Faith, courage and God's help
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
शूरत्वासी मोल । नये कामा फिके बोल ॥1॥
केला न संडी कैवाड । जीवेंसाटीं तों हे होड ॥ध्रु.॥
धीर तो कारण । साहए होतो नारायण ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हरि । दासां रिक्षतो निर्धारीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Valor has a price that feeble words cannot pay. The true warrior never abandons his cause; he stakes his very life upon it. Courage is the key, and Narayana Himself stands at the side of the brave. Says Tuka, Hari most surely protects His devotees.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Valor has a price that weak words cannot pay. The true warrior never lets go of his cause. He stakes his very life on it. Courage is the thing that matters. Narayana Himself comes to his side. Tuka says: Hari surely protects His servants.
What it means
Tukaram likens the devotee's path to a warrior's. Bravery cannot be bought with feeble talk; it costs something real. The true fighter never abandons the cause he has taken up, wagering his own life on it, and that steadiness, not cleverness, is what counts. The promise is that such courage is met from above: Narayana Himself stands beside the one who dares. The poem closes in plain assurance, that Hari most certainly guards those who serve Him, so the risk the devotee takes is never taken alone.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
More in this theme →