Saints, the rare wish-granting one
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कल्पतरु रुया नव्हती बाभुळा । पुरविती फळा इिच्छतिया ॥1॥
उदंड त्या गाई ह्मैसी आणि शेळ्या । परि त्या निराळ्या कामधेनु ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देव दाखवील दृष्टी । तया सवें भेटी थोर पुण्य ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wish-fulfilling trees are not thorny acacia. They give fruit to all who desire it. There are many cows, buffaloes, and goats in abundance, yet the wish-fulfilling cow is distinct from them all. Says Tuka, God will reveal Himself to the sight; the encounter with Him is great merit.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wish-granting trees are not thorny acacia. They give their fruit to all who long for it. There are plenty of cows and buffaloes and goats, yet the wish-granting cow stands apart from them all. Tuka says: God will show Himself to the sight. To meet Him is great merit.
What it means
Tukaram is marking how rare the true giver is. Most trees are thorn-scrub that yield nothing; the wish-granting tree, by contrast, gives fruit to every longing heart. Herds of ordinary cattle are everywhere, but the wish-granting cow, Kamadhenu, is of another order entirely. So too the saint, or God Himself, stands apart from the common run. And the promise lands plainly: God will reveal Himself to the one who seeks, and that meeting is the greatest merit a life can hold.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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