God's will, the true dervish
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अल्ला करे सो होय बाबा करतारका सिरताज । गाउ बछरे तिस चलावे यारी बाघो न सात ॥१॥
ख्याल मेरा साहेबका । बाबा हुवा करतार । व्हांटें आघे चढे पीठ । आपे हुवा असुवार ॥२॥
जिकिर करो अल्लाकी बाबा सबल्यां अंदर भेस । कहे तुका जो नर बुझे सो हि भया दरवेस ॥३॥
वैद्यगोळी - अभंग १
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Whatever Allah wills, that alone happens; the Creator wears the crown. He drives the cow and calf as he pleases; the tiger cannot walk beside them. My thought is fixed upon the Master, for the Creator himself has become the rider, mounting the steed from the front. Remember Allah, for he dwells within all in every guise. Says Tuka, whoever truly understands this has become a real dervish.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Whatever Allah wills, that alone happens, friend; the Creator wears the crown. He drives the cow and her calf as he pleases; the tiger cannot walk beside them. My mind is set on the Master, friend, for the Creator himself has become the rider and mounted the horse from the front. Remember Allah, friend, who lives within all in every form. Tuka says: whoever truly understands this has become a real dervish.
What it means
Tukaram states the heart of trust: nothing happens but God's will, and the Creator alone is sovereign. His images are of that sovereignty made gentle, the cow and calf led safely so that the tiger cannot come near, a guarding will that orders all things. He fixes his whole attention on this Master, who is not distant but has himself become the rider directing the journey, and who dwells inside everything in every disguise. To grasp this, that all is God's doing and God is in all, is what makes someone a true dervish rather than one in name only.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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