Faith, Panduranga the boatman
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भवसिंधूचें काय कोडें । दावी वाट चाले पुढें ॥1॥
तारूं भला पांडुरंग । पाय भिजों नेदी अंग ॥ध्रु.॥
मागें उतरिलें बहुत । पैल तिरीं साधुसंत ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे लाग वेगें । जाऊं तयाचिया मागें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What is so difficult about the ocean of worldly life? He shows the way and walks ahead. Panduranga is a fine boatman who does not even let the body get wet. He has already carried many across; on the far shore stand the saints and sages. Says Tuka, hurry now and follow in His footsteps.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What is so hard about the ocean of worldly life? He shows the way and walks ahead. Panduranga is a good boatman; he does not even let your body get wet. He has already carried many across. On the far shore stand the saints. Tuka says: hurry now, follow close behind him.
What it means
Tukaram answers the fear of samsara, the endless ocean of birth and death, by pointing at who is steering. Panduranga goes ahead and shows the path, and he ferries so well that the crossing soul never even gets wet. This is not a lonely struggle: countless people have already been carried over, and the saints are visible waiting on the far bank as proof. The crossing is real and the way is known. So the only task left is to move quickly and stay close behind the one already walking ahead.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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