Prayer, why does my time pass in distress
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तरीं आह्मी तुझी धरियेली कास । नाहीं कोणी दास वांयां गेला ॥1॥
आगा पंढरीच्या उभ्या विटेवरी । येई लवकरी धांवें नेटे ॥ध्रु.॥
पालवितों तुज उभी करोनि बाहे । कृपावंता पाहे मजकडे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुज बहु कान डोळे । कां हे माझे वेळे ऐसी परी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have held fast to your garment, for no devotee of yours has ever been turned away in vain. O Lord standing upon the brick at Pandhari, come running to me swiftly and with force. I call to you with arms raised high; O compassionate one, look toward me. Says Tuka, you have so many ears and eyes, so why is my time passing in such distress?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Still, I have held fast to your garment, for no servant of yours was ever turned away in vain. O Lord standing on the brick at Pandhari, come running to me, quickly and with force. I call to you with my arms raised high; O merciful one, look toward me. Tuka says: you have so many ears, so many eyes, so why is my own time passing in this distress?
What it means
Tukaram clings to God with one piece of confidence: no devotee who held on has ever been sent away empty. So he calls to the Lord who stands on the brick at Pandhari to come running fast and strong. He stretches his arms up and pleads for one merciful glance turned his way. The poem ends with an honest, almost wounded question: if God has countless ears and eyes that hear and see everyone, why is Tukaram's own hour still passing in pain. It is the cry of a faith that trusts God and yet is still kept waiting.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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