Thanksgiving, prayer answered
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पुण्य उभें राहो आतां । संताचें याकारणें ॥1॥
पंढरीचे लागा वाटे । सखा भेटे विठ्ठल ॥ध्रु.॥
संकल्प हे यावे फळा । कळवळा बहुतांचा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे होऊनि क्षमा । पुरुषोत्तमा अपराध ॥3॥
आइकिली मात । पुरविले मनोरथ ॥ ॥
प्रेम वाढविलें देवा । बरवी घेऊनियां सेवा ॥ध्रु.॥
केली विनवणी । तैसी पुरविली धणी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे काया । रसा कुरोंडी वरोनियां ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
May the merit of the saints now stand forth for this purpose. Set out on the road to Pandhari, and Vitthal the friend will meet you. May these resolves bear fruit, out of the concern of the many. Says Tuka, O Purushottama, forgive my offenses. He heard my plea and fulfilled the desires of my heart. He increased our love, O God, by accepting our service. As I made my supplication, so was my hunger satisfied. Says Tuka, the body was baked and sealed like a pot, finished to perfection.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let the merit of the saints stand up for this now. Set out on the road to Pandhari, and Vitthal the friend will meet you. Let these resolves bear fruit, out of the love of the many. Tuka says: forgive my offenses, O Purushottama. He heard my plea. He fulfilled the longings of my heart. He made our love grow, O God, by taking up our service. As I begged, so my hunger was filled. Tuka says: this body is baked and sealed like a pot, finished, given over to that taste.
What it means
Tukaram prays that the accumulated grace of the saints come to stand behind him, then points to the simple road: go toward Pandhari and the friend Vitthal will meet you on it. He folds in the longing of many devotees and asks Purushottama to forgive his faults. The second half is pure thanksgiving, that the prayer was heard and the heart's desires fulfilled, and that God deepened the love by accepting the service offered. He ends with the image of his body baked hard like a finished clay pot, completely set and given over to that taste of God.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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