Renunciation, the burden laid down
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बरें जालें आलीं ज्याचीं त्याच्या घरा । चुकला पाहेरा ओढाळांचा ॥1॥
बहु केलें दुखी त्यांचिया सांभाळें । आतां तोंड काळें तेणें लोभें ॥ध्रु.॥
त्यांचिया अन्यायें भोगा माझें अंग । सकळ ही लाग द्यावा लागे ॥2॥
नाहीं कोठें िस्थर राहों दिलें क्षण । आजिवरी सिण पावलों तो ॥3॥
वेगळाल्या खोडी केली तडातडी। सांगावया घडी नाहीं सुख ॥4॥
निरवूनि तुका चालिला गोवारें । देवापाशीं भार सांडवूनि ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It is well that everything has gone back to its rightful owner. The wayward ones have missed their homecoming visit. I suffered greatly tending to them. Now the face is blackened by that very greed. Because of their wrongdoing, my body bore the punishment. I had to pay the price for every one of their offenses. They never let me rest for a single moment; until now I have endured that weariness. Each separate flaw has been dealt with decisively; there is not a moment of pleasure in describing all this. Says Tuka, having resolved the entanglement, I walk on, having laid the burden down at God's feet.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It is good that everything has gone back to its rightful owner. The wayward ones have missed their homecoming. I was made very unhappy looking after them; now my face is blackened by that very greed. For their wrongdoing my own body bore the punishment; I had to pay the price for every offense of theirs. They never let me rest for a single moment; until now I have borne that weariness. Each separate fault has been settled, once and for all; there is not a moment's pleasure in telling it all out. Tuka says: having sorted out the tangle, I walk on, the burden set down at God's feet.
What it means
Tukaram is speaking of breaking free from things and bonds that were never truly his to carry. The senses and worldly attachments, the wayward ones, are handed back to their owner, and good riddance. He names the cost without flinching: tending them wore him out, shamed him, and made his own body pay for their faults, with no rest. Now each account is closed for good. He does not pretend the reckoning was sweet; he simply lays the whole weight down at God's feet and walks on free.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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