Faith, the Giver waits across
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भवसागर तरतां । कां रे करीतसां चिंता । पैल उभा दाता । कटीं कर ठेवुनियां ॥१॥
त्याचे पायीं घाला मिठी । मोल नेघे जगजेठी । भावा एका साठीं । खांदां वाहे आपुल्या ॥ध्रु.॥
सुखें करावा संसार । परि न संडावे दोन्ही वार । दया क्षमा घर । चोजवीत येतील ॥२॥
भुक्तिमुक्तिची चिंता । नाहीं दैन्य दरिद्रता । तुका म्हणे दाता । पांडुरंग वोळगिल्या ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why do you worry while crossing this ocean of worldly life? The Giver stands right there on the other shore, hands on his hips. Clasp his feet tightly; the Lord of the world asks no price. For the sake of devotion alone, he will carry you on his own shoulders. Carry on your worldly duties happily, but do not neglect the two sacred days. Mercy and forgiveness will come looking for you at your own home. Says Tuka, there is no anxiety about enjoyment or liberation, no poverty or want, once you have won the favor of Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Crossing the ocean of worldly life, why do you worry? The Giver stands on the far shore, his hands resting on his hips. Clasp his feet tight; the Lord of the world takes no payment. For devotion alone he carries you on his own shoulders. Carry on your worldly life gladly, but do not let the two sacred days go. Mercy and forgiveness will come seeking out your house. Tuka says: no worry over enjoyment or release, no want, no poverty, once you have served Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram answers the fear of life as a wide ocean to be crossed: there is no cause for worry, because the Giver already stands waiting on the far shore. Clasp his feet, and he asks no price; for devotion alone he will carry you across on his own shoulders. The instruction is gentle and ordinary, live your worldly life happily, only do not neglect the holy days, and the rest follows. Mercy and forgiveness will come looking for you at your own door, and once you have served Panduranga there is no anxiety left over enjoyment or liberation, and no poverty or want.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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