Experience, the small self made all-pervading
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पदोपदीं दिलें अंग । जालें सांग कारण ॥1॥
रुधवूनि ठेलों ठाव । जगा वाव सकळ ॥ध्रु.॥
पुढती चाली मनालाहो । वाढे देहो संतोष ॥2॥
। तुका ह्मणे क्षरभागीं । जालों जगीं व्यापक ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
At every step I have offered myself; the cause is now complete. I have sealed and held this place; the whole world has room enough. The mind moves forward. The body's delight grows. Says Tuka, in this mortal portion I have become all-pervading in the world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
At every step I have given myself; now the work is complete. I have sealed and held this place; the whole world has room enough. The mind moves on ahead; the body's joy keeps growing. Tuka says: in this perishable portion I have become spread through the whole world.
What it means
Tukaram reports the fruit of total self-offering. By giving himself away at every step, the whole purpose has been fulfilled. He has secured an inner ground so firm that the entire world fits within it, his mind carries forward and even the body fills with growing delight. The closing line states the paradox at the heart of the experience: in this small mortal body, this perishable portion, he has become all-pervading. Complete surrender of the little self opens into a self that pervades everything.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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