Triumph, the servants who noosed Death
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बिळवंत आह्मी समर्थाचे दास । घातली या कास किळकाळासी ॥1॥
तेथें मानसाचा कोण आला पाड । उलंघोनि जड गेलों आधीं ॥ध्रु.॥
संसाराचे बळी साधिलें निधान । मारिले दुर्जन षडवर्ग ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे एक उरला धरिता ठाव । येर केले वाव तृणवत ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We are mighty, for we are servants of the Capable One; we have thrown a noose around the neck of Death itself. What can any mortal do before that? We have already crossed beyond the heavy burden. We have conquered the forces of worldly existence and secured the treasure; the six inner enemies have been slain. Says Tuka, only the One who holds the ground remains; all else has been reduced to straw.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We are mighty, for we are servants of the Capable One; we have thrown a noose around the neck of Death itself. What can any mortal do against that? We crossed beyond the heavy burden long ago. We have conquered the forces of worldly life and seized the treasure; the six inner enemies are slain. Tuka says: only the One who holds the ground remains; everything else we have made worthless as straw.
What it means
Tukaram sings the strength that comes from belonging to God, not from himself. Because they serve the Capable One, the devotees have looped a noose around Death; no mere mortal can touch them, and the heavy load of existence is already behind them. He names the victory plainly: the pull of worldly life is broken, the treasure is won, and the six inner enemies are killed, lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and envy. What is left at the end is only the one who holds the ground beneath all things; beside that, every other gain is straw.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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