Saints, who is truly a devotee
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भक्त ऐसे जाणा जे देहीं उदास । गेले आशापाश निवारूनि ॥1॥
विषय तो त्यांचा जाला नारायण । नावडे धन जन माता पिता ॥ध्रु.॥
निर्वाणीं गोविंद असे मागेंपुढें । कांहीं च सांकडें पडों नेदी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सत्य कर्मा व्हावें साहे । घातलिया भये नकान जाणें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Know these as devotees: those who are indifferent to the body and have cast off all bonds of hope and desire. For them, sense-objects have themselves become Narayana. Wealth, people, mother, and father are no longer dear to them. At the final hour, Govinda stands before and behind them, allowing no hardship to befall. Says Tuka, one must hold to truth in one's actions and not turn away even when fear strikes.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Know these as devotees: those who are indifferent to the body, who have cut away the snares of hope and desire. For them, the objects of the senses have themselves become Narayana; wealth, people, mother and father are no longer dear. At the last hour, Govinda stands before them and behind them, and lets no hardship touch them. Tuka says: hold fast to truth in your acts, and do not turn away even when fear strikes.
What it means
Tukaram defines who really counts as a devotee. They sit loose to the body and have cut the binding cords of hope and craving. For them the world of the senses is no longer a snare but is seen as Narayana himself, so money, relations, even mother and father lose their grip. He promises that at the final, deathward moment Govinda guards such a one front and back, letting no hardship break through. The closing line turns it into a charge: stay true in what you do and do not flinch when fear comes, for that is the devotee's mark.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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