Prayer, the work handed back
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मिटवण्याचे धनी । तुम्ही वेवसाय जनीं ॥1॥
कोण पडे ये लिगाडीं । केली तैसीं उगवा कोडीं ॥ध्रु.॥
केलें सांगितलें काम । दिले पाळूनियां धर्म ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां । असो तुमचें तुमचे माथां ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
You are the master of all that is to be erased, the one who wipes the ledger clean. Who else would take on this burden? Solve the puzzles You have created. The work assigned has been done; the dharma has been followed faithfully. Says Tuka, now let whatever is Yours remain upon Your own head.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
You are the master who wipes the ledger clean. That is your trade among people. Who else would fall into this tangle? Untie the knots you yourself made. The work you told me to do is done; the dharma has been kept faithfully. Tuka says: now let what is yours rest upon your own head.
What it means
Tukaram returns responsibility to God after doing his own part. He addresses God as the one whose business it is to erase debts and clear accounts, and asks who else would step into such a tangle; the knots, after all, are God's own making, so let God undo them. For his side, he has done the work he was given and kept the dharma faithfully. So he sets the rest down where it belongs: whatever remains is God's, and it should rest on God's head, not the servant's.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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