Ecstatic proclaiming, God walks ahead
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
लावुनि काहाळा । सुखें करितों सोहोळा ॥1॥
सादवीत गेलों जना । भय नाहीं सत्य जाणां ॥ध्रु.॥
गात नाचत विनोदें । टाळघागयांच्या छंदें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे भेव । नाहीं पुढें येतो देव ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Sounding the drums, I celebrate with joy. I have proclaimed to all the people: know this for certain, there is nothing to fear. Singing, dancing, playing with cymbals and drums. Says Tuka, there is no danger; God comes walking ahead.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I sound the drums and keep the festival in joy. I have gone out calling to everyone: know this for certain, there is nothing to fear. Singing, dancing, in play, to the beat of cymbals and bells. Tuka says: there is no danger. God comes walking out in front.
What it means
Tukaram is in the open joy of kirtan, beating the drum and dancing, and he turns it outward into a public announcement. He goes to all the people with one message: do not be afraid. He can say this without doubt because of what walks in front of him: God Himself goes ahead, leading the way. With God out in front there is no danger to meet, so the song and dance are not a distraction from fear but the form his fearlessness takes.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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