Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
ऐक पांडुरंगा एक मात । कांहीं बोलणें आहे एकांत । आह्मां जरी तारील संचित । तरी उचित काय तुझें ॥1॥
उसनें फेडितां धर्म तो कोण । काय तया मानवेल जन । काय गा मिरवूनि भूषण । वांयां थोरपण जनांमध्यें ॥ध्रु.॥
अन्न जरी न मिळे तयासी देणें । आगांतुक पात्र उचित दान । उपकार तरी धनमंत्रीपणें । जरी देणेंघेणें नाहीं आशा ॥2॥
शूर तों तयासी बोलिजे जाणा । पाठीशीं घालूनि राखे दीना । पार पुण्य नाहीं त्या भूषणा । ऐक नारायणा वचन हें ॥3॥
आतां पुढें बोलणें तें काइप । मज तारिसी तरी च सही । वचन आपुलें सिद्धी नेइप । तुका ह्मणे तइप मज कळसी ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Listen, O Panduranga, to one thing. I have something to say in private. If my accumulated merit alone could save me, then what would be Your role? When one merely repays a debt, what virtue is there in that? Will the world respect such a thing? Why flaunt ornaments of greatness among people for nothing? If a gift is not given to one who has nothing to eat, if charity is not offered to the deserving guest, if beneficence is claimed only through the possession of wealth and power when there is no real selfless giving, then what is it worth? A true hero is one who shelters the weak behind him. There is no limit to the merit of such a one. Hear this, O Narayana. Now what more is there to say? If You save me, then indeed it is proven. Fulfill Your own word. Says Tuka, only then will I know You.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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