Ecstasy, defiance of Death
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गाऊं वाऊं टाळी रंगीं नाचों उदास । सांडोनि भय लज्जा शंका आस निरास ॥१॥
बळियाचा बळी तो कैवारी आमुचा । भुक्तिमुक्तिदाता सकळां ही सिद्धींचा ॥ध्रु.॥
मारूं शब्दशस्त्रबाण निःशंक अनिवार । कंटकाचा चुर शिर फोडूं काळाचें ॥२॥
म्हणे तुकयाबंधु नाहीं जीवाची चाड । आपुलिया तेथें काय आणिकांची भीड ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let us sing, let us play, let us clap and dance freely in detachment, casting off fear, shame, doubt, hope, and despair. Our champion is the Mighty One himself, the giver of both worldly enjoyment and final liberation, the lord of all powers. We will hurl the arrows of the spoken word, unstoppable and without hesitation, crushing the thorny enemy and splitting the skull of Death. Says Tuka's brother, I care nothing for this life; where my Lord stands, what room is there for anyone else's claims?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let us sing, let us play, let us clap and dance free, beyond care, throwing off fear, shame, doubt, hope, and despair. Our champion is the Mighty One himself, who gives both worldly joy and final freedom, the lord of all powers. We will shoot the arrows of the spoken word, fearless and unstoppable, grind the thorny enemy to dust, and split open the skull of Death. Tuka's brother says: I have no care for this life. Where my Lord stands, what room is there for anyone else's claim?
What it means
This is a war song of devotion sung in ecstatic release. The dance throws off the five inner weights named outright, fear, shame, doubt, hope, and despair, because the singer's champion is the Almighty himself, giver of both enjoyment and liberation and lord of every spiritual power. The weapons are words: the spoken Name and praise become arrows that crush the thorny enemy of obstacles and split the very skull of Death. The closing line, signed by Tuka's brother, shows where the fearlessness comes from. He has stopped caring about his own life, so where God stands no rival claim can crowd in. The mood is bold rather than cruel; the violence is aimed at Death and at whatever blocks the path, not at any person.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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