Petition, do not turn away
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
शरण आलें त्यासी न दावीं हे पाठी । ऐका जगजेठी विज्ञापना ॥1॥
अळविती तयांसी उत्तर झडकरी । द्यावें परिसा हरी विज्ञापना ॥ध्रु.॥
गांजिलियाचें करावें धांवणें । विनंती नारायणें परिसावी हे ॥2॥
भागलियाचा होई रे विसांवा । परिसावी केशवा विज्ञापना ॥3॥
अंकिताचा भार वागवावा माथां । परिसावी अनंता विज्ञापना ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मां विसरावें ना देवा । परिसावी हे देवा विज्ञापना ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do not turn Your back on one who has come seeking refuge. Hear this petition, O Lord of the universe. Give a swift reply to those who call upon You. Hear this petition, O Hari. Come running to the crushed and oppressed. Hear this petition, O Narayana. Be the resting place of the weary. Hear this petition, O Keshava. Bear the burden of Your devoted ones upon Your head. Hear this petition, O Ananta. Says Tuka, never forget us, O God. Hear this petition, O God.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have come seeking refuge. Do not show me your back. Hear this petition, O Lord of the universe. When your people call you, answer them quickly. Give a swift reply, O Hari; hear this petition. Come running to the crushed and the oppressed. Hear this petition, O Narayana. Be the resting place of the weary. Hear this petition, O Keshava. Carry the burden of your devoted ones on your head. Hear this petition, O Ananta. Tuka says: never forget us, O God. Hear this petition, O God.
What it means
This abhanga is one long plea, the same line returning at every turn: hear this petition. Tukaram comes as a refugee and asks God to do the things a refuge is for, answer the cry quickly, run to the oppressed, give rest to the weary, carry the devotee's burden. He calls God by a new name each verse, Hari, Narayana, Keshava, Ananta, as if pressing the same request against every face of the same God. The one thing he asks above all is not to be forgotten. The poem leaves God no room to be aloof: if he is Lord of the universe, then these are his obligations to the one who has surrendered.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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