Doubt and resolve, the unlettered devotee
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोणाच्या आधारें करूं मी विचार । कोण देइल धीर माझ्या जीवा ॥1॥
शास्त्रज्ञ पंडित नव्हें मी वाचक । यातिशुद्ध एक ठाव नाहीं ॥2॥
कलियुगीं बहु कुशळ हे जन । छिळतील गुण तुझे गातां ॥3॥
मज हा संदेह झाला दोहीं सवा । भजन करूं देवा किंवा नको ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां दुरावितां जन । किंवा हें मरण भलें दोन्ही ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
On whose support shall I reflect? Who will give courage to my jiva? I am no learned scholar, no reader of scriptures, and I have not even one footing of caste purity. In this Kali Yuga, people are cunning and will mock me for singing Your virtues. I am caught in doubt on both sides: should I worship You, O God, or should I not? Says Tuka, either let the world shun me, or let death come. Both are good.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
On whose support shall I think this through? Who will give courage to my soul? I am no learned scholar. I am no reader of scriptures. I do not have even one footing of caste purity. In this Kali Yuga people are clever. They will mock me when I sing your praises. I am caught in doubt on both sides: should I worship you, God, or should I not? Tuka says: now either let the world shun me, or let death come. Both of these are good.
What it means
Tukaram lays out his disadvantage plainly: no learning, no scripture, no caste standing, and a clever, mocking age that will jeer at his singing. The doubt is real and he names it: should he even worship at all, when worship will draw scorn? Then he refuses the trap of that doubt. He chooses God over the world's opinion so completely that both being shunned by the world and dying lose their sting. Either outcome is good, because either one leaves him with God and free of the crowd's verdict.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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