Faith, only Narayana matters
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न मिळो खावया न वाढो संतान । परि हा नारायण कृपा करो ॥१॥
विटंबो शरीर होत कां विपित्त । परि राहो चित्तीं नारायण ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नासिवंत हें सकळ । आठवे गोपाळ तें चि हित ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let there be nothing to eat, let no children be born to me, so long as Narayana is merciful. Let the body be tormented, let misfortune strike, so long as Narayana remains in my heart. Says Tuka, everything in this world is perishable; to remember Gopala alone is the true good.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let there be nothing to eat. Let no children be born to me. Only let Narayana be merciful. Let the body be tormented. Let misfortune strike. Only let Narayana stay in my heart. Tuka says: all of this is perishable. To remember Gopala alone is the true good.
What it means
Tukaram is setting his single condition against everything else and accepting the cost. He will give up food, offspring, the body's safety, all of it, on one term only: that Narayana be merciful and remain in his heart. The structure of the prayer makes the priority brutal and clear, hunger and ruin counted as nothing beside God's presence. The reason is given last: every one of those things is perishable and passing, so to keep remembering Gopala is the only good that actually holds.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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