Nature of God, the proof on the battlefield
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
साधावया भक्तिकाज । नाहीं लाज हा धरीत ॥1॥
ऐसियासी शरण जावें । शक्ती जीवें न वंची ॥ध्रु.॥
भीष्मपण केला खरा । धनुर्धरा रक्षीलें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे साक्ष हातीं । तो म्यां चित्तीं धरियेला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To fulfill the devotee's cause, he sets aside all shame. Such is the one to whom we should surrender, for he holds nothing back from us. He proved his vow when he protected Arjuna on the battlefield. Says Tuka, the proof is in his hands, and I have fixed him firmly in my chitta.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To accomplish the devotee's cause, he sets aside all shame. Such is the one to whom we should surrender, for he holds nothing back from us with his life. He made his vow come true and protected the bearer of the bow. Tuka says: the proof is in his hands, and I have held him firmly in my heart.
What it means
Tukaram points to God's willingness to lose face for his devotees as the very reason to trust him. The God who will set aside shame to do a devotee's work is one who withholds nothing, and that is the safe place to surrender. He cites the warrior Arjuna, the bearer of the bow, whom the Lord shielded on the battlefield, as evidence that the promise is kept and not merely spoken. Because the proof is already in God's hands, Tukaram needs no further argument; he simply fixes this Lord firmly in his heart.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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