The mark of God, true sight
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कळल हे खुण । तरि दावी नारायण ॥1॥
सत्य संतांपाशीं राहे । येरां भय आड आहे ॥ध्रु.॥
अनुचिया ऐसें । असे भरलें प्रकाशें ॥2॥
इंिद्रयांचें धनी । ते हे जाती समजूनि ॥3॥
तर्क कुतर्क वाटा । नागवण घटापटा ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे ल्यावें । डोळां अंजन बरवें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If you have recognized this mark, then Narayana reveals himself. Truth abides with the saints; for others, fear stands as an obstruction. It is filled with light without cause, spontaneously, pervading all. Those who have become masters of the senses move forward with this understanding. The paths of argument and counter-argument, the pot-and-cloth debates, lead only to being stripped bare. Says Tuka, apply the good collyrium to the eyes.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If you have known this mark, then Narayana shows himself to you. Truth stays close to the saints; for the rest, fear stands in the way. He is filled with light, with no cause, on his own, spread through everything. Those who have become masters of their senses go forward knowing this. The roads of argument and counter-argument, the pot-and-cloth disputes, leave you stripped bare. Tuka says: put the good collyrium on your eyes.
What it means
Tukaram is saying that God reveals himself only to one who can recognize a certain sign, and that sign is truth. Truth lives with the saints; whoever stays apart from them is kept back by fear. The light of God shines everywhere, uncaused and self-existing, and only one who has gained command over the senses can move toward it. Mere clever debate, the endless pot-and-cloth wrangling of the schools, gains nothing and leaves the arguer empty-handed. The collyrium Tuka prescribes is the clear inner sight that the company of the saints, not argument, can give.
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