Faith, the secret found in devotion
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विष्णुमय सर्व वैष्णवांसी ठावें । येरांनीं वाहावे भार माथां ॥1॥
भाव हा कठीण वज्र हें भेदवे । परि न छेदवे मायाजाळ ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे वर्म भजनें चि सांपडे । येरांसी तों पडे ओस दिशा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The Vaishnavas know that everything is pervaded by Vishnu. Others must carry the burden of ignorance upon their heads. This bhava is hard; it can pierce even the thunderbolt. Yet even so, it cannot cut the net of maya. Says Tuka, the secret is found only through devotion. For all others, the directions remain empty.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The Vaishnavas know that everything is filled with Vishnu. Others carry the load of ignorance on their heads. This faith is hard; it can pierce even the thunderbolt, yet even so it cannot cut the net of maya. Tuka says: the secret is found only through devotion. For everyone else, all directions stay empty.
What it means
Tukaram contrasts two ways of standing in the world. Those who love Vishnu see him filling everything, while everyone else simply carries the dead weight of not-knowing on their heads. He admits faith is hard, strong enough to pierce a thunderbolt, yet he names its limit honestly: by sheer force it still cannot cut through the net of maya. The resolution is that the real opening is not force but devotion; that alone finds the secret, and without it every direction a person looks remains empty.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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