Devotion proven slowly, by truth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सत्यत्वेंशीं घेणें भक्तीचा अनुभव । स्वामीचा गौरव इच्छीतसें ॥1॥
मग तें अवीट न भंगे साचारें । पावलें विस्तारें फिरों नेणे ॥ध्रु.॥
वाणी वदे त्याचा कोणांसी विश्वास । अभयें करें दास सत्य तई ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आधीं न करीं तांतडी । पायीं जाली जोडी तेणें शुद्ध ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The experience of devotion must be taken with truth. I desire the glory of my Lord. Then that experience is inexhaustible, never breaking, never turning back once it has spread. Whose words can be trusted? Only when one's actions confirm it does the servant become truly free of fear. Says Tuka, do not be hasty in the beginning. The foundation that is laid at His feet must be clean.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The taste of devotion must be taken with truth; I long for the glory of my Lord. Then it cannot be spoiled or broken; once it spreads, it does not know how to turn back. Whose words can be trusted? Only when the deeds confirm them does the servant become truly fearless. Tuka says: do not be in a hurry at the start. The bond made at his feet must be a clean one.
What it means
Tukaram insists that devotion only counts when it is held with truth, and warns against rushing it. Taken honestly, the taste of devotion is inexhaustible; once it spreads through a person it cannot be spoiled, broken, or reversed. But words alone earn no trust; a servant becomes truly fearless only when actions back the words up. So he cautions himself and the listener not to hurry at the beginning: the bond laid at God's feet has to be clean from the start, because a foundation built fast and false will not hold the weight that true devotion brings.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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