Faith, the diamond does not become glass
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न मनावी चिंता तुह्मीं संतजनीं । हिरा स्पटिकमणी केंवि होय ॥1॥
पडिला प्रसंग स्तळा त्या सारिखा । देखिला पारिखा भाव कांहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
बहुतांसी भय एकाचिया दंडें । बहुत या तोंडें वचनासी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं वैखरी बा सर । करायाचे चार वेडे वेडे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
O saints, do not entertain worry. Can a diamond ever become a mere crystal? Whatever situation arises, one responds accordingly; I have seen some trace of this detachment. Many fear the punishment meant for one offender, and many mouths speak these words. Says Tuka, vaikhari holds no power here. Those who only enact the outer forms are fools, fools indeed.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Saints, do not let worry into your minds. Can a diamond ever become mere glass? Whatever situation comes, one meets it as it asks; I have seen some of that detachment. Many take fright at the punishment meant for one offender, and many mouths repeat the same words. Tuka says: mere speech has no power here. Those who only act out the outer forms are fools, fools indeed.
What it means
Tukaram steadies his fellow seekers against fear: a true thing keeps its nature, and a diamond can never sink into being common glass. The settled soul simply meets each circumstance as it comes, with the calm of detachment. He notes how fear spreads by contagion, a crowd trembling at a threat aimed at one, all repeating the same anxious words. Against that he sets the test of reality: outward show and recited phrases carry no weight. To go through the motions of devotion without inward truth is folly, and he says it twice.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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