Prayer, why does the Lord sleep
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पापी ह्मणों तरि आठवितों पाय । दोष बळी काय तयाहूनि ॥1॥
ऐशा विचाराचे घालूनि कोंडणी । काय चक्रपाणी निजलेती ॥ध्रु.॥
एकवेळ जेणें पुत्राच्या उद्देशें ॥ घेतल्याचें कैसें नेलें दुःख ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे अहो वैकुंठनायका । चिंता कां सेवका तुमचिया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If I call myself one steeped in wrong, still I remember your feet. Is any fault more powerful than that remembrance? Having penned in such thoughts, O Chakrapani, why do you lie sleeping? You once lifted the sorrow of one who called your name with his son's purpose in mind. Says Tuka, O Lord of Vaikuntha, why should your own servant carry any worry?
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If I call myself a sinner, still I remember your feet. Is any fault stronger than that remembrance? I have penned in these very thoughts, Chakrapani, so why do you lie sleeping? Once you lifted away the sorrow of one who called your name with only his son in mind. Tuka says: O Lord of Vaikuntha, why should your own servant carry any worry?
What it means
Tukaram argues his case to a God who seems unresponsive. He admits he may be a sinner, but counters that he still remembers God's feet, and asks whether any sin can outweigh that remembrance. Having boxed God in with this reasoning, he prods him: then why do you lie there asleep, Chakrapani? He recalls the saving of Ajamila, who called the name only because it was his son's name yet was rescued anyway, to show that God responds even to an accidental call. The conclusion turns the logic into reassurance and gentle reproach at once: if you are the Lord of Vaikuntha, your own servant has no business carrying worry.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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