Petition, the beggar at the feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुह्मी विश्वनाथ । दीनरंक मी अनाथ ॥1॥
कृपा कराल ते थोडी । पायां पडिलों बराडी ॥ध्रु.॥
काय उणें तुह्मांपाशीं। मी तों अल्पें चि संतोषी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देवा । कांहीं भातुकें पाठवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
You are the Lord of the universe, and I am a poor, destitute orphan. I have fallen at your feet, crying out for just a little of your grace. What could possibly be lacking in your treasury? I am content with even the smallest morsel. Says Tuka, O God, please send me some small gift.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
You are the Lord of the universe. I am a poor wretch, an orphan. Even a little grace from you is much. I have fallen at your feet, begging. What could be lacking with you? And I am content with very little. Tuka says: O God, send me some small gift.
What it means
Tukaram stands as a beggar before Vishvanatha, the Lord of the universe, naming the whole distance between them. He has nothing and belongs to no one; the God he addresses owns everything. From such a giver even a small mercy is enormous, so he falls at the feet and asks. He presses the point gently: nothing in the divine treasury could run short, and his own needs are tiny, satisfied by the least crumb. The prayer ends not grasping for greatness but asking only for some small gift, the posture of one who trusts the giver more than he wants the gift.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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