Faith, the never-forsaken
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
निष्ठावंत भाव भक्तांचा स्वधर्म । निर्धार हें वर्म चुकों नये ॥1॥
निष्काम निश्चळ विठ्ठलीं विश्वास । पाहों नये वास आणिकांची ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसा कोणें उपेिक्षला । नाहीं ऐकिला ऐसा कोणीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Steadfast devotion is the devotee's own dharma. This determination, this essential secret, must never be abandoned. Hold unwavering, desireless faith in Vitthala. Do not seek shelter from anyone else. Says Tuka, has anyone who held such faith ever been forsaken? No one has ever heard of such a thing.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Steadfast love is the devotee's own dharma. This is the secret; hold to it and do not miss it. Keep desireless, unshaken faith in Vitthal. Do not look for shelter from anyone else. Tuka says: who has ever been cast off who held this faith? No one has ever heard of such a thing.
What it means
Tukaram names what the devotee's true duty is: steady, wanting-nothing faith fixed on Vitthal alone, and never seeking refuge anywhere else. He calls this the essential secret that must not be lost. The poem rests its whole weight on a promise it then dares anyone to disprove: no one who held such faith was ever abandoned by God, and no such story has ever been heard. The claim is meant to settle the fear that drives people to scatter their faith among many shelters.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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