Prayer, hold my wandering mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां होई माझे बुद्धीचा जनिता । अवरावें चित्ता पांडुरंगा ॥1॥
येथूनियां कोठें न वजें बाहेरी । ऐसें मज धरीं सत्ताबळें ॥ध्रु.॥
अनावर गुण बहुतां जातींचे । न बोलावें वाचे ऐसें करीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हित कोणिये जातीचें । तुज ठावें साचें मायबापा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now become the guide of my intellect; restrain my mind, O Panduranga. Do not let me go anywhere beyond this place; hold me here by the force of Your authority. The wayward tendencies of many natures run wild in me; make it so that my tongue cannot speak what it should not. Says Tuka, You alone know, O Father and Mother, the true good of each nature.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now become the maker of my understanding; rein in my mind, Panduranga. Do not let me wander anywhere beyond this place; hold me here by the force of your authority. Wild tendencies of many kinds run loose in me; make it so my tongue cannot say what it should not say. Tuka says: you alone truly know, mother and father, what is good for each kind of nature.
What it means
Tukaram admits he cannot govern his own mind and asks God to take that office by force. He does not request gentle help; he asks to be held in place by God's sattabal, sheer authority, because left to himself he drifts. The wayward pulls of his nature show even in speech, so he prays that his tongue be stopped before it harms. He ends by handing over even the judgment of what is good for him, trusting the parent who knows each creature's true welfare better than the creature does.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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