Prayer, the restless mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मन माझें चपळ न राहे निश्चळ । घडी एकी पळ िस्थर नाहीं ॥1॥
आतां तूं उदास नव्हें नारायणा । धांवें मज दीना गांजियेलें ॥ध्रु.॥
धांव घालीं पुढें इंिद्रयांचे ओढी । केलें तडातडी चित्त माझें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझा न चले सायास । राहिलों हे आस धरुनी तुझी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My mind is restless and will not stay still; not for a single moment or even half a breath does it hold steady. O Narayana, do not be indifferent to me now; come running to this tormented, helpless soul. The pull of the senses drags it forward and tears my mind to pieces. Says Tuka, my own efforts are of no avail; I remain here holding only to my hope in you.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My mind is restless. It will not hold still. Not for a moment, not for half a breath, does it stay steady. O Narayana, do not turn away from me now. Come running. I am poor, and I am tormented. The senses drag it forward, and they tear my mind to pieces. Tuka says: my own effort gets me nowhere. I stay here, holding only to my hope in you.
What it means
Tukaram is admitting he cannot control his own mind. He describes it honestly: not still for even half a breath, dragged in every direction by the senses until it is torn apart. He has tried to steady it himself and failed, so he stops pretending his effort can do the work. The prayer is a plea to Narayana to come quickly to a soul that is poor and tormented, and the last line names what is left when self-effort runs out: nothing but hope held onto God.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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