Humility, God is the speaker
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
संतांचीं उच्छिष्टें बोलतों उत्तरें । काय म्यां गव्हारें जाणावें हें ॥1॥
विठ्ठलाचे नाम घेता नये शुद्ध । तेथें मज बोध काय कळे ॥ध्रु.॥
करितो कवतुक बोबडा उत्तरी । झणी मजवरि कोप धरा ॥2॥
काय माझी याति नेणां हा विचार । काय मी तें फार बोलों नेणें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे मज बोलवितो देव । अर्थ गुहए भाव तो चि जाणे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I speak only the leftovers of the saints. What should a simpleton like me know on my own? I cannot even utter the Name of Vitthal with purity. How then would any understanding dawn in me? I sport with these words in lisping, babbling speech. Let no anger be held against me. What, do you not know my caste? Consider this. How much can one like me say? Says Tuka, it is God who makes me speak. He alone knows the meaning, the secret, and the devotional mood.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The words I speak are only the leftovers of the saints. What would an ignorant man like me know on my own? I cannot even utter Vitthal's Name purely; how then could any understanding dawn in me? I play with these words in lisping, babbling speech; do not hold any anger against me. Do you not know my caste? Think on that. How much can one like me say? Tuka says: it is God who makes me speak. He alone knows the meaning, the secret, and the inner mood.
What it means
Tukaram empties himself of any claim to authorship. He says his words are only the saints' leavings, that an unlettered man like him knows nothing on his own, and that he cannot even pronounce Vitthal's Name perfectly, let alone arrive at wisdom by himself. He asks the listener not to be angry at his stumbling, babbling speech, and points to his low birth as proof that the eloquence is not his doing. The turn comes at the end: it is God who speaks through him, and God alone holds the true meaning and inmost feeling of what is said. The abhanga makes humility itself the credential; the poet steps aside so that the words can be God's.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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