Refuge, hiding behind God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नेणें जप तप अनुष्ठान याग । काळें तंव लाग घेतलासे ॥1॥
रिघालो या भेणें देवाचे पाठीसी । लागे त्याचें त्यासी सांभाळणें ॥ध्रु.॥
मापें माप सळे चालिली चढती । जाली मग राती काय चाले ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे चोरा हातीं जे वांचलें । लाभावरी आलें वारिलेशु ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I know neither japa, nor tapas, nor ritual, nor sacrifice. Time has already marked me for its own. I have taken shelter behind God out of this fear; now it falls upon Him to protect what is His. The stakes keep rising, and when night falls, what recourse remains? Says Tuka, whatever was saved from the thief's hands has now yielded a profit over and above the loss.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I know no japa, no penance, no ritual, no sacrifice. Time has already marked me for its own. In this fear I have run and hidden behind God; now it is His to look after what is His. The stakes keep climbing higher; and when night falls, what move is left to play? Tuka says: whatever was saved from the thief's hands has turned out to be profit over and above the loss.
What it means
Tukaram admits he has none of the recognized merits, no recitation, austerity, rite, or sacrifice, and that death already has him in its sights. Out of that fear he has taken cover behind God, and he turns the duty around: having claimed him as His own, God must now protect him. The image of rising stakes and approaching night says the time for self-effort is running out. Yet the close turns hopeful: like goods snatched back from a thief, whatever has been rescued by taking refuge counts as pure gain, a profit beyond the loss he feared.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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