Prayer, only remembrance
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं तुज कांहीं मागत संपत्ती । आठवण चित्तीं असों द्यावी ॥1॥
सरलिया भोग येईन सेवटीं । पायापें या भेटी अनुसंधानें ॥ध्रु.॥
आतां मजसाटीं याल आकारास । रोकडी हे आस नाहीं देवा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मुखीं असो तुझें नाम । देईल तो श्रम देवो काळ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I do not ask You for any wealth; just let Your remembrance abide in my chitta. When worldly experience has run its course, I shall come to Your feet at the end, through the thread of that remembrance. I do not ask that You take form in this world just for my sake; that is not my present desire, O God. Says Tuka, let Your Name remain on my lips; let time and labor take their course.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I ask you for no wealth; only let your remembrance stay in my mind. When my worldly portion is used up, I will come to your feet at the end, on the thread of that remembrance. I do not ask you to take a body in this world for my sake; that is not my present wish, God. Tuka says: let your Name stay on my lips; let time and toil do whatever they do.
What it means
Tukaram strips his prayer down to a single request: not riches, not even a miraculous appearance of God in the flesh, but only that the memory of God never leave his heart. He is content to let his ordinary life run its full course; he does not want it cut short or rescued. His one provision for the end is the thread of remembrance, which he trusts will carry him to God's feet when the body is spent. The last line hands everything else over: let time and hardship come as they will, so long as the Name stays on his lips. It is a prayer that asks for almost nothing and stakes everything on it.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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