Experience, cleared sight and rest
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कृष्णांजनें जाले सोज्वळ लोचन । तेणें दिले वान निवडुनी ॥1॥
निरोपाच्या मापें करीं लडबड । त्याचें त्यानें गोड नारायणें ॥ध्रु.॥
भाग्यवंतांघरीं करितां विश्वासें । कार्य त्यासरिसें होईजेतें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे पोट भरे बरे वोजा । निज ठाव निजा निजस्थानीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The eyes, anointed with divine collyrium, have become clear. By that vision, all things have been sorted and distinguished. With the measuring cup of the Lord's instruction, I handle the goods. Narayana Himself has made each thing sweet in its own way. When one works faithfully in the house of the fortunate, the task naturally succeeds. Says Tuka, the belly is filled, the burden is properly settled; now rest in your own true place, in your original home.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My eyes, anointed with the dark salve of Krishna, have become clear. By that sight I have sorted out what is true from what is not. With the measuring cup of the Lord's word I handle the goods; Narayana himself has made each thing sweet in its own way. When you work in faith in the house of the fortunate, the task comes right of itself. Tuka says: the belly is filled, the load is set down well; now rest in your own true place, your own first home.
What it means
Tukaram is describing what happens after grace clears the inner sight. The eye salve is the Lord's own touch, and once the eyes are clear he can tell the real from the false and weigh everything by God's word rather than his own appetite. Working in trust in the house of the fortunate, meaning in God's keeping or among the saints, the work simply succeeds without his striving. The poem ends in deep rest: the hunger satisfied, the burden laid down, the soul settling back into its original home, which is God. The unspoken frame is that this peace is not earned by labor but received once the seeing is healed.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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