Prayer, the beggar at the door
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मुखाकडे वास । पाहें करूनियां आस ॥1॥
आतां होईल ते शिरीं । मनोगत आज्ञा धरीं ॥ध्रु.॥
तुह्मीं अंगीकार । केला पाहिजे हें सार ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे दारीं । उभें याचक मीं हरी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I gaze toward Your face, waiting with hope. Whatever shall come, I shall bear it upon my head; I hold Your command within me. You must accept me; that is the essential thing. Says Tuka, I stand at Your door as a beggar, O Hari.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I gaze toward Your face, waiting in hope. Whatever comes, I will carry it on my head; I hold Your command inside me. You must take me up; that is the one thing that matters. Tuka says: I stand at Your door as a beggar, O Hari.
What it means
Tukaram prays as one who has stopped bargaining and simply waits. He keeps his eyes on God's face, full of hope, and pledges to bear whatever God sends, carrying His command as a thing held above the head. His single request is that God accept him, which he names as the one essential. The image he leaves us with is stark and humble: he stands at Hari's door as a beggar, having nothing to offer but his waiting and his readiness to obey.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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