Faith, the marked child of the Capable One
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
समर्थाचें बाळ कीविलवाणें दिसे । तरी कोणा हांसे जन देवा ॥1॥
अवगुणी जरी जालें तें वोंगळ । करावा सांभाळ लागे त्याचा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तैसा मी एक पतित । परि मुद्रांकित जालों तुझा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Even if the child of the Capable One looks pitiful, who would dare to mock it? Even if the child is full of faults and unclean, it must still be cared for and protected. Says Tuka, in the same way I am a fallen one, yet I am stamped with Your seal.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Even if the child of the Capable One looks pitiful, who, O God, would dare to mock it? Even if the child is full of faults and unclean, it must still be cared for and protected. Tuka says: in the same way I am a fallen one, yet I have been stamped with your seal.
What it means
Tukaram leans his whole case on belonging rather than worth. A great lord's child may look wretched, but no one dares mock it, and however faulty or unclean the child is, the parent is bound to care for it. He applies this to himself without softening his own state: he is a fallen one, full of faults. His security is not his merit but the seal stamped on him; because he bears God's mark, the care owed to a child is owed to him.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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