Experience, love past intellect
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गुरुचिया मुखें होइल ब्रह्मज्ञान । न कळे प्रेमखुण विठोबाची ॥1॥
वेदातें विचारा पुराणातें पुसा । विठोबाचा कैसा प्रेमभाव ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सांडा जाणिवेचा शीण । विठोबाची खूण जाणती संत ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Through the Guru's mouth one may gain knowledge of Brahman, but the secret of Vitthoba's love cannot be known that way. Examine the Vedas, inquire of the Puranas: what is the nature of Vitthoba's love? Says Tuka, abandon the weariness of intellectual knowing. Only the saints truly know the secret of Vitthoba.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
From the Guru's mouth you may come to know Brahman. But the secret of Vithoba's love cannot be known that way. Search the Vedas; ask the Puranas: what is Vithoba's love really like? Tuka says: drop the weariness of trying to know with the mind. Only the saints know the secret of Vithoba.
What it means
Tukaram draws a sharp line between knowledge and love. A teacher can hand you knowledge of Brahman, and the Vedas and Puranas can be studied, but none of that reaches the actual secret of Vithoba's love. That secret is not information; it is a relationship, tasted not analyzed. So he tells the seeker to set down the exhausting effort to grasp it intellectually, because only the saints, those who have loved, hold the key.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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