला तुकयाचा बंधव गा ॥५॥
गातों वासुदेव मीं ऐका । चित्त ठेवुनि ठायीं भावें एका ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He who is rich in sons and grandsons has shown us his grace. Because of him I came to this land; without him I would have lost my way in every direction. That generous one met me and walked the path beside me. He brought four companions along: Devotion took my hand and led the way, while Knowledge, Dispassion, and Righteousness followed, steadying all that had been restless and setting me on the true path. What shall I say of his kindness? Not even a father or mother does so much. By his grace I beheld the Lord's feet, and he gave me the deathless gift, dispelling all fear. Says Tuka, I was suffering, wandering from village to village, my belly unfilled, with no place to rest; then this brother came and removed every doubt.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He is rich in sons and grandsons. Out of that fullness he showed his grace to me. Because of him I came to this country. Without him I would have lost my way in every direction. The Giver met me, the one I longed for; he came and showed me the road, walking beside me. He brought four companions with him, that fine young man. He led me past the edge of the thorns. Listen, and hear who they were that he brought. Devotion went in front and took my hand. Behind came Knowledge, Dispassion, and Dharma. The ones that had been restless he made steady. He set them on the path and brought them to their goal. What can I say of his kindness? No father, no mother, does so much. By his dharma I saw the Lord's feet. He gave the deathless gift and turned away all fear. I was suffering, wandering from village to village. My belly would not fill; there was no place to stay. He came and ended all that doubt. Tuka's brother says: he redeemed me. Listen, I sing of Vasudeva, keeping my mind fixed in one place with single love.
What it means
This is a thanksgiving poem in which the saint credits everything to a guide, the gracious Giver who found him when he was lost. The striking image is the company the guide brings: Devotion walks in front and takes the seeker's hand, while Knowledge, Dispassion, and Dharma follow behind, and together they steady faculties that had been restless and bring them to their goal. Tukaram measures the kindness against the deepest human bond, saying not even a father or mother does this much. The reward is concrete in his telling: he saw the Lord's feet, received the deathless gift, and had his fear removed. The end grounds it in his own former misery, wandering hungry from village to village with nowhere to rest, so the gratitude lands as rescue from real destitution, not abstract piety.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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