Plea to God, do not turn away
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां तूं तयास होई वो उदास । आरंभला नास माझ्या जीवा ॥1॥
जरूर हें जालें मज कां नावडे । उपास रोकडे येती आतां ॥ध्रु.॥
बरें म्या तुझिया जीवाचें तें काय । व्हावें हें तें पाहें विचारूनि ॥2॥
तुज मज तुटी नव्हे या विचारें । सहित लेकुरें राहों सुखें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे तरी तुझा माझा संग । घडेल वियोग कधीं नव्हे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now, if you become indifferent to Him, the ruin of my very life will follow. This has become unavoidable, though I do not welcome it; immediate hardship lies ahead. Consider carefully what should become of your life and mine. This need not mean a separation between us; with our children, let us live in peace together. Says Tuka, then your companionship with me will never face separation.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now, if you grow cold toward him, the ruin of my very life begins. This has become unavoidable, though I do not welcome it; hardship is coming straight at me. Think it over: what good is your life to me, and what good is mine? See it clearly. By this reasoning, there need be no break between us. Let us stay in peace, our children with us. Tuka says: then your company with me will hold, and we will never be parted.
What it means
Tukaram is pleading against a separation he dreads, speaking as one bound to God the way a wife is bound to her household. He warns that if God turns indifferent, his life falls to ruin, and the hardship is already on its way. Against that, he reasons for togetherness: there is no need to break apart, so let them live in peace with their children. The closing turn is the point. If they stay joined, the bond between his soul and God will never again face separation, and that unbroken company is what he is begging for.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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