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Tukaram’s Letter to Vitthal- Dilip Chitre 

With the saints who are going on a pilgrimage to Pandharpur I send Him this message:

Your servant Tuka Beseeches You: Do not forget me.
At Your great gate I remain Your everlasting Broom.
My mind and my body fit Your feet as shoes.

My mouth is open like a spittoon for You to spit in betel-leaf juice.

I offer my body as a pot to receive O Lord Your shit.
I am the soil touched by Your feet.

Says Tuka—O Lord of Pandharpur do not ever treat me as anything else.

Pandharpur 1
Happiness fell into Pandhari.
Pundalik kept it in place.
O my elders, run for it now
Taste it with your own tongue.

Make just one trip there.

You won’t have to wander ever after.

Pack up your attachments bag and baggage.

Make a scramble for Pandharpur.

It’s not a bad idea to reach there in time—while you are still alive!

Says Tuka, listen to this peasant’s plea: Reach there and reap it, don’t dilly-daily.

Pandharpur 2

This mine was opened in ancient times.

People have been digging it long since.

But its treasure hasn’t depeleted.

Grand masters, great sages, able initiates—all

Have cared to preserve its inner resources.

The One who landed on His feet into this world

Is its landmark, Pundalik revealed Him to all.

Says Tuka, I went there as a helpless soul.

Now I’ve made myself a small fortune.

Pandharpur 3

The Great Ghost of Pandhari
Pounces upon every one who passes by.
That forest is haunted by many spirits.
Whoever enters it finds it maddening.
O do not ever go there—you!
Nobody who goes in ever comes back.

Only once did Tuka go to Pandhari:

He hasn’t been born ever since.

Pandharpur 4

The Thug has arrived in Pandhari.

He will garrotte His victim with the cord of love.

He’s robbed the whole world before.
He takes His victims no one knows where.
He’s raised His arms
To grab your attention.
He’s decamped from Vaikunth
To hunt in Pandhari.
It was Pundalik who gave this Robber
A foothold in Pandhari.

Says Tuka, let’s all go there

And put Him under arrest.

Pandharpur 5

The ship docks
On the bank of the Chandrabhaga.

It is laden with vast treasure.

O Saints! Help yourselves.
The tide of Hari’s name is receding.
The mast is being furled.
Tuka is Vitthal’s favorite porter.
God helps him with his burden.

Pandharpur 6

Now to Pandhari we go
To lie prostrate at Vithoba’s feet.
There on the bank of Chandrabhaga
At Pandharpur we shall dance
Where all the saints crowd
There we shall go and touch their feet

Says Tuka, we are the sacrificial beast
To be happily trampled under all those feet.
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© "Tukaram: Says Tuka" published by Penguin Books India (P) Limited, B4/246, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110 029.

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