Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
जीवशिवाच्या मांडूनि हाला । अहं सोहं दोन्ही भेडती भला ॥१॥
घाली हुतुतू फिरोनि पाही आपुणासि । पाही बळिया तो मागिला तुटी पुढिलासि ॥ध्रु.॥
खेळिया तो हाल सांभाळी । धुम घाली तो पडे पाताळीं ॥२॥
बळिया गांढ्या तो चि खेळे । दम पुरे तो वेळोवेळां खेळे ॥३॥
हातीं पडे तो चि ढांग । दम पुरे तो खेळिया चांग ॥४॥
मागें पुढें पाहे तो जिंके । हातीं पडे तो चि आधार फिके ॥५॥
आपल्या बळें खळे रे भाई । गडियाची सांडोनि सोई ॥६॥
तुका म्हणे मी खेळिया नव्हें । जिकडे पडें त्याचि सवें ॥७॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The game of Hal is set up between the individual soul and the supreme Self; the two cries of 'I' and 'He' charge at each other like rams. One rushes across the line and looks back at himself; the stronger one breaks through the rear guard to reach the one ahead. The skilled player holds the line and guards the game, while the one who charges recklessly falls into the depths. Whether strong or weak, only the one with enduring breath plays round after round. The one who gets a handhold makes the leap; the player with stamina is the true champion. The one who watches both front and back wins, while the one who is caught finds his support crumble. Play on your own strength, O brother, and abandon the crutch of others. Says Tuka, I am no expert player; whichever side I fall on, I stay with them.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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