जे का रंजले गांजले, त्यासी म्हणे जो आपुले।
तोचि साधू ओळखावा, देव तेथेंच जाणावा॥

Je ka ranjale ganjale, tyasi mhane jo aapule.
Tochi sadhu olakhava, dev tethechi jaanava.

The one who embraces the suffering and oppressed as their own,
Know that person as a true saint. God lives there.

Tukaram · Abhanga

Translator's note

on the language of the verse

Compassion becomes the test of spirituality.

The voice

Tukaram

तुकाराम

The Merchant Who Turned Grief into Song, c. 1608 – 1649.

The questions it touches
  • Caste & dignity
  • Devotion