Faith, God the debtor
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भक्तॠणी देव बोलती पुराणें । निर्धार वचनें साच करीं ॥१॥
मागें काय जाणों अइकिली वार्त्ता । कबिर सातें जातां घडिया वांटी ॥ध्रु.॥
माघारिया धन आणिलें घरासि । न घे केला त्यासि त्याग तेणें ॥२॥
नामदेवाचिया घरासि आणिलें । तेणें लुटविलें द्विजां हातीं ॥३॥
प्रत्यक्षासि काय द्यावें हें प्रमाण । व्यंकोबाचें ॠण फेडियेलें ॥४॥
बीज दळोनियां केली आराधना । लागे नारायणा पेरणें तें ॥५॥
तुका म्हणे नाहीं जयासि निर्धार । नाडला साचार तो चि एक ॥६॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The scriptures declare that God is a cosmic debtor to his devotees; make those words come true with unwavering resolve. I have heard the old story of how Kabir was given a gold coin each step of the way. When someone brought the gold to Kabir's house, he refused it, having renounced all wealth. When it was brought to Namdev's house, he had it plundered at the hands of the Brahmins. Need any proof be given of what is obvious? The Lord repaid even Vyankatesh's debt. When the seed was ground to flour as an offering, Narayana himself had to sow it again. Says Tuka, the one who lacks such unwavering resolve is the only one who is truly deceived and ruined.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The old scriptures say that God makes himself a debtor to his devotees; hold those words as true with unshaken resolve. Remember the stories: Kabir was given a gold coin at every step; when someone carried the gold to his house he refused it, having renounced all wealth, and when it was brought to Namdev's house he had it given away to the Brahmins. What proof does the obvious need? The Lord even paid off Vyankatesh's debt. When the seed-grain was ground up for an offering, Narayana himself had to come and sow the field again. Tuka says: the only one who is truly cheated is the one who lacks this firm faith.
What it means
An abhanga in praise of faith, built on the saints' stories. Scripture promises that God becomes a debtor to those who love him, and Tukaram says: take that literally, with full resolve. He stacks up the evidence, Kabir and Namdev and the gold, the Lord settling a devotee's debt, God himself re-sowing a field whose seed had been given away in worship, to show that the promise has always held. His conclusion turns it around: God never fails the devotee, so the only person ever deceived is the one whose faith was not firm enough to trust him. The lack is never on God's side.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
More in this theme →