Faith, the burden laid down is light
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं होत भार घातल्या उदास । पुरवावी आस सकळ ही ॥1॥
ऐसा नाहीं मज एकाचा अनुभव । धरिला तो भाव उद्धरलें ॥ध्रु.॥
उतावीळ असे शरणागतकाजें । धांव केशीराजे आइकतां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हित चिंतन भरवंसा । नेदी गर्भवासा येऊं देवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A burden laid down in devotion never becomes heavy; let every hope be fulfilled. I have never known any instance where this failed. Whatever faith was held led to liberation. He is eager on behalf of those who surrender; the moment He hears their cry, Lord Keshiraja rushes forth. Says Tuka, He thinks of our welfare with such trust that He does not let us come to the womb again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A burden laid down in trust never grows heavy. Let every hope be fulfilled. I have not known one case where this failed. Whatever faith was held, it lifted the soul. He is in a hurry for the one who surrenders. The moment he hears the cry, Lord Keshiraja runs. Tuka says: he thinks of our good with such sure care that he will not let us come to the womb again.
What it means
Tukaram states a law of faith from his own experience: a burden handed over to God in trust stops being heavy, and he has never once seen this fail. The frame he leaves implied is the cost of carrying it yourself; the relief comes only when you actually let go. He paints God as eager and quick, not slow to be persuaded: at the sound of the surrendered soul's cry, Keshiraja comes running. And the final care is total, reaching past this life: God watches over our welfare so surely that he will not let us be born into the womb again.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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