Reassurance, the heart's intent is enough
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं रिकामीक परी वाहे मनीं । तया चक्रपाणि साहए होय ॥1॥
उद्वेग जीवासि पंढरीचें ध्यान । तया नारायण साहए करी ॥ध्रु.॥
शरीरासि बळ नाहीं स्वता भाव । तया पंढरिराव साहए करी ॥2॥
असो नसो बळ राहे पराधीन । तरी अनुमान करूं नका ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे येणें करोनि चिंतनीं । तया नारायण जवळीक ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Even one who has no leisure but carries devotion in the heart is aided by the Lord. One whose soul is restless with longing for Pandhari is helped by Narayana. One whose body lacks strength but whose spirit remains surrendered is helped by the Lord of Pandhari. Whether strength is present or not, if one remains dependent on God, do not hesitate. Says Tuka, through such constant remembrance, Narayana stays always near.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
One who has no free time, but carries God in the mind, is helped by Chakrapani. One whose soul is restless with the thought of Pandhari is helped by Narayana. One whose body has no strength but whose heart is true is helped by the Lord of Pandhari. Strength or no strength, stay surrendered; do not doubt this. Tuka says: by this much remembrance, Narayana stays near.
What it means
Tukaram is answering the person who fears they have neither time nor strength enough for devotion. His reply is that God measures the heart's intent, not the hours or the body's power. The one with no leisure who still carries God, the weak one whose spirit stays surrendered, the soul restless with longing for Pandhari, each is helped by Narayana. So the instruction is to stop calculating whether you qualify and simply remain dependent; remembrance, however small, keeps God close.
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