Read तुकाराम

नावडे जें चित्ता । तें चि होसी पुरविता ॥१॥

What my heart does not like — that is exactly what you provide.

न करावा संग । वाटे दुरावावें जग ॥२॥

I feel I should keep no company; I want the world kept far away.

सेवावा एकांत । वाटे न बोलावी मात ॥३॥

I want to live in solitude; I feel I should not speak a word.

जन धन तन । वाटे लेखावें वमन ॥४॥

People, wealth, the body — I feel I should count them as vomit.

तुका ह्मणे सत्ता । हातीं तुझ्या पंढरिनाथा ॥५॥

Tuka says: the power is in your hands, Lord of Pandharī.

आह्मी तेणें सुखी । ह्मणा विठ्ठल विठ्ठल मुखीं ॥१॥

We are happy with this: say "Viṭṭhal, Viṭṭhal" with your mouth.

कंटीं मिरवा तुळसी । व्रत करा एकादशी ॥२॥

Wear tulsī at your throat; keep the Ekādashī vow.

ह्मणवा हरिचे दास । तुका ह्मणे मज हे आस ॥३॥

Call yourself a servant of Hari — Tuka says, that is what I hope for.

खावें ल्यावें द्यावें । जमाखर्च तुझ्या नांवें ॥१॥

Eating, wearing, giving — the account is kept in your name.

आहे नाहीं त्याचें । आह्मां काम सांगायाचें ॥२॥

What is and what isn't — our only work is to report it to you.

तुका ह्मणे चिंता । भार वाहे तुझ्या माथां ॥३॥

Tuka says: the worry, the burden, rests on your head.

न देखवे डोळां ऐसा हा आकांत । परपीडे चित्त दुःखी होतें ॥१॥

My eyes cannot bear to see such a calamity; at others' pain my heart grows sorrowful.

परचक्र कोठें हरिदासांच्या वासें । न देखिजेत देशें राहातिया ॥२॥

Where the servants of Hari dwell, an enemy's army should not be seen in that land.

तुका म्हणे माझी लाजविली सेवा । हीनपणें देवा जिणें जालें ॥३॥

Tuka says: you have shamed my service; God, my living has become a thing of disgrace.

काय म्यां मानावें हरिकथेचें फळ । तरिजे सकळ जनीं ऐसें ॥१॥

What am I to count as the fruit of Hari's story — that all people are saved by it?

पापाविण नाहीं पाप येत पुढें । साक्षसी रोकडें साक्ष आलें ॥२॥

Without sin, sin does not come upon us; the proof has come, plain as a witness.

तुका म्हणे जेथें वसतील दास । तेथें तुझा वास कैसा आतां ॥३॥

Tuka says: where your servants live — how can your dwelling be there now?

दीप घेउनियां धुंडिती अंधार । भेटे हा विचार अघटित ॥१॥

They take a lamp and go searching for the darkness — such a meeting is impossible.

उधळितां माती रविकळा मळे । हें कैसें न कळे भाग्यहीना ॥२॥

Throw up dust and the sun's rays are stained? How does the luckless man not understand this?

तुका म्हणे तृणें झांके हुताशन । हें तंव वचन वाउगें चि ॥३॥

Tuka says, "grass can smother fire" — that is an empty saying.

मज चि भोंवता केला येणें जोग । काय याचा भोग अंतरला ॥१॥

He has wrapped this holy life round me alone; what pleasure of his has he ever gone without?

कोणाची बाईल होऊनियां वोढूं । संवसारीं काढूं आपदा किती ॥२॥

Whose wife have I become, to be dragged like this? How many troubles must I haul in this house?

काय तरी देऊं तोडितील पोरें । मरतीं तरी बरें होतें आतां ॥३॥

What am I to give — the children will tear me apart; better they died now.

कांहीं नेदी वांचों धोवियेलें घर । सारवावया ढोर शेण नाहीं ॥४॥

He lets nothing be saved; the house is washed bare; there is not even dung to smear the floor.

तुका म्हणे रांड न करितां विचार । वाहुनियां भार कुंथे माथां ॥५॥

Tuka says: the poor woman, without stopping to think, loads it all on her head and groans.

याति शूद्र वैश केला वेवसाव । आदि तो हा देव कुळपूज्य ॥१॥

Born a Shūdra, I took up a merchant's trade; and this god was, from the beginning, the deity my family worshipped.

संवसारें जालों अतिदुःखें दुखी । मायबाप सेखीं कर्मलिया ॥२॥

In worldly life I grew wretched with suffering; in the end, my mother and father died.

दुष्काळें आटिलें द्रव्यें नेला मान । स्त्री एकी अन्न अन्न करितां मेली ॥३॥

The famine drained my money and took my standing; one wife died crying "food, food."

लज्जा वाटे जीवा त्रासलों या दुःखें । वेवसाय देख तुटी येतां ॥४॥

I was ashamed to the core, worn out by this grief; I watched the business run into loss.

देवाचें देऊळ होतें तें भंगलें । चित्तासी जें आलें करावेंसें ॥५॥

The god's temple that had stood there lay broken; I felt in my heart that I should do something.

आरंभीं कीर्तन करीं एकादशी । नव्हतें अभ्यासीं चित्त आधीं ॥६॥

At first I did kīrtan on Ekādashī; my mind was not yet trained to it.

कांहीं पाठ केलीं संतांचीं उत्तरें। विश्वासें आदरें करोनियां ॥७॥

I learned by heart some of the saints' sayings, with faith and with reverence.

गाती पुढें त्यांचें धरावें धृपद । भावें चित्त शुद्ध करोनियां ॥८॥

When others sang, I would take up the refrain, making my heart clean with feeling.

संताचें सेविलें तीर्थ पायवणी । लाज नाहीं मनीं येऊं दिली ॥९॥

I drank the water that had washed the saints' feet; I did not let shame into my mind.

टाकला तो कांहीं केला उपकार । केलें हें शरीर कष्टवूनि ॥१०॥

Whatever I could give up, I turned into help for others; I made this body toil for it.

वचन मानिलें नाहीं सुहृदांचें । समूळ प्रपंचें वीट आला ॥११॥

I did not heed the advice of well-wishers; I grew sick of worldly business to the root.

सत्यअसत्यासी मन केलें ग्वाही । मानियेलें नाहीं बहुमतां ॥१२॥

I made my own mind the witness between true and false; I did not accept what the majority held.

मानियेला स्वप्नीं गुरूचा उपदेश । धरिला विश्वास दृढ नामीं ॥१३॥

I took to heart the guru's teaching given in a dream; I held firm faith in the Name.

यावरि या जाली कवित्वाची स्फूर्ति । पाय धरिले चित्तीं विठोबाचे ॥१४॥

After this came the urge to make poetry; I held Viṭhobā's feet in my heart.

निषेधाचा कांहीं पडिला आघात । तेणें मध्यें चित्त दुखविलें ॥१५॥

Then came a blow — a prohibition; it hurt my heart for a time.

बुडविल्या वह्या बैसलों धरणें । केलें नारायणें समाधान ॥१६॥

When they drowned my notebooks, I sat down in protest; Nārāyaṇ consoled me.

विस्तारीं सांगतां बहुत प्रकार । होईल उशीर आतां पुरे ॥१७॥

To tell it all in detail would take many turns; it would take too long — enough now.

आतां आहे तैसा दिसतो विचार । पुढील प्रकार देव जाणे ॥१८॥

How things stand now is what you can see; what comes next, God knows.

भक्ता नारायण नुपेक्षी सर्वथा । कृपावंत ऐसा कळों आलें ॥१९॥

Nārāyaṇ never abandons his devotee — this is how I have come to know his kindness.

तुका ह्मणे माझें सर्व भांडवल । बोलविले पांडुरंगें ॥२०॥

Tuka says: all my capital is this — the words Pāṇḍuraṅg made me speak.

कामधेनूचें वासरूं । खाया न मिळे काय करूं ॥१॥

The calf of the wish-fulfilling cow — and it gets nothing to eat. What am I to do?

बैसोनि कल्पद्रुमातळीं । पोटासाटीं तळमळीं ॥२॥

Sitting beneath the wishing-tree, tossing about for a bellyful.

तुका ह्मणे नारायणा । बरें लोकीं हें दीसेना ॥३॥

Tuka says: Nārāyaṇ, this does not look good, in the eyes of the world.

सुख पाहतां जवापाडें । दुःख पर्वता एवढें ॥१॥

Look at happiness — the size of a barley grain; sorrow, as big as a mountain.

नेलें रात्रीनें तें अर्धें । बाळपण जराव्याधें ॥२॥

Night took half of life away; childhood and old age with its illness, the rest.

तुका म्हणे पुढा । घाणा जुंती जसी मूढा ॥३॥

Tuka says, and beyond that — like a dumb ox yoked to the oil-press.

जोडोनियां धन उत्तम वेव्हारें । उदास विचारें वेच करी ॥१॥

Earn wealth by honest dealing; spend it with a detached mind.

परउपकारी नेणें परनिंदा । परस्त्रिया सदा बहिणी माया ॥२॥

Helpful to others, unacquainted with slander; to other men's wives, always a sister, a mother.

भूतदया गाईपशूचें पालन । तान्हेल्या जीवन वनामाजी ॥३॥

Kindness to creatures, care of cows and cattle, water for the thirsty in the forest.

शांतिरूपें नव्हे कोणाचा वाईट । वाढवी महत्व वडिलांचें ॥४॥

Peaceable, wishing no one ill; raising the honour of his elders.

तुका ह्मणे हें चि आश्रमाचें फळ । परमपद बळ वैराग्याचें ॥५॥

Tuka says: this is the fruit of the householder's stage — the strength of dispassion, the highest state.

संतांचिये गांवीं प्रेमाचा सुकाळ । नाहीं तळमळ दुःखलेश ॥१॥

In the saints' village there is plenty of love; no restlessness, not a trace of sorrow.

संतांचिये गांवीं वरो भांडवल । अवघा विठ्ठल धन वित्त ॥२॥

In the saints' village the capital is blessing; the whole wealth and treasure is Viṭṭhal.

संतांचे भोजन अमृताचे पान । करिती कीर्तन सर्वकाळ ॥३॥

The saints' meal is the drinking of nectar; they do kīrtan all the time.

संतांचा उदीम उपदेशाची पेठ । प्रेमसुख साटीं घेती देती ॥४॥

The saints' trade is a market of teaching; they buy and sell at the price of love's joy.

तुका ह्मणे तेथें आणिक नाहीं परी । ह्मणोनि भिकारी जालों त्यांचा ॥५॥

Tuka says: there is nothing else like it anywhere — so I have become their beggar.

धन्य ते संसारीं । दयावंत जे अंतरीं ॥१॥

Blessed in this world are those whose hearts are kind.

लटिकें वचन । नाहीं देहीं उदासीन ॥२॥

Not a false word; no coldness in their bodies.

मधुरा वाणी ओटीं । तुका ह्मणे वाव पोटीं ॥३॥

Sweet speech on their lips, says Tuka, and room in their hearts.

भक्त ऐसे जाणा जे देहीं उदास । गेले आशापाश निवारूनि ॥१॥

Know them as devotees who are indifferent to the body, who have cast off the noose of hope.

निर्वाणीं गोविंद असे मागेंपुढें । कांहीं च सांकडें पडों नेदी ॥२॥

In the last extremity Govinda is before and behind them; he lets no hardship fall on them.

तुका ह्मणे सत्य कर्मा व्हावें साहे । घातलिया भये नर्का जाणें ॥३॥

Tuka says: stand by true action; the one who gives way to fear goes to hell.

आलिया भोगासी असावें सादर । देवावरी भार घालूनियां ॥१॥

Face what comes to be endured with readiness, laying the burden on God.

भयाचिये पोटीं दुःखाचिया रासी । शरण देवासी जातां भले ॥२॥

In the belly of fear lie heaps of sorrow; it is well to go to God for refuge.

तुका ह्मणे नव्हे काय त्या करितां । चिंतावा तो आतां विश्वंभर ॥३॥

Tuka says: what is not done by doing that? — think now on him who holds the world.

कां रे नाठविसी कृपाळु देवासी । पोसितो जनासी एकला तो ॥१॥

Why do you not remember the merciful God, who alone feeds the people?

फुटती तरुवर उष्णकाळमासीं । जीवन तयांसी कोण घाली ॥२॥

Trees crack in the hot season — who gives them water?

तेणें तुझी काय नाहीं केली चिंता । राहे त्या अनंता आठवूनि ॥३॥

Has he not taken care of you? Stay, remembering that Infinite One.

तुका ह्मणे ज्याचें नाम विश्वंभर । त्याचें निरंतर ध्यान करीं ॥४॥

Tuka says: the one whose name is World-Bearer — meditate on him without end.

सोइ†यासी करी पाहुणेर बरा । कांडितो ठोंबरा संता साटीं ॥१॥

For his in-laws he lays on fine hospitality; for the saints he pounds coarse grain.

पान फुल नेतो वेश्येसी उदंड । ब्राह्मणासी खांड देऊं नेदी ॥२॥

Betel and flowers he carries to the courtesan by the armful; to the Brahmin he will not give a lump of sugar.

पर्वकाळीं धर्म न करी नासरी । वेची राजद्वारीं उदंड चि ॥३॥

On holy days he does no charity — he refuses; at the king's door he spends without end.

कीर्त्तना जावया होतसे हींपुष्टी । खेळतो सोंकटीं रात्रंदिवस ॥४॥

To go to kīrtan he feels faint; he plays dice day and night.

बाइलेच्या गोता आवडीनें पोसी । मातापितियासाी दवडितो ॥५॥

His wife's relatives he feeds with fondness; his mother and father he turns out of the house.

तुका ह्मणे त्याच्या थुंका तोंडावरी । जातो यमपुरी भोगावया ॥६॥

Tuka says: spit on his face; he goes to Yama's city to pay for it.

आपटा संवदड रानचारा । दस†याचा होय तुरा ॥१॥

Āpṭā and sauṁdaḍ — wild fodder — become the plume of Dasarā.

मृत्तिकेची ते घागरी । पाण्यासाटीं बैसे शिरी ॥२॥

A pot of mere clay — for the sake of water, it sits on the head.

तुका ह्मणे माप जाण । दाण्यासवें घेणें देणें ॥३॥

Tuka says: know the measure — it is taken and given along with the grain.

पिकवावें धन । ज्याची आस करी जन ॥१॥

Grow the wealth that people hope for.

खोलीं पडे ओली बीज। तरीं च हातीं लागे निज ॥२॥

The seed falls deep into moist ground — only then does one's own come to hand.

तुका ह्मणे धनी । विठ्ठल अक्षरी हीं तिन्ही ॥३॥

Tuka says: the owner is Viṭṭhal — these three letters.

भावापुढें बळ । नाहीं कोणाचे सबळ ॥१॥

Before faith, no one's strength is strong.

बैसे तेथें येती । न पाचारितां सर्व शक्ति ॥२॥

Where it sits, all powers come, uncalled.

तुका ह्मणे राहे । तयाकडे कोण पाहे ॥३॥

Tuka says: the one it stays with — who can even look him in the eye?

नाहीं विचारीत । मेघ हागनदारी सेत ॥१॥

The cloud does not consider: it rains on the dung-heap and on the field.

वर्जीत गंगा । नाहीं उत्तम अधम जगा ॥२॥

The Gaṅgā does not exclude; for her there is no high or low in the world.

तुका ह्मणे मळ । नाहीं अग्नीसी विटाळ ॥३॥

Tuka says: dirt is no defilement to fire.

कोणा मुखें ऐसी ऐकेन मी मात । चाल तुज पंढरिनाथ बोलावितो ॥१॥

From whose mouth shall I hear such news: "Come, the Lord of Pandharī is calling you"?

निरांजिरें चित्त करितें तळमळ । केधवां देखती मूळ आलें डोळे ॥२॥

The restless heart burns and tosses; when will my eyes see the escort arrive?

तुका ह्मणे कइप भाग्याची उजरी। होईल पंढरी देखावया ॥३॥

Tuka says: when will the day of good fortune dawn, when I shall see Pandharī?

कां माझा विसर पडिला मायबाप । सांडियेली कृपा कोण्या गुणें ॥१॥

Why have you forgotten me, mother and father? For what fault have you withdrawn your kindness?

नाहीं निरोपाची पावली वारता । करावी ते चिंता ऐसी कांहीं ॥२॥

No word of any message has reached me — some care ought to have been taken.

तुका ह्मणे एक वेचूनि वचन । नाहीं समाधान केलें माझें ॥३॥

Tuka says: not even one word have you spent to give me comfort.

माहेरिंचा काय येईल निरोप । ह्मणऊनि झोंप नाहीं डोळां ॥१॥

What answer will come from my mother's house? — thinking this, there is no sleep in my eyes.

बोटवरी माप लेखितों दिवस । होतों कासावीस धीर नाहीं ॥२॥

I count the days on my fingers; I am wretched; I have no patience.

काय नेणों संतां पडेल विसर । कीं नव्हे सादर मायबाप ॥३॥

I don't know — will the saints forget? Or are the mother and father not attentive?

तुका ह्मणे तेथें होईल दाटणी । कोण माझें आणी मना तेथें ॥४॥

Tuka says: there will be a great crowd there — who will bring me to mind?

कोठें गुंतलासी कोणांच्या धांवया । आली देवराया निद्रा तुज ॥१॥

Where are you caught up, running to whose aid? Has sleep come upon you, king of gods?

काय पडिलें तुज कोणाचें संकट । दुरी पंथ वाट न चालवे ॥२॥

What trouble of whose has fallen on you? Is the road long, the path too hard to walk?

काय माझे तुज गुण दोष दिसती । ह्मणोनि श्रीपती कोपलासी ॥३॥

Do my faults and failings show to you? Is that why, Śrīpati, you are angry?

काय जालें सांग माझिया कपाळा । उरला जीव डोळां तुका ह्मणे ॥४॥

Tell me, what has become of my fate? Life remains only in my eyes, says Tuka.

कोठें गुंतलासी योगीयांचे ध्यानीं । आनंदकीर्तनीं पंढरीच्या ॥१॥

Where are you caught up — in the yogis' meditation, in the joyful kīrtan at Pandharī?

काय शेषनशयनीं सुखनिद्रा आली । सोय कां सांडिली तुह्मी देवा ॥२॥

Did sweet sleep come to you on the serpent-bed? Have you abandoned the way, God?

तुका ह्मणे कोठें गुंतलेती सांगा । किती पांडुरंगा वाट पाहूं ॥३॥

Tuka says: tell me where you are caught up — how long, Pāṇḍuraṅg, must I watch the road?

धांव धांव गरुडध्वजा । आह्मां अनाथांच्या काजा ॥१॥

Run, run, you whose banner is Garuḍa — for the sake of us orphans.

पाहें पाहें त्या मारगें । कोणी येतें माझ्या लागें ॥२॥

I look and look along that road — is someone coming for me?

असोनियां ऐसा । तुज सारिखा कोंवसा ॥३॥

Though there is one like you, such a shelter —

न लवावा उशीर । नेणों कां हा केला धीर ॥४॥

do not delay; I don't know why you have held back.

तुका ह्मणे चाली । नको चालूं धांव घालीं ॥५॥

Tuka says: don't walk — come at a run.

भागलेती देवा । माझा नमस्कार घ्यावा ॥१॥

You are weary, God; accept my salutation.

मारगीं चालतां । श्रमलेती येतां जातां ॥२॥

Walking the road, you have grown tired, coming and going.

तुका ह्मणे कांहीं । कृपा आहे माझ्या ठायीं ॥३॥

Tuka says: some grace is still upon me.

कमोदिनी काय जाणे तो परिमळ । भ्रमर सकळ भोगीतसे ॥१॥

What does the lotus know of its own fragrance? The bee enjoys it all.

माते तृण बाळा दुधाची ते गोडी । ज्याची नये जोडी त्यासी कामा ॥२॥

For the mother, grass; for the calf, the sweetness of the milk — each is useless to the one who cannot have it.

तुका म्हणे मुक्ताफळ शिंपीपोटीं । नाहीं त्याची भेटी भोग तिये ॥३॥

Tuka says: the pearl in the oyster's belly — it never meets the enjoyment of itself.

आम्हां घरीं एक गाय दुभता हे । पान्हा न समाये त्रिभुवनीं ॥१॥

In our house there is one milch cow; her milk does not fit in the three worlds.

वत्स नाहीं माय भलत्या सवें जाय । कुर्वाळी तो लाहे भावभरणा ॥२॥

She has no calf of her own; she goes with anyone; whoever strokes her gets a bellyful of love.

चहूं धारीं क्षीर वोळली अमुप । धाले सनकादिक सिद्ध मुनी ॥३॥

From four teats the milk flows beyond measure; Sanaka and the sages, the siddhas, are sated.

तुका म्हणे माझी भूक तेथें काय । जोगाविते माय तिन्ही लोकां ॥४॥

Tuka says: what is my hunger there? The mother feeds all three worlds.

नाम घेतां उठाउठीं । होय संसारासी तुटी ॥१॥

Take the Name and at once the tie to worldly life is cut.

नामापरतें साधन नाहीं । जें तूं करिशी आणिक कांहीं ॥२॥

There is no practice beyond the Name, whatever else you may do.

हाकारोनि सांगे तुका । नाम घेतां राहों नका ॥३॥

Calling out, Tuka tells you: don't hold back from taking the Name.

वेद अनंत बोलिला । अर्थ इतका चि शोधिला ॥१॥

The Veda spoke endlessly; this much meaning was found in it:

सकळशास्त्रांचा विचार । अंतीं इतका चि निर्धार ॥२॥

The thought of all the śāstras — in the end, only this much is settled.

अठरापुराणीं सिद्धांत । तुका ह्मणे हा चि हेत ॥३॥

The conclusion of the eighteen Purāṇas, Tuka says, is this one intent.

लागोनियां पायां विनवितों तुम्हाला । करें टाळी बोला मुखें नाम ॥१॥

Falling at your feet I beg you all: clap your hands, speak the Name with your mouth.

कृष्ण विष्णु हरि गोविंद गोपाळ । मार्ग हा प्रांजळ वैकुंठीचा ॥२॥

Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu, Hari, Govinda, Gopāḷ — this is the straight road to Vaikuṇṭha.

सकळांसीं येथें आहे अधिकार । कलयुगीं उद्धार हरिनामें ॥३॥

Everyone here has the right to it; in the Kali age, deliverance is by the name of Hari.

तुका ह्मणे नामापाशीं चारी मुक्ति । ऐसें बहुग्रंथीं बोलियेलें ॥४॥

Tuka says: the four liberations wait upon the Name — so many books have said.

तुझें नाम माझे मुखी असो देवा । विनवितों राघवा दास तुझा ॥१॥

Let your name be in my mouth, God; I beg you, Rāghav — I am your servant.

तुझ्या नामबळें तरले पतित । ह्मणोनि माझें चित्त तुझे पायीं ॥२॥

By the strength of your name the fallen have crossed over; therefore my heart is at your feet.

तुका ह्मणे तुझें नाम हें सादर । गातां निरंतर सुख वाटे ॥३॥

Tuka says: your name, taken with reverence, sung without end, gives joy.

खेळ मांडियेला वाळवंटीं घाई । नाचती वैष्णव भाई रे । क्रोध अभिमान केला पावटणी । एक एका लागतील पायीं रे ॥१॥

The play is set up on the sandbank in a rush; the Vaiṣṇav brothers dance. Anger and pride they have made their footstool; they fall at one another's feet.

गोपीचंदनउटी तुळसीच्या माळा । हार मिरवती गळां । टाळ मृदंग घाई पुष्पवरुषाव । अनुपम्य सुखसोंहळा रे ॥२॥

Sandal-paste and tulsī garlands, necklaces bright at their throats; cymbals, drums, a hurry, a rain of flowers — a festival of joy beyond compare.

लुब्धलीं नादीं लागली समाधी । मूढ जन नर नारी लोकां । पंडित ज्ञानी योगी महानुभाव । एकचि सद्धिसाधकां रे ॥३॥

Lost in the sound, fallen into samādhi — simple folk, men and women; pandits, sages, yogis, the great — all one, siddhas and seekers alike.

वर्णाभिमान विसरली याति । एकएकां लोटांगणीं जाती । निर्मळ चित्तें जालीं नवनीतें । पाषाणा पाझर सुटती रे ॥४॥

Pride of caste forgotten, the castes prostrate to one another; hearts made pure as fresh butter; the stones begin to weep.

होतो जयजयकार गर्जत अंबर । मातले हे वैष्णव वीर रे । तुका म्हणे सोपी केली पायवाट । उतरावया भवसागर रे ॥५॥

Shouts of victory thunder to the sky; these Vaiṣṇav warriors are drunk with it. Tuka says: the footpath has been made easy, to cross the ocean of this world.

आपुलें मरण पाहिलें म्यां डोळां । तो जाला सोहळा अनुपम्य ॥१॥

I saw my own death with my own eyes; that was a festival beyond compare.

एकदेशीं होतों अहंकारें आथिला । त्याच्या त्यागें जाला सुकाळ हा ॥२॥

I had been confined to one place, puffed up with ego; by giving that up, this abundance came.

फिटलें सुतक जन्ममरणाचें । मी माझ्या संकोचें दुरी जालों ॥३॥

The pollution of birth and death was wiped away; I went far from my own narrowness.

नारायणें दिला वस्तीस ठाव । ठेवूनियां भाव ठेलों पायीं ॥४॥

Nārāyaṇ gave me a place to dwell; setting down my faith, I stayed at his feet.

तुका ह्मणे दिलें उमटूनि जगीं । घेतलें तें अंगीं लावूनियां ॥५॥

Tuka says: he gave it, printed, to the world; what I took, I took upon my body.

काळ सार्थक केला त्यांणी । धरिला मनीं विठ्ठल ॥१॥

They made their time worthwhile who held Viṭṭhal in their minds.

कीर्त्तनाचा समारंभ । निदपभ सर्वदा ॥२॥

The celebration of kīrtan, always without pretence.

तुका ह्मणे स्वरूपसिद्धि । नित्य समाधि हरिनामीं ॥३॥

Tuka says: the attainment of one's true form — perpetual samādhi in the name of Hari.

सदा माझे डोळे जडो तुझे मूर्ती । रखुमाईच्या पती सोयरिया ॥१॥

May my eyes stay fixed on your form always, husband of Rakhumāī, my own kin.

विठो माउलिये हा चि वर देईं । संचरोनि राहीं हृदयामाजी ॥२॥

Mother Viṭhu, grant me just this: come in and stay within my heart.

तुका म्हणे कांहीं न मागे आणीक । तुझे पायीं सुख सर्व आहे ॥३॥

Tuka says, I ask for nothing else; every happiness is at your feet.

बरें जालें देवा निघालें दिवाळें । बरी या दुष्काळें पीडा केली ॥१॥

Good that it happened, God — I went bankrupt; good that this famine tormented me.

बरें जालें जगीं पावलों अपमान । बरें गेलें धन ढोरें गुरें ॥३॥

Good that I was humiliated in the world; good that the money went, and the cattle and the herds.

बरें जालें नाहीं धरिली लोकलाज । बरा आलों तुज शरण देवा ॥४॥

Good that I stopped caring what people would say; good that I came to you for refuge, God.

बरें जालें तुझें केलें देवाईल । लेंकरें बाईल उपेक्षिलीं ॥५॥

Good that I gave myself to your temple — and neglected my children and my wife.

तुका ह्मणे बरें व्रत एकादशी । केलें उपवासीं जागरण ॥६॥

Tuka says: good, too, the Ekādashī vow — the fasting and the night-long waking.

बरा कुणबी केलों । नाहीं तरि दंभेंचि असतों मेलों ॥१॥

Good that you made me a Kunbī; otherwise I'd have died of pretension.

विद्या असती कांहीं । तरी पडतों अपायीं ॥२॥

Had I had some learning, I would have fallen into harm.

सेवा चुकतों संताची । नागवण हे फुकाची ॥३॥

I would have missed serving the saints — a loss for nothing.

गर्व होता ताठा । जातों यमपंथें वाटा ॥४॥

Pride and stiffness would have taken me down the road to Yama.

तुका म्हणे थोरपणें । नरक होती अभिमानें ॥५॥

Tuka says: greatness brings hell by way of vanity.

सद्गुरुरायें कृपा मज केली । परी नाहीं घडली सेवा कांहीं ॥१॥

The king of true gurus showed me grace, though I had done him no service at all.

भोजना मागती तूप पावशेर । पडिला विसर स्वप्नामाजी ॥२॥

He asked for a quarter-measure of ghee for his meal — in the dream, I forgot.

कांहीं कळहे उपजला अंतराय । म्हणोनियां काय त्वरा जाली ॥३॥

Some obstacle, some trouble came between us; perhaps that is why he left in such a hurry.

राघवचैतन्य केशवचैतन्य । सांगितली खुण माळिकेची ॥४॥

Rāghav Chaitanya, Keshav Chaitanya — he told me the line of the lineage.

बाबाजी आपलें सांगितलें नाम । मंत्र दिला राम कृष्ण हरि ॥५॥

He told me his own name, Bābājī, and gave me the mantra: Rāma Kṛṣṇa Hari.

माघाशुद्ध दशमी पाहुनि गुरुवार । केला अंगीकार तुका म्हणे ॥६॥

Choosing the tenth of bright Māgh, a Thursday, he accepted me, says Tuka.

नामदेवें केलें स्वप्नामाजी जागें । सवें पांडुरंगें येऊनियां ॥१॥

Nāmdev woke me in a dream, and Pāṇḍuraṅg came with him.

माप टाकी सळ धरिली विठ्ठलें । थापटोनि केलें सावधान ॥२॥

Viṭṭhal set out the measure and held me to it; patting me, he woke me fully.

प्रमाणाची संख्या सांगे शत कोटी । उरले शेवटीं लावी तुका ॥३॥

He named the reckoning — a hundred crore; what was left at the end, Tuka completes.

थोर अन्याय केला तुझा अंत म्यां पाहिला । जनाचिया बोलासाटीं चित्त क्षोभविलें ॥१॥

I did you a great wrong — I tested you to the very end; for the sake of people's talk, I troubled your heart.

अवघें घालूनियां कोडें तानभुकेचें सांकडें । योगक्षेम पुढें तुज करणें लागेल ॥२॥

I laid it all before you as a riddle — the crisis of thirst and hunger; you had to see to my welfare.

उदकीं राखिले कागद चुकविला जनवाद । तुका ह्मणे ब्रीद साच केलें आपुलें ॥३॥

You kept the papers safe in the water; you ended the people's slander. Tuka says, you made your promise true.

दिवट्या छत्री घोडे । हें तों ब†यांत न पडे ॥१॥

Torches, parasols, horses — these do not suit my state.

मान दंभ चेष्टा। हे तों शूकराची विष्ठा ॥२॥

Honour, pomp, performance — these are the dung of swine.

तुका ह्मणे देवा । माझे सोडववणे धांवा ॥३॥

Tuka says: God, run and set me free.

आम्ही वैकुंठवासी । आलों या चि कारणासी । बोलिले जे ॠषी । साच भावें वर्ताव्या ॥१॥

We live in Vaikuṇṭha; we have come for this very reason — to live out, in true feeling, what the sages said.

अर्थे लोपलीं पुराणें । नाश केला शब्दज्ञानें । विषयलोभी मन । साधनें बुडविलीं ॥२॥

The meaning has vanished from the Purāṇas; knowledge of mere words has ruined them; minds greedy for pleasure have drowned the practices.

पिटूं भक्तिचा डांगोरा । कळिकाळासी दरारा । तुका म्हणे करा । जेजेकार आनंदें ॥३॥

We will beat the drum of devotion and put fear into time and death. Tuka says: raise shouts of victory, with joy.

रात्री दिवस आह्मां युद्धाचा प्रसंग । अंतर्बाह्य जग आणि मन ॥१॥

Night and day we are at war — the world outside, and the mind within.

जीवा ही आगोज पडती आघात । येऊनियां नित्य नित्य करी ॥२॥

The self takes blows it never sees coming; they arrive, again and again, every day.

तुका ह्मणे तुझ्या नामाचिया बळें । अवघीयांचें काळें केलें तोंड ॥३॥

Tuka says: by the strength of your Name, I have shamed them all.

वृक्ष वल्ली आह्मां सोयरीं वनचरें । पक्षी ही सुस्वरें आळविती ॥१॥

Trees and vines are our kin, and the creatures of the forest; birds sing to us in sweet voices.

आकाश मंडप पृथुवी आसन । रमे तेथें मन क्रीडा करी ॥२॥

The sky for a canopy, the earth for a seat; the mind delights and plays there.

कंथाकुमंडलु देहउपचारा । जाणवितो वारा अवश्वरु ॥३॥

A patched cloth and a water-pot for the body's needs; the wind tells me the hour.

हरिकथा भोजन परवडी विस्तार । करोनि प्रकार सेवूं रुची ॥४॥

Stories of Hari are my food, served in plenty; I savour them in many ways.

तुका ह्मणे होय मनासी संवाद । आपुला चि वाद आपणांसी ॥५॥

Tuka says: the mind holds a dialogue — its own argument, with itself.

हे चि थोर भक्ति आवडती देवा । संकल्पावी माया संसाराची ॥१॥

This is the great devotion God loves: to offer up the illusion of worldly life.

वाहिल्या उद्वेग दुःख चि केवळ । भोगणें तें फळ संचिताचें ॥२॥

Carrying anxiety brings only sorrow; what you undergo is the fruit of what was stored up.

तुका ह्मणे घालूं तयावरी भार । वाहूं हा संसार देवा पायीं ॥३॥

Tuka says: let us lay the burden on him; let us carry this worldly life at God's feet.

ओलें मूळ भेदी खडकाचें अंग । आभ्यासासी सांग कार्यसिद्धि ॥१॥

A tender wet root splits the body of the rock — to practice, the work yields.

दोरें चिरा कापे पडिला कांचणी । अभ्यासें सेवनीं विष पडे ॥२॥

A rope, rubbing at the well's rim, wears a groove in stone; by habit, even poison can be taken.

तुका ह्मणे कैंचा बैसण्यासी ठाव । जठरीं बाळा वाव एकाएकीं ॥३॥

Tuka says: where was there room to sit? — yet in the womb, room is made for the child, bit by bit.

नाहीं निर्मळ जीवन । काय करील साबण ॥१॥

If the water itself isn't clean, what will soap do?

वृक्ष न धरी पुष्पफळ । काय करील वसंतकाळ ॥२॥

If the tree bears no flower or fruit, what will spring do?

वांजे न होती लेकरें । काय करावें भ्रतारें ॥३॥

If a woman cannot bear children, what can a husband do?

नपुंसका पुरुषासी । काय करील बाइल त्यासी ॥४॥

To a man who is impotent, what will a wife do?

प्राण गेलिया शरीर । काय करील वेव्हार ॥५॥

Once life has left the body, what use is business?

तुका ह्मणे जीवनेंविण । पीक नव्हे नव्हे जाण ॥६॥

Tuka says: without water, know this — no crop will ever grow.

जळो माझें कर्म वायां केली कटकट । जालें तैसें तंट नाहीं आलें अनुभवा ॥१॥

Let my deeds burn — I made all that fuss for nothing; what happened happened, and none of it became something I could feel.

गुणवंत केलों दोष जाणायासाठीं। माझें माझें पोटीं बळकट दूषण ॥२॥

You made me gifted only so I could see my faults; in my own belly sits this stubborn flaw, "mine, mine."

तुका ह्मणे अहो केशीराजा दयाळा । बरवा हा लळा पाळियेला शेवटीं ॥३॥

Tuka says: O Keshirāj, kind one — a fine pampering you have kept up for me, in the end.

उपकारासाटीं बोलों हे उपाय । येणेंविण काय आह्मां चाड ॥१॥

It is to help that we speak of these remedies; otherwise what need would we have?

बुडतां हे जन न देखवे डोळां । येतो कळवळा ह्मणउनि ॥२॥

I cannot bear to see people drowning; compassion wells up — that is why.

तुका ह्मणे माझे देखतिल डोळे । भोग देते वेळे येईल कळों ॥३॥

Tuka says: my eyes will see it; when the time comes to suffer the consequences, it will be understood.

मऊ मेनाहूनि आह्मी विष्णुदास । कठिण वज्रास भेदूं ऐसे ॥१॥

Softer than wax are we, servants of Viṣṇu — yet hard enough to pierce a diamond.

भले तरि देऊं गांडीची लंगोटी । नाठ्याळा चि गांठीं देऊं माथां ॥२॥

To the good we'll give even the loincloth off our backs; to the unruly, a knock on the head.

मायबापाहूनि बहू मायावंत । करूं घातपात शत्रूहूनि ॥३॥

More loving than mother and father; more ruinous than an enemy.

अमृत तें काय गोड आह्मांपुढें । विष तें बापुडें कडू किती ॥४॥

What is nectar — how sweet can it be to us? And poison, poor thing — how bitter?

तुका ह्मणे आह्मी अवघे चि गोड । ज्याचें पुरे कोड त्याचेपरि ॥५॥

Tuka says: we are sweet all through, to each according to the wish he brings.

ऐसे कैसे जाले भोंदू । कर्म करोनि ह्मणति साधु ॥१॥

How have such frauds come about — who do their deeds and call themselves saints?

दावुनि वैराग्याची कळा । भोगी विषयाचा सोहळा ॥२॥

They put on a show of renunciation and enjoy the festival of the senses.

तुका ह्मणे सांगों किती । जळो तयांची संगती ॥३॥

Tuka says, how much can I tell — let their company burn.

वैद वाचविती जीवा । तरी कोण ध्यातें देवा ॥१॥

If physicians could save every life, who would meditate on God?

नवसें कन्यापुत्र होती । तरि कां करणें लागे पती ॥२॥

If vows could produce daughters and sons, why would anyone need a husband?

जाणे हा विचार । स्वामी तुकयाचा दातार ॥३॥

The one who understands this reasoning is Tuka's master, the giver.

पवित्र तें कुळ पावन तो देश । जेथें हरिचे दास घेती जन्म ॥१॥

Holy is that clan, sanctified that land, where the servants of Hari are born.

वर्णअभिमानें कोण जाले पावन । ऐसें द्या सांगून मजपाशीं ॥३॥

Who ever became pure through pride of caste? Tell me that, here in front of me.

अंत्यजादि योनि तरल्या हरिभजनें । तयाचीं पुराणें भाट जालीं ॥३॥

Those born among the outcast crossed over by singing to Hari; the Purāṇas became their bards.

वैश्य तुळाधार गोरा तो कुंभार । धागा हा चांभार रोहिदास ॥४॥

Tuḷādhār the merchant, Gorā the potter, Rohidās the leather-worker;

कबीर मोमीन लतिब मुसलमान । शेणा न्हावी जाण विष्णुदास ॥५॥

Kabīr the Muslim weaver, Latif the Muslim, Senā the barber — know them as servants of Viṣṇu.

काणोपात्र खोदु पिंजारी तो दादु । भजनीं अभेदू हरिचे पायीं ॥६॥

Kānhopātrā, Khodu, Dādu the cotton-carder — in worship, one with Hari's feet.

चोखामेळा बंका जातीचा माहार । त्यासी सर्वेश्वर ऐक्य करी ॥७॥

Chokhāmeḷā and Baṅkā, Mahārs by caste — with them the Lord of all became one.

नामयाची जनी कोण तिचा भाव । जेवी पंढरीराव तियेसवें ॥८॥

Nāmdev's Janī — what was her standing? The king of Pandharpur ate with her.

मैराळा जनक कोण कुळ त्याचें । महिमान तयाचें काय सांगों ॥९॥

Mairāḷa, Janaka — what was their lineage? How can I tell their greatness?

यातायातीधर्म नाहीं विष्णुदासा । निर्णय हा ऐसा वेदशास्त्रीं ॥१०॥

The servants of Viṣṇu have no caste-duty; this is the verdict of the Vedas and Shāstras.

तुका ह्मणे तुह्मी विचारावे ग्रंथ । तारिले पतित नेणों किती ॥११॥

Tuka says: look in the books yourselves — who knows how many the fallen ones who were saved.

विष्णुमय जग वैष्णवांचा धर्म । भेदाभेदभ्रम अमंगळ ॥१॥

The world is full of Viṣṇu — that is the Vaiṣṇava's dharma; the illusion of difference is unholy.

कोणा ही जिवाचा न घडो मत्सर । वर्म सर्वेश्वरपूजनाचें ॥२॥

Let no envy arise toward any living being — that is the secret of worshipping the Lord of all.

तुका म्हणे एका देहाचे अवयव । सुख दुःख जीव भोग पावे ॥३॥

Tuka says: we are limbs of one body; the one self feels its pleasure and its pain.

आह्मां घरीं धन शब्दाचीं रत्नें । शब्दाचीं शस्त्रें यत्न करूं ॥१॥

In our house the wealth is jewels of words; with weapons of words we make our effort.

शब्द चि आमुच्या जीवाचें जीवन । शब्दें वांटूं धन जनलोकां ॥२॥

Words are the very life of our life; with words we share our wealth among the people.

तुका ह्मणे पाहा शब्द चि हा देव । शब्दें चि गौरव पूजा करूं ॥३॥

Tuka says: look — the word itself is God; with words we honour and worship.

अणुरणीयां थोकडा । तुका आकाशाएवढा ॥१॥

Smaller than the smallest atom, Tuka is as vast as the sky.

सांडिली त्रिपुटी । दीप उजळला घटीं ॥२॥

I have cast off the three-fold split; a lamp is lit inside the pot.

तुका ह्मणे आतां । उरलों उपकारापुरता ॥३॥

Tuka says: now I remain only for the sake of helping others.

आनंदाचे डोहीं आनंदतरंग । आनंद चि अंग आनंदाचें ॥१॥

In a pool of joy, waves of joy; joy is the very body of joy.

गर्भाचे आवडी मातेचा डोहळा । तेथींचा जिव्हाळा तेथें बिंबे ॥२॥

As a mother's cravings come from the child in her womb, so the tenderness there is mirrored here.

तुका ह्मणे तैसा ओतलासे ठसा । अनुभव सरिसा मुखा आला ॥३॥

Tuka says: so the mould has been cast; what I lived has come, just as it was, to my mouth.

याजसाटीं केला होता आटाहास्ये । शेवटाचा दिस गोड व्हावा ॥१॥

For this I had struggled so hard: that the last day should be sweet.

कवतुक वाटे जालिया वेचाचें । नांव मंगळाचें तेणें गुणें ॥२॥

I marvel at what all the spending came to; it earned an auspicious name.

ह्मणे मुक्ति परिणिली नोवरी । आतां दिवस चारी खेळीमेळीं ॥३॥

Says: liberation has taken me as her bride; now, four days of play and joy.

आह्मी जातों आपुल्या गांवा । आमुचा रामराम घ्यावा ॥१॥

We are going to our own village; take our Rām-Rām.

आतां असों द्यावी दया । तुमच्या लागतसें पायां ॥२॥

Now keep your kindness toward us; I fall at your feet.

येतां निजधामीं कोणी । विठ्ठलविठ्ठल बोला वाणी ॥३॥

If anyone asks at our true home, say "Viṭṭhal, Viṭṭhal" aloud.

रामकृष्ण मुखीं बोला । तुका जातो वैकुंठाला ॥४॥

Say "Rāma, Kṛṣṇa" with your mouth — Tuka is going to Vaikuṇṭha.