Longing, the form over Brahman-knowledge
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न लगे हें मज तुझें ब्रम्हज्ञान । गोजिरें सगुण रूप पुरे ॥१॥
लागला उशीर पतितपावना । विसरोनि वचना गेलासि या ॥ध्रु.॥
जाळोनि संसार बैसलों अंगणीं । तुझे नाहीं मनीं मानसीं तें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नको रागेजों विठ्ठला । उठीं देई मला भेटी आतां ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have no need of your knowledge of Brahman; your beautiful form with all its sweetness is enough for me. You are taking too long, O Redeemer of the fallen; have you forgotten your promise? I have burned my worldly life and sit waiting in your courtyard, yet you show no concern in your heart. Says Tuka, do not be angry, O Vitthala; rise and give me your embrace now.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have no use for your knowledge of Brahman. Your lovely form with all its sweetness is enough for me. You are late, O Savior of the fallen. Have you forgotten what you said? I have burned up my worldly life and sit in your courtyard, and you keep no thought of me in your heart. Tuka says: do not be angry, Vitthala. Get up and give me your embrace now.
What it means
Tukaram refuses the highest abstraction on offer, the knowledge of Brahman, and asks instead for the personal, visible, sweet form of Vitthal. He has burned his bridges, given up worldly life, and now sits waiting in the courtyard with nothing to fall back on. So he reminds God of a promise that seems forgotten and presses on the title Savior of the fallen, since he has made himself exactly the fallen one who must be saved. There is impatience and even reproach in it, but it ends in tenderness: do not be angry, just rise and embrace me. The plea is for nearness, not for understanding.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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