Devotion, the generous Lord
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पंढरी पावन जालें माझें मन । आतां करूं ध्यान विठोबाचें ॥1॥
आतां ऐसें करूं नाम गाऊं गीतीं । सुखाचा सांगाती विठो करूं ॥ध्रु.॥
संग करूं त्याचा तो सखा आमचा । अनंतां जन्मांचा मायबाप ॥2॥
परतोनि सोई धरीं कां रे मना । विठ्ठलचरणा घालीं मिठी ॥3॥
घातलीसे मिठी नाही भक्तिभाव । उदार पंढरिराव तुका ह्मणे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My mind has been purified by Pandhari. Now let me meditate on Vitthoba. Now let me sing the Name in song and make Vittho my companion of happiness. Let me keep His company, for He is my friend, my parent through countless births. Turn your attention inward, O mind, and embrace the feet of Vitthal. I have embraced His feet. The devotion may not yet be perfect, but the Lord of Pandhari is generous. Says Tuka.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Pandhari has made my mind clean. Now let me meditate on Vithoba. Now let me do this: sing the Name in song, and make Vittho my companion in joy. Let me keep His company, for He is my friend, my mother and father through countless births. Turn back inward, O my mind, and throw your arms around the feet of Vitthal. I have thrown my arms around them. My devotion may not be true and full, yet the Lord of Pandhari is generous. Tuka says.
What it means
Tukaram describes a mind washed clean by Pandhari and the simple resolve that follows: meditate on Vithoba, sing His Name, take Him as friend and companion in joy. He calls the mind back from its wandering and tells it to embrace Vitthal's feet, then reports that he has done so. He is honest that his own devotion is not yet perfect. His confidence rests not on the quality of his love but on the generosity of the Lord of Pandhari, who accepts even an imperfect embrace.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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