Devotion, the Name over all powers
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आम्ही मागों ऐसें नाहीं तुजपाशीं । जरीं तूं भीतोसि पांडुरंगा ॥१॥
पाहें विचारूनि आहे तुज ठावें । आम्ही धालों नावें तुझ्या एका ॥ध्रु.॥
ॠद्धिसिद्धि तुझें मुख्य भांडवल । हें तों आम्हां फोल भक्तीपुढें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे जाऊं वैकुंठा चालत । बैसोनि निश्चिंत सुख भोगू ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We do not ask for anything you need fear giving, O Panduranga. Consider it carefully; you already know: we are satisfied with your name alone. Supernatural powers and accomplishments are your chief treasure, but they are worthless to us compared to devotion. Says Tuka, we could walk to Vaikuntha itself and sit there enjoying bliss without a care.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We do not ask of you anything you would fear to give, Panduranga. Think it over; you already know: we are content with your name alone. Riddhi and siddhi, all your powers and attainments, are your chief treasure. To us they are husks before devotion. Tuka says: we could walk to Vaikuntha and sit there, free of care, enjoying bliss.
What it means
Tukaram reassures God that his asking is safe, because he wants nothing God would be reluctant to part with. What he wants is only the Name, and the Name costs God nothing. He refuses the standard prizes of religion, the supernatural powers and accomplishments that others crave, calling them empty husks next to the joy of devotion. By saying he could simply stroll into Vaikuntha and sit content, he claims that love of the Name already carries him where powers cannot. The whole point is a reversal: the devotee holds the real treasure, and the powers are the small thing.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →