Ecstasy, the secret sweetness
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पसरोनि मुखें । कैसे धालों बा हारीखें ॥1॥
ब्रह्मादिका दुर्लभ वांटा । आह्मां फावला राणटां ॥ध्रु.॥
गोड लागे काय तरि। कृपावंत जाला हरि ॥2॥
उडती थेंबुटें । अमृताहुनि गोमटें ॥3॥
गोडाहुनि गोड । जिव्हा नाचे वाटे कोड ॥4॥
खुणावुनि तुका । दावी वर्म बोलों नका ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
With mouths wide open, how happily we are satisfied. What is rare even for Brahma and the gods has been freely granted to us, the simple folk. Why does it taste so sweet? Because Hari has become gracious. The drops that splash are sweeter than nectar itself. Sweeter than sweet, the tongue dances with delight. Says Tuka, making a sign: know the secret, but do not speak of it.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Our mouths are open wide. How happily we are filled. The share that is hard for Brahma and the gods to get has fallen freely to us, the simple ones. Why does it taste so sweet? Because Hari has turned gracious. Even the splashing drops are sweeter than nectar. Sweeter than sweet; the tongue dances with wonder. Tuka says, making a sign: know the secret, but do not speak it.
What it means
Tukaram is describing the taste of grace and guarding it at the same time. What the highest gods can barely earn has been handed freely to ordinary people, and the only reason is that Hari chose to be kind. The poem keeps reaching for the flavor and failing to hold it: sweeter than nectar, sweeter than sweet, until the tongue itself dances. The last line turns to a gesture instead of words. Some things in this taste can be pointed to but not explained; Tuka signals to keep the secret rather than cheapen it by talking.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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