Prayer, wealth the weak cannot keep
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दुर्बळाचे हातीं सांपडलें धन । करितां जतन नये त्यासी ॥1॥
तैसी परी मज झाली नारायणा । योगक्षेम जाणां तुह्मी आतां ॥ध्रु.॥
खातां लेतां नये मिरवितां वरि । राजा दंड करी जनराग ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मग तळमळ उरे । देखिलें तें झुरे पाहावया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When wealth falls into the hands of the weak, they cannot keep it safe. Such is my predicament, O Narayana; now You must manage my welfare. I cannot properly use or display or enjoy it; the king punishes and the people resent me. Says Tuka, then only restless longing remains; what was once seen, the eyes yearn to see again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
When wealth falls into a weak man's hands, he cannot keep it safe. That is exactly my state, Narayana; my welfare is yours to manage now. I cannot use it, wear it, or show it off; the king fines me and people resent me. Tuka says: then only the burning remains, and the eyes ache to see again what they once saw.
What it means
Tukaram likens spiritual gifts to riches placed in the hands of someone too weak to hold them. A poor man who suddenly gets wealth he cannot protect is exposed on every side: he cannot enjoy it, the powerful prey on him, the crowd envies him. So Tukaram refuses to manage his own welfare and asks Narayana to take charge of his yogakshema, his keeping and his gain. The closing line names the real danger of half held grace: it leaves only restless craving, the eye forever aching to glimpse again what it briefly saw.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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