Surrender, the saints stand surety
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
घालुनियां भार राहिलों निश्चितीं । निरविलें संतीं विठोबासि ॥१॥
लावूनियां हातें कुरवाळिला माथा । सांगितलें चिंता न करावी ॥ध्रु.॥
कटीं कर सम चरण साजिरे । राहिला भीवरें तीरीं उभा ॥२॥
खुंटले सायास अणिकि या जीवा । धरिले केशवा पाय तुझे ॥३॥
तुज वाटे आतां तें करीं अनंता । तुका म्हणे संता लाज माझी ॥४॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Having placed the entire burden upon him, I rest in certainty. The saints commended me to Vitthoba, stroking my head with their hands, and told me not to worry. With hands on hips and beautiful even feet, he stands on the bank of the Bhima. All other efforts have ceased for this soul, for I have grasped your feet, O Keshava. Says Tuka, do with me now as you please, O Ananta; the saints hold my honor in trust.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have laid the whole burden on him and now I rest in certainty. The saints handed me over to Vithoba. They stroked my head with their hands and told me not to worry. Hands on his hips, his lovely feet level, he stands on the bank of the Bhima. All other effort has stopped for this soul, for I have grasped your feet, O Keshava. Do now whatever you please, O Ananta. Tuka says: the saints hold my honor in their keeping.
What it means
Tukaram is handing his whole life over and naming who arranged the handover. The saints themselves commended him to Vithoba, soothing him like a child, telling him to stop worrying. He pictures the Lord in the familiar Pandharpur stance, hands on hips, feet set even, standing by the river. With those feet gripped, every other striving falls away, and he tells God to do with him whatever God wills. The closing line carries the weight of the poem: he is not facing God alone, because the saints have pledged themselves as surety for his honor.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
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