Prayer, burn the ego to its root
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
इतुलें करीं देवा ऐकें हें वचन । समूळ अभिमान जाळीं माझा ॥1॥
इतुलें करीं देवा ऐकें हे गोष्टी । सर्व समदृष्टी तुज देखें ॥ध्रु.॥
इतुलें करीं देवा विनवितों तुज । संतांचे चरणरज वंदीं माथां ॥2॥
इतुलें करीं देवा ऐकें हे मात । हृदयीं पंढरीनाथ दिवसरात्रीं ॥3॥
भलतिया भावें तारीं पंढरीनाथा । तुका ह्मणे आतां शरण आलों ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do this much for me, O God, hear this word: burn my ego-pride to its very roots. Do this much, O God, hear this request: let me behold You with equal vision in all. Do this much, O God, I implore You: let me bow my head to the dust of the saints' feet. Do this much, O God, hear this plea: let the Lord of Pandhari dwell in my heart day and night. Says Tuka, save me now in whatever way You will, O Lord of Pandhari. I have come to Your refuge.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Do this much for me, O God. Hear this word: burn my pride to its very root. Do this much, O God. Hear this: let me see You, the same, in everyone. Do this much, O God. I beg You: let me bow my head to the dust of the saints' feet. Do this much, O God. Hear this: let the Lord of Pandhari live in my heart, day and night. Save me however You will, O Lord of Pandhari. Tuka says: I have come to Your refuge now.
What it means
Tukaram asks for four things and nothing else, and each one is a request to be unmade. First, that his pride be burned out completely, not trimmed but pulled up by the root. Then that he be given equal sight, so he sees the same God in every person. Then the dust of the saints' feet on his head, and the Name of Pandhari kept in his heart around the clock. Having asked, he hands over the method too: save me in whatever way You choose. The prayer ends where it can only end, at the feet, in surrender.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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