Settled faith, rest at the feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां माझा नेणों परतों भाव । विसावोनि पायीं ठेविला जीव । सकळां लाभांचा हा ठाव । ऐसा वाव जाला चित्ताठायीं ॥1॥
भांडवल गांठी तरि विश्वास । जालों तों जालों निश्चय दास । न पाहें मागील ते वास । पुढती सोस सेवेचा ची ॥ध्रु.॥
आहे तें निवेदिलें सर्व । मी हें माझें मोडियला गर्व । अकाळीं काळ अवघें पर्व । जाला भरवसा कृपेलाभाचा ॥2॥
वेव्हारीं वेव्हारा अनंत । नाहीं यावांचुनी जाणत । तरी हें समाधान चित्त । लाभहानी नाहीं येत अंतरा ॥3॥
करूनि नातळों संसारा । अंग भिन्न राखिला पसारा । कळवळा तो जीवनीं खरा । बीजाचा थारा दुरी आघात ॥4॥
बहु मतापासूनि निराळा । होऊनि राहिलों सोंवळा । बैसल्या रूपाचा कळवळा । तुका ह्मणे डोळां लेइलों तें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now I do not know whether my devotion will turn back. Having found rest, I have placed my life at Your feet. This is the abode of all gains; such spaciousness has opened in my heart. My capital is faith. What has happened has happened; I have become Your servant with certainty. I will not look back at the past; from here on, my only longing is for service. I have offered everything I had; I have broken the pride of "I" and "mine." Every season has become auspicious; confidence in receiving Your grace has taken root. In worldly dealings, O Infinite One, I know nothing other than You, yet my mind is at peace. Gain or loss does not disturb my depths. I perform the duties of the world yet remain untouched, keeping the body separate from the soul's inner life. The seed's sprout is kept far from harm. I have become free from all doctrines and opinions, remaining pure. Says Tuka, the beauty of that form has entered my eyes, and I am adorned with it.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now I do not think my devotion will turn back. I have found rest and laid my life at your feet. This is the home of every gain; such open room has opened in my heart. My capital is trust. What has happened has happened: I have become your servant for certain. I will not look back at the past. From here on, my one longing is for service. I have offered all I had. I have broken the pride of I and mine. Every season has become a festival; confidence in your grace has taken root. In worldly dealings I know nothing but you, O Infinite One, yet my mind is at peace. Gain and loss do not reach my depths. I do the work of the world and stay untouched, keeping the body apart from the soul's inner life. The seed and its sprout are kept far from harm. I have stepped clear of all doctrines and opinions, and stay pure. Tuka says: the beauty of that form has entered my eyes, and I wear it.
What it means
Tukaram describes the steadiness that comes after surrender, when devotion no longer threatens to turn back. Having laid his life at the feet, he finds his heart opened into a place where every true gain is held, and trust, not anything earned, is the capital he trades on. He marks the break as final: the pride of I and mine is broken, the past is not worth a backward glance, and his only remaining want is to serve. The fruit is an even mind that handles the world's dealings, profit and loss alike, without being disturbed at its depths, because he keeps the inner life set apart from the body's affairs. Free of competing doctrines, he says the beauty of the Lord's form has entered his eyes, and he wears it like an ornament.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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