Prayer, unknowing in the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाणोनि नेणतें करीं माझें मन । तुझी प्रेमखूण देऊनियां ॥1॥
मग मी व्यवहारीं असेन वर्तत । जेवीं जळाआंत पद्मपत्र ॥ध्रु.॥
ऐकोनि नाइकें निंदास्तुति कानीं । जैसा कां उन्मनी योगिराज ॥2॥
देखोनि न देखें प्रपंच हा दृष्टी । स्वप्नऴिचया सृिष्ट चेविल्या जेवीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसें जालियावांचून । करणें तें तें सीण वाटतसे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Make my mind unknowing, as though it were innocent, by giving it the mark of Your love. Then I shall move through the world like a lotus leaf upon water. Let me hear yet not hear the praise and blame that reach my ears, like a yogi absorbed beyond thought. Let me see yet not see this worldly existence, as one forgets the world of a dream upon waking. Says Tuka, until such a transformation happens, everything I do feels like mere weariness.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Make my mind unknowing, as if it were innocent. Give it the mark of Your love. Then I will move through the world like a lotus leaf on water. Let me hear praise and blame, yet not hear them, like a yogi gone beyond thought. Let me see this world, yet not see it, the way a dream is forgotten on waking. Tuka says: until this happens, everything I do feels like mere weariness.
What it means
Tukaram is asking for a specific inner change, not for escape from the world. He wants his mind made simple and unknowing, stamped with the mark of God's love, so he can stay in the world untouched, like a lotus leaf that water cannot soak. He spells out what that detachment looks like: hearing praise and blame without being moved, seeing worldly life the way a waking person treats a faded dream. He ends by naming the stakes plainly: without this transformation, every action is just tiring effort that leads nowhere.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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