The saints, the true inheritance
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जेथें जावें तेथें कपाळ सरिसें । लाभ तो विशेषें संतसंगें ॥1॥
पूर्व पुण्यें जरि होतीं सानुकूळ । अंतरायमूळ नुपजे तेथें ॥ध्रु.॥
भाग्य तरी नव्हे धन पुत्र दारा । निकट वास बरा संतांपायीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हे चि करावी मिरासी । बळी संतांपाशीं द्यावा जीव ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wherever one goes, one's fate follows along. True gain comes only through the company of saints. If past merits were favorable, no obstacles would arise at the root of the path. Real fortune is not wealth, children, or a spouse. Dwelling near the feet of saints is the true good. Says Tuka, this alone is the true inheritance: to offer one's very jiva at the saints' feet.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wherever you go, your fate goes with you. The real gain is found above all in the company of saints. If past merits are favorable, no obstacle springs up at the root of the path. True fortune is not wealth, not sons, not a wife. To dwell close, at the feet of the saints, is the real good. Tuka says: make this alone your inheritance: to lay down your very life at the saints' feet.
What it means
Tukaram measures fortune against the only thing he counts as gain. Wherever you travel, your own karma travels with you, so changing your circumstances changes nothing; the one real gain is the company of saints. He bluntly denies the usual prizes: wealth, sons, a spouse are not fortune at all. What is fortune is to live near the feet of the holy, where past merit clears the obstacles from the path. He calls this the one inheritance worth claiming, and sets its full price: to offer your very life there.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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