Prayer, let our words be true
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तोंडें बोलावें तें तरी वाटे खरें । जीव येरेयेरें वंचिजे ना ॥1॥
हें तुह्मां सांगणें काय उगवूनि । जावें समजोनि पांडुरंगा॥ध्रु.॥
जेवित्याची खूण वाढित्या अंतरीं । प्रीतीनें हे धरी चाली तेथें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बहु परीचे आदर । अत्यंत वेव्हारसंपादणी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What is spoken should at least feel true; let us not deceive each other within. What more can I explain to You? Understand this, O Panduranga. The one who serves knows the mind of the one who eats; where there is love, the right conduct follows naturally. Says Tuka, there are many forms of hospitality, but the ultimate transaction must be genuine.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What is spoken should at least feel true; let us not cheat each other within. What more can I explain to you? Understand this, O Panduranga. The one who serves knows the mind of the one who eats; where there is love, right conduct follows on its own. Tuka says: there are many forms of welcome, but the real dealing must be genuine.
What it means
Tukaram asks for honesty in the relationship between the soul and God. Words spoken between them should ring true, and neither should deceive the other in the heart. He uses the image of host and guest: the server who truly loves the one he feeds reads that person's wishes and acts rightly without being told. So love makes the right conduct natural. Many outward forms of hospitality exist, but Tukaram wants the one transaction that matters to be sincere all the way through.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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