Faith, the Name as weapon
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काळाचे ही काळ । आह्मी विठोबाचे लडिवाळ ॥1॥
करूं सत्ता सर्वां ठायी । वसों निकटवासें पायीं ॥ध्रु.॥
ऐसी कोणाची वैखरी । वदे आमुचे समोरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बाण । हातीं हरिनाम तीक्षण ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We are the darlings of Vithoba, the death of Death itself. We exercise authority everywhere, for we dwell intimately close to His feet. Whose voice could dare to speak against us to our face? Says Tuka, the sharp arrow of Hari's name is in our hands.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We are the death of Death itself. We are the darlings of Vithoba. We hold power everywhere, for we live close beside his feet. Whose voice could dare to speak against us to our face? Tuka says: in our hands is the sharp arrow of Hari's name.
What it means
Tukaram speaks with bold confidence on behalf of the devotees. Because they are Vithoba's beloved and live pressed close to his feet, they stand above even Death, the very thing that ends everyone else. This is not their own strength but the standing that nearness to God gives them, so they can ask who would dare oppose them. The closing image names the source of the power directly: Hari's name, held like a sharp arrow, is the only weapon they need.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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