Faith, lay the burden on God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आलिया भोगासी असावें सादर । देवावरी भार घालूनियां ॥1॥
मग तो कृपासिंधु निवारी सांकडें । येर तें बापुडें काय रंके ॥ध्रु.॥
भयाचिये पोटीं दुःखाचिया रासी । शरण देवासी जातां भले ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नव्हे काय त्या करितां । चिंतावा तो आतां विश्वंभर ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Face whatever comes with equanimity, placing the burden upon God. Then that Ocean of Mercy will remove all difficulties. What can a poor wretch do otherwise? When fear fills the chitta and mountains of sorrow surround you, it is good to take refuge in God. Says Tuka, is there anything He cannot do? Now think upon the Sustainer of all.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Whatever comes to be borne, meet it ready, and lay the weight on God. Then that Ocean of Mercy will clear the trouble away. What can a poor helpless soul do otherwise? When fear fills you and heaps of sorrow close in, it is good to go for refuge to God. Tuka says: is there anything He cannot do? Now think on Him, the Sustainer of all.
What it means
Tukaram offers a practice for hard times: accept what comes and hand its weight to God, who, being an ocean of mercy, will remove the difficulty. He is honest about why, because on your own you are a helpless wretch who can do nothing. When fear and piled-up sorrow surround you, refuge is the wise move, not the weak one. The closing question is the ground of the whole counsel: there is nothing the Sustainer of all cannot do, so turn your thought to Him now.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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