Prayer, come running not walking
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धांव धांव गरुडध्वजा । आह्मां अनाथांच्या काजा॥1॥
बहु जालों कासावीस । ह्मणोनि पाहें तुझी वास ॥ध्रु.॥
पाहें पाहें त्या मारगें । कोणी येतें माझ्या लागें ॥2॥
असोनियां ऐसा । तुज सारिखा कोंवसा ॥3॥
न लवावा उशीर । नेणों कां हा केला धीर॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे चाली । नको चालूं धांव घालीं ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Run, run, O Bearer of the Garuda banner. Come to the aid of us helpless ones. I am greatly distressed and look only for You. I gaze down the road to see if someone comes for my sake. Though You are so close, why this aloofness? Do not delay any further. I do not know why You have held back. Says Tuka, do not walk; run to me.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Run, run, you who bear the Garuda banner. Come for the sake of us who have no one. I have grown sick with distress, so I keep looking down the road for you. I watch and watch that path, to see if anyone is coming for me. You are right here, a refuge like you, so close. Do not be late any longer. I do not know why you have held yourself back. Tuka says: do not walk. Do not walk; come running.
What it means
Tukaram is praying in the voice of someone at the end of his strength, calling on Vishnu, the bearer of the Garuda banner, to come. He names himself among the helpless who have no other protector, and he is sick with waiting, eyes fixed on the road for any sign of rescue. The ache in the prayer is that the Lord is so near and yet seems to hold back, and he cannot understand the delay. The final line refuses any leisurely arrival: walking is not enough, the need is now, so come running.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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