God past all measure, cling to the saints
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोण त्याचा पार पावला धुंडितां । पुढें विचारितां विश्वंभरा ॥1॥
अणुरेणु सूक्ष्मस्थूळा पार नाहीं । श्रुती नेती त्या ही खुंटलिया ॥ध्रु.॥
फळांत कीटक येवढें आकाश । ऐसीं तरुवरास अनेक किती ॥2॥
दाविलें अनंतें अर्जुनासि पोटीं । आणीक त्या सृिष्ट कृष्णलोक ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे लागा संतांचिये कासे । ठाव घेतां कैसे वांचा जीवें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Who has found His limits, even after the deepest searching? When one inquires further, O Sustainer of the Universe, there is no end. From the atom to the vast, from the subtle to the gross, there is no measure. Even the Vedas declaring "not this, not this" have reached exhaustion. Within one fruit lies a tiny insect, within it a sky as vast as all the world, and within that, how many trees beyond counting. The Infinite One showed Arjuna within His belly yet more creations and worlds of Krishna beyond. Says Tuka, cling to the company of saints. By taking refuge there, save your life.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Who has reached his far edge, however deep the search? Inquire further, O Sustainer of the world, and there is no end. From the atom to the vast, from the subtle to the gross, there is no measure of him. Even the Vedas, saying not this, not this, have worn out and stopped. Inside one fruit is a tiny insect; inside that, a sky as wide as the world; and inside that, trees beyond counting. The Infinite One showed Arjuna within his own belly more creations and more worlds of Krishna still. Tuka says: lay hold of the company of the saints. Take refuge there and your life is saved.
What it means
Tukaram piles up images to show that God cannot be measured or reached by searching, from the smallest atom to the largest expanse, in the subtle and in the gross alike. Even the Vedas, with their method of negation, not this, not this, finally exhaust themselves and fall silent. He spirals inward and outward at once: a worlds within worlds inside a single fruit, and the vision Krishna gave Arjuna of endless creations held within his own body. The point is not to map the Infinite but to give up the attempt. Since you cannot reach him by your own searching, cling instead to the company of the saints; taking refuge there is what saves your life.
The Nature of God
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