The compassionate saints, blessed in the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धन्य ते संसारीं । दयावंत जे अंतरीं ॥1॥
येथें उपकारासाठीं । आले घर ज्यां वैकुंठीं ॥ध्रु.॥
लटिकें वचन । नाहीं देहीं उदासीन ॥2॥
मधुरा वाणी ओटीं । तुका ह्मणे वाव पोटीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Blessed, truly blessed are those in this world who carry compassion within. They have come here from Vaikuntha solely for the sake of helping others. Their words are never false, and they are indifferent to the body. Says Tuka, sweet speech held close. Says Tuka, expansiveness in the belly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Blessed in this world are those who carry compassion within. They have come here from Vaikuntha only to help others. Their words are never false. They are not bound to the body. Tuka says: sweet speech on the tongue, and openness within.
What it means
Tukaram is praising the truly compassionate as the blessed ones of this world. He treats them as having descended from Vaikuntha, God's own realm, for one purpose only: to do good for others. Their mark is integrity, never a false word, and a freedom that comes from not being tied to their own bodily comfort. He closes with the simple test of such a person: the speech on the lips is sweet, and inside there is a wide, generous openness, with no gap between the two.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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