Surrender, the strong father's child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
खेळतां न भ्यावें समर्थाच्या बाळें । तयाच्या सकळ सत्तेखालीं ॥1॥
तरी लेवविला शोभे अळंकार । नाहीं तरी भार मानाविण ॥ध्रु.॥
अवघी च दिशा असावी मोकळी । मायबाप बळी ह्मणऊनि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझें ऐसें आहे देवा । ह्मणऊनि सेवा समपिनली ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The child of a powerful lord plays without fear, for everything is under his father's dominion. If adornments are given, they look beautiful upon him; without honor they are only a burden. Every direction should be open and free, for his parents are mighty. Says Tuka, this is my condition, O God; therefore I have surrendered my service to You.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The child of a powerful lord plays without fear. Everything stands under his father's rule. Ornaments put on such a child look fine on him. Without that honor they are only a weight. Let every direction lie open and free, because his parents are mighty. Tuka says: this is how it is with me, God. So I have given my service over to you.
What it means
Tukaram explains his fearlessness with a single picture: a great lord's child plays without a care because the whole estate is under the father's power. The ornaments matter here too; on the protected child they are beautiful, but stripped of that backing they would be dead weight, mere burden without honor. He claims the same open freedom for himself, in every direction, on one ground only: his parents are strong. The conclusion is not pride in himself but surrender. Because his safety is entirely God's strength and none of his own, he has simply handed his whole service over.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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