Prayer, servant of the servants
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुमचिये दासींचा दास करूनि ठेवा । आशीर्वाद द्यावा हा चि मज ॥1॥
नवविधा काय बोलिली जे भक्ती । घ्यावी माझ्या हातीं संतजनीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुमच्या पायांच्या आधारें। उत्तरेन खरें भवनदी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Make me the servant of the servants of Your servants. Grant me this one blessing. The nine forms of devotion that are spoken of, let these be placed into my hands by the saints. Says Tuka, relying on the support of Your feet, I shall truly cross the river of worldly existence.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Make me the servant of the servants of your servants; grant me this one blessing. The nine kinds of devotion that are spoken of, let the saints place them into my hands. Tuka says: leaning on the support of your feet, I will truly cross the river of worldly existence.
What it means
Tukaram prays not for greatness but for the lowest place, to be servant of the servants of God's servants, and asks that single blessing. He wants the nine traditional forms of devotion handed to him by the saints, received from their hands rather than claimed on his own. His confidence rests entirely outside himself. With the support of God's feet to lean on, he is sure the river of worldly existence can truly be crossed.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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