One master, valued by your strength
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
एका च स्वामीचे पाईक सकळ । जैसें बळ तैसें मोल तया ॥1॥
स्वामिपदीं एकां ठाव उंच स्थळीं । एक तीं निराळीं जवळी दुरी ॥ध्रु.॥
हीन कमाईचा हीन आन ठाव । उंचा सर्व भाव उंच पद ॥2॥
पाइकपणें तो सर्वत्र सरता । चांग तरी परता गांढएा ठाव ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे मरण आहे या सकळां । भेणें अवकळा अभयें मोल ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
All are paiks of one Master. Each is valued according to his strength. Some have an elevated place near the Master's feet. Others are kept apart, some near, some far. One of meaner service earns a meaner, humbler post. One of full-hearted devotion receives the highest station. Through true paiki, one becomes worthy in all quarters. But even a good paik who turns back earns only a coward's place. Says Tuka, death awaits all of them. Fear earns disgrace. Fearlessness earns worth.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
All are soldiers of one master. Each is valued as his strength deserves. Some have a high place near the master's feet. Others are kept apart, some near, some far. Mean service earns a mean, low place; full-hearted devotion receives the highest station. Through true soldiering a man becomes worthy everywhere. But even a good soldier who turns back earns only a coward's place. Tuka says: death waits for all of them. Fear earns disgrace; fearlessness earns worth.
What it means
All who serve belong to one master, yet they are not all valued alike: the measure is the strength and wholeness each brings. Half-hearted service earns a low post, full-hearted devotion the place nearest the master's feet, and that closeness or distance is set by the servant's own giving. Tukaram adds a sharp line: a good soldier who turns back in the moment forfeits everything and is counted with the cowards. The frame underneath is mortality. Since death is coming for everyone alike, flinching from it only earns disgrace, while meeting it without fear is the very thing that earns worth.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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