|
Calamities in the Family :
- I was greatly afflicted by the world.
My parents passed away.
The famine used up my wealth
and took away my good name.
One wife of mine died crying
for food.
I was tormented by this grief
and grew ashamed of myself.(1332)
***
Moment of Decision :
2. My life is altogether
wretched.
What ground of faith can I see now
?
Chorus : I cannot bear to hear of
the world.
There is none who
is truly mine.
Means of bodily pleasure are
poison to me.
Honour is a snare to me.
Chorus : I cannot bear to hear of
the world.
There is none who
is truly mine.
Dignity and praise a toil and
burden.
My soul is restless.
Chorus : I cannot bear to hear of
the world.
There is none who
is truly mine.
Tuka says, I cannot bear anything.
Chorus : I cannot bear to hear of
the world.
There is none who
is truly mine.
- My soul was ashamed.
I was deeply struck by sorrow.
I did not follow the advice of my
friends.
I lost all interest in the world.
I discerned between truth and
falsehood.
I did not listen to the voices of
the majority.
I firmly believed in the Name (of
God).
In my heart I held on to the feet
of Vithoba.(1333)
***
Search for God:
- All their discussions are merely out of their
learning.
none of them have discernment born
of experience.
The learned scholars deliver
discourses.
However, they have no spiritual
happiness.
Tuka says, their conduct is a like
giving a testimony for a bribe.
They are not aware of real
spiritual truth.(1691)
***
6. How wonderful is the love of my Vithoba.
God himself becomes my Guru.
( Guru – teacher/guide)
Chorus: He fulfils our fond
desires and aspirations.
In the end He will
take us to Himself.
He stands before and behind us in
order to deliver us
from any affliction that may
befall us.
Chorus: He fulfils our fond
desires and aspirations.
In the end He will
take us to Himself.
He takes care of our well-being;
He knows what hurts us.
Taking us by the hand He shows us
the way.
Chorus: He fulfils our fond
desires and aspirations.
In the end He will
take us to Himself.
Tuka says, he who does not believe
this,
let him consult the Scriptures.
Chorus: He fulfils our fond
desires and aspirations.
In the end He will
take us to Himself.(873)
7.
Excellent is the litany of Your name.
It consumes away great guilt.
Chorus : It has become our life.
We employ (
literally, consume) it to our heart’s content.
It is easy and sweeter than amrut.
Chorus : It has become our life.
We employ (
literally, consume) it to our heart’s content.(1300)
8.
I have cast down my burden.
I am free from anxious care.
The holy men have entrusted me to
Vithoba.
Tuka says, the holy men are deeply
concerned for me.(370)
Commissioned for Poetry :
9.
Namdev came with Panduranga and aroused me in a dream.
Chorus : He told me, “I appoint
you a task; write poetry”
***
Setbacks in the spiritual journey :
7.
My spirit is carried away by concupiscence.
It does not allow me to behold
Your face.
I am full of sorrow.
My heart may break for sorrow.
Chorus: Why have you made me like
a young wife in her husband’s house ?
I have no power, no
authority of my own.
In the morning I feel I ought to
visit You.
But I cannot hide from you the
fact that
my concupiscence continues to
live in me.
Chorus: Why have you made me like
a young wife in her husband’s house ?
I have no power, no
authority of my own.
It seems that all my toils are
wasted.
Tuka says, all that I have spent
is lost.(1256)
8.
This one thing fills me with wonder.
Chorus : My cries for pity have
been wasted as though
I had put these up
to a corpse.
How could one not be angry,
on seeing You so false ?(961)
Chorus : My cries for pity have
been wasted as though
I had put these up
to a corpse.
9.
In my view God is dead.
Let Him live for those for whom
He lives.
Chorus : I will tell no tales of
Him, nor mention His name.
We have both
vanished together.
…
Tuka says, now I am unperturbed.
Up till now I have just been
wasting my life.(2349)
10.
I have realized that You do not remember me.
Now what is the use of preserving
my life?
What can you do in the face of my
fate?
O Infinite one, I hate this life.
I hoped when I heard of Your fame
as sanctifier of sinners.
I know that You have become cruel.
Now who will accept me?
Tuka says, You have disappointed
me.
I will end my life.(3117)
11.
Offering my body at Your feet
I have fulfilled my obligation
towards You.
Chorus : Now, O God, do to my
being
What pleases
You.(2965)
***
Sense of fruitition :
12.
There sorrow is bartered for joy.
The hunger and misery of the
orphan vanish.
The most generous Lord is in
Pandhari.
With uplifted arms he calls (us).
He is more fond of the ignorant
than of the learned
He embraces them with delight.
He takes away stress and bestows
love in return.
He does not think of His own gain
or loss.
Tuka says we are orphans and
feeble.
Panduranga looks after us. (2118)
13.
In the sea of bliss are the waves of bliss.
Bliss is the body of bliss.
Chorus : How to describe it ?
I am beside myself
with joy.
On account of
attachment to this bliss.
I cannot move on (
to any other pursuits.).(3251)
14.
I , Tuka, am smaller than an atom, yet as vast as the sky.
Chorus : I have relinquished the
body ( with its egotism)
For the world is a
form of illusion.
I have given up the triad of
knowledge.
I have lit up a lamp in my body.
Chorus : I have relinquished the
body ( with its egotism)
For the world is a
form of illusion.
Tuka says, now I live for the sake
of charity.
Chorus : I have relinquished the
body ( with its egotism)
For the world is a
form of illusion.(993)
15.
For this did I persistently strive, namely, that the final day may me
sweet.
Chorus : Now that the motions of
desire have come to an end,
most certainly have
I attained repose.
I am proud of the efforts I have made.
Thereby, the sacred name ( of God) has been
glorified.
Chorus : Now that the motions of
desire have come to an end,
most certainly have
I attained repose.
Tuka says, I have taken liberation as my bride.
Now, I will spend the remaining days of my life
in joy and revelry.
Chorus : Now that the motions of
desire have come to an end,
most certainly have
I attained repose.(1328)
***
God’s Gift :
16.
The sports that I play are due to the grace of His feet.
These are not perishable pursuits.
Chorus : My Mother and Father
stands on the brick.
With fondness does He grant me His grace krupaadaan.
The words of my mouth are from
grace.
They are not put together by
intellectual activity.
Chorus : My Mother and Father
stands on the brick.
With fondness does
He grant me His grace krupaadaan.
Tuka says the juice has come from
the One who serves it.
Pandurang
has overshadowed it.
Chorus : My Mother and Father
stands on the brick.
With fondness does
He grant me His grace (krupaadaan).(3167)
***
Mission to the World:
17.
We the dwellers in Vaikuntha have come for this purpose,
namely to live with true devotion
what the rishis have said.
Chorus : We shall sweep clean the
path of saints,
for weeds have
choked up the world.
We will take the
leavings of the saints’ meals.
The meaning of the Puranas is
lost.
More verbal knowledge has brought
about disaster.
The heart is greedy of pleasure.
All spiritual means are lost.
Chorus : We shall sweep clean the
path of saints,
for weeds have
choked up the world.
We will take the
leavings of the saints’ meals.
We will beat a drum in the name of
devotion.
We will appal evil.
Tuka says, raise a joyful shout of
acclamation.
Chorus : We shall sweep clean the
path of saints,
for weeds have
choked up the world.
We will take the
leavings of the saints’ meals.(520)
18.
In charity we declare these remedies.
Or else what are we interested in
?
We cannot bear to see with our
eyes these people in disaster.
Therefore, we feel intense
compassion.
****** |
