Fearless faith, the Name outshines all
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दीप घेउनियां धुंडिती अंधार । भेटे हा विचार अघटित ॥१॥
विष्णुदास आम्ही न भ्यो कळिकाळा । भुलों मृगजळा न घडे तें ॥ध्रु.॥
उधळितां माती रविकळा मळे । हें कैसें न कळे भाग्यहीना ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे तृणें झांके हुताशन । हें तंव वचन वाउगें चि ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
They take a lamp and go searching for darkness; such an impossible discovery that would be. We are servants of Vishnu and do not fear Death; we cannot be deceived by a mirage. Throwing dust may dim the rays of the sun for a moment; how is it that the unfortunate cannot understand this? Says Tuka, to say that grass can smother a blazing fire is an utterly hollow claim.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
They take a lamp and go searching for darkness. Such a thing could never be found. We are servants of Vishnu. We do not fear death or the dark age. We will not be fooled by a mirage; that cannot happen. You may throw dust in the air, but does it dim the rays of the sun? How does the luckless soul not see this? Tuka says: to claim that a blade of grass can smother a blazing fire, that is an utterly hollow word.
What it means
Tukaram is stating why faith does not flinch. He stacks up three impossibilities: looking for darkness with a lamp in hand, dust thrown up to blot out the sun, a wisp of grass put forward to put out a fire. Each one names how small the threats really are against God. As a servant of Vishnu he refuses to fear death or the corrupt age, and refuses to be taken in by what only looks like water in a desert. The point is plain: nothing the world can muster touches the one who belongs to God, and only a soul without grace fails to see it.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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