The soldier's pledge, undivided service
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाइकपणें खरा मुशारा । पाईक तो खरा पाइकीनें ॥1॥
पाईक जाणें मारितें अंग । पाइकासी भंग नाहीं तया ॥ध्रु.॥
एके दोहीं घरीं घेतलें खाणें । पाईक तो पणें निवडला ॥2॥
करूनि कारण स्वामी यश द्यावें । पाइका त्या नांव खरेपण ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे ठाव पाइकां निराळा । नाहीं स्वामी स्थळा गेल्याविण ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The true paik earns his true wages through genuine service. The real paik is known by paiki. The real paik knows his body must take blows. No breach ever touches him. One who takes wages from two masters is exposed. The true paik is recognized by his undivided pledge. Having accomplished the task, he gives the glory to the Master. For the paik, truthfulness is his very nature. Says Tuka, the paik's station is distinct. Without reaching the Master's own ground, there is no station at all.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A true soldier earns his true wages by real service. You know the real one by his soldiering. The real soldier knows his body will take blows, and no breach ever touches him. The one who eats from two houses is found out. The true soldier is marked by his undivided pledge. He does the work, and gives the glory to his master. For him, this honesty is his very nature. Tuka says: the soldier's place is set apart. Without reaching the master's own ground, there is no place at all.
What it means
Tukaram makes the soldier, the paik, a figure for the true servant of God. The genuine one is known not by his words but by his willingness to take the blows; he expects wounds and is not broken by them. The test is loyalty to one master alone: anyone who serves two, who eats from two houses, is exposed when the moment comes. The true servant does the work and hands the credit back to the master, and that honesty is simply who he is. The closing line names the stakes: the servant's standing is something distinct, and it is real only when he reaches the master's own ground; short of that there is no standing to speak of.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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