Gatha Abhang 935 - Dayaa kshamaa shaanti - दया क्षमा शांति । तेथें देवाची वसति

 

Gatha Abhang 935 - Dayaa kshamaa shaanti

Marathi Text

दया क्षमा शांति । तेथें देवाची वसति ॥१॥
पावे धांवोनियां घरा । राहो धरोनियां थारा ॥२॥

कीर्तनाचे वाटे । बराडिया ऐसा लोटे ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे घडे । पूजा नामें देव जोडे ॥४॥

 

Roman Script

1. Daya kshama shaanti, tethe devaachee vasati

2. Paave dhaavoniyaa ghara, raaho dharoniya thaara

3. Keertanaache vaate, baraadiyaa aisa lote

4. Tuka mhane ghade, pooja naame dev jode.

 

Translation

This abhang praises the three divine qualities of compassion (Daya), forgiveness (Kshama), and peace (Shanti). Wherever these three qualities are found, it is said that God Himself resides there.

Throughout human history—often tainted by jealousy, conflict, hatred, arrogance, and violence—it is these three virtues that have stood out and made a lasting impact. Great saints like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram emphasized these divine traits repeatedly and through them, made their devotion to God truly meaningful.

Not only did they preach these virtues, but their lives also reflected them. According to Tukaram Maharaj, compassion means caring for and nurturing all living beings, and he adds that this cannot happen unless one also destroys evil and cruelty. In his words:

"Āṇika nirḍaḷaṇa kaṇṭakān̄ce" — "And also crushing the wicked (thorns)".

This broader and deeper meaning of compassion aligns with the verse in the Bhagavad Gita:

"Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ, vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām"

(“To protect the good and destroy the wicked”).

So, for Saint Tukaram, true compassion includes both nurturing the innocent and standing up against the cruel.

1. God dwells with those who have compassion, forgiveness, and peace within them.

2. God eagerly runs to the homes of such kind and forgiving devotees and joyfully settles in their hearts like a treasured guest.

3. When devotees sing God's praises (kirtan), God loves it so much that He rushes toward it like a starving person running for food during a famine.

4. Tuka says, when we chant God's name, that itself becomes his 'Pooja' and He also comes face to face to meet us.

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