राम
गाथा 696Devotion to Vitthal

Single-pointed devotion, Panduranga only

Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram

मराठी मूळ

आणीक दुसरें मज नाहीं आतां । नेमिलें या चित्तापासुनियां ॥1॥

पांडुरंग मनीं पांडुरंग ध्यानीं । जाग्रतीं स्वप्नीं पांडुरंग ॥ध्रु.॥

पडिलें वळण इंिद्रयां सकळां । भाव तो निराळा नाहीं दुजा ॥2॥

तुका ह्मणे नेत्रीं केलें ओळखण । साजिरें तें ध्यान विटेवरी ॥3॥

Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)

English Translation

There is nothing else for me now. This has been decided within my mind once and for all. Panduranga in my thoughts, Panduranga in my meditation, Panduranga in waking and in dream. All the senses have fallen into this single groove; there is no other feeling, no second allegiance. Says Tuka, my eyes have recognized Him. That graceful form upon the brick is my meditation.

We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.

In Plain Words

There is nothing else for me now. My mind has settled it once and for all. Panduranga in my thoughts, Panduranga in my meditation. Panduranga when I am awake, Panduranga in my dreams. All my senses have fallen into this one groove. There is no other feeling in me, no second loyalty. Tuka says: my eyes have learned to know him. That graceful form upon the brick is what I hold.

What it means

Tukaram is describing a mind that has stopped dividing its attention. He has resolved, deep in his own heart, that there is only one object left for him, and that object is Panduranga, the Lord on the brick at Pandhari. The poem shows the resolve spreading until it covers everything: thought, meditation, waking, even dreaming. Every sense has worn the same single channel, so there is no longer a competing desire or a divided allegiance. What was once an effort of faith has become plain seeing; his eyes simply recognize the one form he meditates on.

भक्ति

Devotion to Vitthal

Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.

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