Nature of God, the rescuer in danger
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उधाराचा संदेह नाहीं । याचा कांहीं सेवकां ॥1॥
पांडुरंग अभिमानी । जीवदानी कोंवसा ॥ध्रु.॥
बुडतां जळीं जळतां अंगीं । ते प्रसंगीं राखावें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मांसाटीं । कृपा पोटीं वागवी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There is no doubt of being redeemed for His servants. Panduranga takes pride in them, the giver of jiva, tender as a new shoot. When drowning in water or burning in fire, He rescues them in that very moment. Says Tuka, He carries compassion for us within His very belly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There is no doubt of being saved for His servants; there is none at all. Panduranga takes pride in them, the giver of life, tender as a new shoot. When they drown in water or burn in fire, at that very moment He rescues them. Tuka says: for our sake He carries compassion in His very belly.
What it means
Tukaram states the servant's security plainly: for those who belong to God there is no doubt of being saved. Panduranga is proud of His servants and is the giver of life, tender toward them as a fresh shoot. The promise is tested at the extreme. When they are drowning or burning, He saves them in that very instant, not after. The closing image makes the rescue come from love, not duty: God carries compassion for His own inside His very belly, the way a mother holds a child.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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