Faith, fearless under God's care
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
केला अंगीकार पंढरीच्या देवें । आतां काय करिती काळ मशक मानवें ॥१॥
घातलीं बाहेर तीं भय होतें ज्यानें । बैसला आपण तेथें घालुनियां ठाणें ॥ध्रु.॥
लागों नेदी वारा दुजियाचा अंगासी । हा पुरता निर्धार कळों आला आम्हांसी ॥२॥
म्हणे तुकयाबंधु न लगे करावी चिंता । कोणेविशीं आतां बैसलों हस्तीवरी माथां ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The God of Pandhari has taken me under his care. What can Death, mosquitoes, or any mortal do to me now? He has expelled every fear that once resided within and has himself taken up his station there. He does not let even a breeze from any rival touch my body; this absolute certainty has become clear to me. Says Tuka's brother, there is no need for worry about anything; I am seated upon the head of the elephant itself.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The God of Pandhari has taken me as his own. So now what can Death do to me, or mosquitoes, or any mortal? He has thrown out the fear that used to live inside me, and he has sat down in that place himself. He will not let even a breeze from any rival touch my body. This much I now know for certain. Tuka's brother says: there is no need to worry about anything now. I am seated with my head upon the very elephant.
What it means
Tukaram's brother declares total safety once God has accepted him. He lists the threats and dismisses them together, the great and the small alike: Death itself, biting insects, any human power. The inner reversal is precise: where fear once lived inside him, God has now taken up residence, so the old occupant cannot return. The final image of riding high upon the elephant names the stakes plainly: under such protection there is nothing left to fear from any quarter.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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