Prayer, hold my pledge true
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय माझा पण होईल लटिका । िब्रदावळी लोकां दाविली ते ॥1॥
खरी करूनियां देई माझी आळी । येऊनि कृवाळी पांडुरंगे ॥ध्रु.॥
आणीक म्यां कोणा ह्मणवावें हातीं । नये काकुलती दुजियासी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मज येथें चि ओळखी । होईन तो सुखी पायांनीं च ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Will my vow prove false? Will the pledges I have declared before the world come to nothing? Make my plea come true, O Panduranga; come to me with compassion. Whom else can I call upon for help? I cannot beg at another's door. Says Tuka, my only acquaintance is here; I shall find happiness at Your feet alone.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Will my vow turn out false? I have shown the world your roll of titles. Make my claim come true; come, Panduranga, and caress me. Whom else can I send for help? I cannot go begging at another's door. Tuka says: my one acquaintance is here; I will be happy at your feet alone.
What it means
Tukaram is staking his own honor on God's response. He has gone about proclaiming God's titles and greatness to the world, and now he fears being made a liar: if God does not act, his public vow falls to the ground. So he asks Panduranga to come and make his claim true with a caress. He insists he has nowhere else to turn; he refuses to beg at any other door, because God is his only acquaintance and his happiness is fixed at these feet alone. It is the bold, almost demanding prayer of one whose reputation and his Lord's name now stand or fall together.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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