Prayer, grace costs You nothing
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुह्मां न पडे वेच । माझा सरेल संकोच ॥1॥
फुकासाटीं जोडे यश । येथें कां करा आळस ॥ध्रु.॥
कृपेचें भुकेलें। होय जीवदान केलें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे शिकविलें । माझें ऐकावें विठ्ठलें॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It costs You nothing, and my hesitation will end. Glory is gained for free; why then be lazy about it? One who hungers for grace: to give such a one life is a deed of mercy. Says Tuka, O Vitthal, hear what I have taught; it is my earnest plea.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It costs you nothing, and my shyness will be over. Glory is gained for free; why be lazy about it here? Here is one who hungers for grace. To give such a one life is an act of mercy. Tuka says: O Vitthal, listen to what I have taught you; it is my plea.
What it means
Tukaram presses God with a kind of holy bargaining. Saving him costs God nothing, and it would end his own embarrassment of standing as a beggar; so why delay? He points out that the glory of mercy is gained at no price, so there is no reason for God to be slow about it. Then he names himself plainly: a man starving for grace, and to grant life to such a one is exactly what mercy is for. The closing turns the usual order on its head, with the devotee gently instructing God to listen, which is itself the boldness that intimacy with Vitthal allows.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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