Outwardly I receive honour from the world, but within I do not deserve it. Therefore, O Lord of Pandhari, I feel uneasy; I feel ashamed when I confess it. The saints look on all mankind as images of Bramha; they do not perceive my faults. Tuka says, I know myself very well; I am just what I was.
by my family. I ought not to talk of this, but
since you have asked the question, I respect your
speech, O saints! When my father and mother had
finished their course, I was grievously harassed by
the world. A famine used up my money, and took
away my good name; one wife of mine died crying
for food. I grew ashamed and was tormented by
this grief; I saw that I was losing by my business.
The temple of God which we had was in ruins; I
resolved to do what occurred to me. I began by
preaching and singing on the eleventh day; but at
first my mind was not in practice. So I learned
by heart some speeches of the saints, being full
of resource and faith in them. When others sang
first, I took up the refrain, purifying my mind by
faith. I counted holy the water wherein the feet of
the saints had been washed; I suffered no shame to
enter my mind. I served others when the chance
was given me, wearying out my own body. I paid
no heed to friends who loved me, I was heartily sick
of the world. I bade my own mind testify to the
true and the false, I paid no heed to the voice of
the crowd. I honoured the instruction my teacher
gave me in a dream, I believed firmly in God’s
name. After this the impulse of poetry came upon
me; I embraced in my spirit the feet of Vitthoba.
A blow fell upon me: I was forbidden to write;
thus for awhile my spirit was grieved. My pages
were sunk in the river; I sat down like a creditor;
Narayana comforted me. I told all the story,
the tale would be long; it would grow too late,
so enough of it now. You see now my present
purpose, my future course God knows. God never
neglects His worshipper; I have learned that he
is merciful. Tuka says, This is all my capital, I
utter the verses which Panduranga bids me utter.
since you have asked the question, I respect your
speech, O saints! When my father and mother had
finished their course, I was grievously harassed by
the world. A famine used up my money, and took
away my good name; one wife of mine died crying
for food. I grew ashamed and was tormented by
this grief; I saw that I was losing by my business.
The temple of God which we had was in ruins; I
resolved to do what occurred to me. I began by
preaching and singing on the eleventh day; but at
first my mind was not in practice. So I learned
by heart some speeches of the saints, being full
of resource and faith in them. When others sang
first, I took up the refrain, purifying my mind by
faith. I counted holy the water wherein the feet of
the saints had been washed; I suffered no shame to
enter my mind. I served others when the chance
was given me, wearying out my own body. I paid
no heed to friends who loved me, I was heartily sick
of the world. I bade my own mind testify to the
true and the false, I paid no heed to the voice of
the crowd. I honoured the instruction my teacher
gave me in a dream, I believed firmly in God’s
name. After this the impulse of poetry came upon
me; I embraced in my spirit the feet of Vitthoba.
A blow fell upon me: I was forbidden to write;
thus for awhile my spirit was grieved. My pages
were sunk in the river; I sat down like a creditor;
Narayana comforted me. I told all the story,
the tale would be long; it would grow too late,
so enough of it now. You see now my present
purpose, my future course God knows. God never
neglects His worshipper; I have learned that he
is merciful. Tuka says, This is all my capital, I
utter the verses which Panduranga bids me utter.