Faith, watching the Lord's face for a sign
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
द्याल ऐसें दिसे । तुमचें साचपण इच्छे ॥1॥
ह्मणऊनि न भंगे निर्धार । केलें लोचनें सादर ॥ध्रु.॥
मुखाची च वास । पुरला पाहे अवकाश ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कळे । काय लाभ कोण वेळ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It appears You will give; Your sincerity gives me hope. Therefore my resolve does not break, and my eyes remain fixed before You. I watch for a sign from Your face, waiting for the right moment to arrive. Says Tuka, I watch for what gain will come and at what hour.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It looks as though you will give. Your truthfulness gives my longing hope. So my resolve does not break. I keep my eyes fixed before you. I watch only your face, waiting for the chance to come. Tuka says: who knows what gain will come, and at what hour.
What it means
Tukaram rests on a quiet confidence: it seems God will give, and God's own truthfulness is what feeds his hope. Because of that trust his resolve holds firm, and he keeps his eyes steadily on the Lord. He watches God's face alone, waiting for the right opening to arrive. The closing line keeps the patience honest: he does not know what the gift will be or when it will come, only that he keeps watching. The mood is steady, expectant faith rather than complaint.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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