Faith, a mother cannot refuse her child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दोहींमध्यें एक घडेल विश्वासें । भातुकें सरिसें मूळ तरी ॥1॥
करिती निरास निःशेष न घडे । कांहीं तरी ओढे चित्त माये ॥ध्रु.॥
लौकिकाची तरी धरितील लाज । काय माझ्या काज आचरणें ॥2॥
अथवा कोणाचें घेणें लागे रीण । नाहीं तरी हीनकर्मी कांहीं ॥3॥
व्यालीचिये अंगीं असती वेधना । तुका ह्मणे मना मन साक्ष ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By faith, one of two things must happen; at the very least, some small gift will accompany the reply. A complete refusal is impossible; something in a mother's heart always pulls toward her child. Even for the sake of appearances, they would maintain some dignity. Perhaps nothing is owed to anyone; perhaps there is no failing on any side. Says Tuka, a mother who has given birth carries that bond in her body; the chitta knows its own truth.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By faith, one of two things must happen: at the least, some small gift will come along with the reply. A complete refusal cannot happen; something in a mother's heart always pulls toward her child. Even for the look of it, they would keep some dignity. Perhaps nothing is owed to anyone; perhaps there is no fault on any side. Tuka says: a mother who has given birth carries that bond in her body; the chitta knows its own truth.
What it means
Tukaram reasons his way out of despair by leaning on the certainty of a mother's love. He uses the homely image of word sent to a married daughter: a flat refusal is impossible, because a mother's heart cannot help bending toward her own child. So one of two things must come, and even the smallest token along with the reply would be proof of love. He applies this to God as the divine Mother: the bond is carried in the body of the one who gave birth, not earned or owed. The chitta knows this in itself, and on that knowing his faith rests.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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