Saints, the living pilgrimage
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
निंदा हिंसा नाहीं कपट देहबुद्धि । निर्मळ स्फटिक जैसा ॥१॥
मोक्षाचें तीर्थ न लगे वाराणसी । येती तयापासीं अवघीं जनें॥
तीर्थांसी तीर्थ जाला तो चि एक । मोक्ष तेणें दर्शनें ॥ध्रु.॥
मन शुद्ध तया काय करिसी माळा । मंडित सकळा भूषणांसी ॥
हरिच्या गुणें गर्जताती सदा । आनंद तया मानसीं ॥२॥
तन मन धन दिलें पुरुषोत्तमा । आशा नाहीं कवणाची ॥
तुका म्हणे तो परिसाहूनि आगळा । काय महिमा वर्णूं त्याची ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Where there is no malice, no violence, no deceit, no body-consciousness, and the soul is pure as crystal, there all people come. That one is the pilgrimage-place of liberation; moksha flows from a single glimpse. What need has a pure mind for rosary beads? Such a one adorns all ornaments. The praises of Hari thunder from that mouth forever, and joy dwells in that awareness. Body, mind, and wealth have been given to Purushottama; no expectation remains. Says Tuka, such a one surpasses even the touchstone; how can I describe that glory?
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Where there is no malice, no cruelty, no deceit, no clinging to the body, where the heart is clear as crystal, there everyone comes. That person is the holy place where liberation is found; one look at him, and freedom flows. What use are rosary beads to a mind already pure? Such a one is the ornament of all ornaments. The praises of Hari thunder always from that mouth, and joy fills that mind. Body, mind, and wealth, all given to Purushottama, with no expectation of anything back. Tuka says: such a one outshines even the touchstone. How could I ever describe that glory?
What it means
Tukaram paints the living saint as a place of pilgrimage in human form. The marks are inward: no malice or cruelty or deceit, no clinging to the body, a heart clear as crystal. To such a person all people come, and a single sight of him grants the liberation that pilgrims seek at sacred sites. He needs no prayer beads, for his purity is already complete; God's praise pours from him and his mind is full of joy. He has given everything, body, mind, and wealth, to God and expects nothing in return. The touchstone turns iron to gold, but this one, Tukaram says, surpasses even that, and beggars description.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
More in this theme →