Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
डोळे झाकुनि रात्र करूं नका । काळ करीत बैसला लेखा गा ॥१॥
राम राम स्मरा आधीं । लाहो करा गांठ घाला मूळबंदीं ।
सांडावा उगिया उपाधी । लक्ष लावुनि राहा गोविंदीं गा ॥ध्रु.॥
ऐसा अल्प मानवी देह । शत गणिलें अर्ध रात्र खाय ।
पुढें बालत्व पीडा रोग क्षय । काय भजनासि उरलें तें पाहें गा ॥२॥
क्षणभंगुर नाहीं भरवसा । व्हा रे सावध सोडा माया आशा ।
न चळे बळ पडेल मग फासा । पुढें हुशार थोर आहे वोळसा गा ॥३॥
कांहीं थोडें बहुत लागपाठ । करा भक्ति भाव धरा बळकट ।
तन मन ध्यान लावुनियां नीट । जर असेल करणें गोड शेवट गा ॥४॥
विनवितों सकळां जनां । कर जोडुनि थोरां लाहनां ।
दान इतुलें द्या मज दीना । म्हणे तुकयाबंधु राम म्हणा गा ॥५॥
गेले टळले पाहार तीन । काय निदसुरा अझून ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do not close your eyes and pretend it is night; Death sits making his account. Remember Rama's name now; seize this chance and tie the knot at the root. Set aside idle distractions and fix your gaze upon Govinda. This human body is brief: count a hundred years, and half is spent in sleep. Add childhood, illness, and decline, and see what time remains for devotion. Nothing here is dependable; be alert, release the grip of desire and illusion. When strength fails, the noose will fall, and the terror ahead is vast. Practice even a little devotion with a firm and steady heart; set body, mind, and attention straight if you wish for a sweet ending. Says Tuka's brother, with folded hands I beg all people, great and small: give me this one gift, and say the name of Rama.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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