Confession, swallowing the bait again
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नित्य मनासी करितों विचार । तों हें अनावर विषयलोभी॥1॥
आतां मज राखें आपुलिया बळें । न देखें हे जाळें उगवतां ॥ध्रु.॥
सांपडलों गळीं नाहीं त्याची सत्ता । उगळी मागुता घेतला तो ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मी तों अज्ञान चि आहें । परि तुझी पाहें वास देवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Every day I counsel my own mind, but it remains unruly, hungry for sense pleasures. Now protect me by Your own strength; I cannot see these traps as they appear. I was caught on the hook, but having no power of my own, I swallowed the bait again. Says Tuka, I am truly ignorant, but I look to You, O God.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Every day I reason with my mind, and still it stays unruly, greedy for sense pleasures. Now guard me by your own strength; I cannot see this net even as it closes. I was caught on the hook, and having no power of my own, I swallowed the bait again. Tuka says: I am truly ignorant, but I keep looking your way, O God.
What it means
Tukaram confesses that daily self-talk has not tamed his appetites, and he names the failure honestly. The image is brutal: a fish hooked once, freed, and then gulping the same bait down again, because it has no strength to do otherwise. He cannot even see the net as it tightens, so self-help is useless; only God's strength can guard him. What is left is not mastery but direction: ignorant and weak, he simply keeps facing toward God, and calls that his only hope.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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