Drowning prayer, carry me across
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धरूनियां सोई परतलें मन । अनुलक्षीं चरण करूनियां॥1॥
येई पांडुरंगे नेई सांभाळूनि । करुणावचनीं आळवितों॥ध्रु.॥
बुिद्ध जाली साहए परि नाहीं बळ । अवलोकितों जळ वाहे नेत्रीं ॥2॥
न चलती पाय गिळत जाली काया । ह्मणऊनि दया येऊं द्यावी ॥3॥
दिशच्या करितों वारियासीं मात । जोडुनियां हात वास पाहें ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे वेग करावा सत्वर । पावावया तीर भवनदीचें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Having set my course, my mind has turned back toward You; with eyes fixed upon Your feet, I proceed. Come, O Panduranga, guide me and carry me safely. I cry out to You with words of compassion. My intellect has become my ally, but I lack the strength; tears flow from my eyes as I watch. My legs will not move, and my body is being swallowed. Therefore, let mercy come forth. I send my message to the winds in every direction, folding my hands, gazing toward Your coming. Says Tuka, hasten now, make haste, to reach the far shore of this river of worldly existence.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I had set out the other way, but my mind has turned back toward you. I keep my eyes on your feet and walk. Come, Panduranga, take me up, hold me safe. With tender words I call to you. My mind sees the way now, but I have no strength left; I watch, and water flows from my eyes. My feet will not move; my body is being swallowed. So let your mercy come. I send word to the winds in every direction. I fold my hands and watch for you to come. Tuka says: hurry, come quickly, so I may reach the far shore of this river of the world.
What it means
Tukaram prays as a man sinking in deep water, and the river is worldly life itself. He has finally turned his mind back toward God and fixed his eyes on Vitthal's feet, but understanding is not the same as strength: he sees the way and still cannot move, his legs locked, his body going under. So he stops trusting his own effort and cries out for mercy alone, folding his hands and sending his plea to the winds. The whole poem is the helpless urgency of one who knows he cannot save himself and begs Panduranga to come fast and carry him to the far bank.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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