Faith, no turning back
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां येथें खरें । नये फिरतां माघारें ॥1॥
होइल हो तैसी आबाळी । देहनिमित्य या बळी ॥ध्रु.॥
तुह्मांसवें गांठी । देवा जीवाचिये साटीं ॥2॥
तुका नव्हे लंड । करूं चौघांमध्यें खंड॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now there is no turning back from this truth. Whatever hardship comes, let it come; it is the body's lot to endure. My bond with You, O Lord, is for the sake of my very jiva. Says Tuka, I am no coward; I will make the break from the crowd.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now there is no turning back from this truth. Whatever hardship comes, let it come; it is the body's lot to bear. My bond is with you, Lord, for the sake of my very life. Tuka says: I am no coward; I will make the break from the crowd.
What it means
This is a vow with the exit sealed off. Tukaram has reached a truth he will not retreat from, and he accepts that suffering may follow; pain is simply what a body endures, so it cannot be a reason to quit. The tie that matters is the one with God, and he stakes his very soul on it. He ends by refusing the charge of cowardice: he is willing to break away from the crowd, the safe company of ordinary people, rather than soften his stand.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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