Prayer, the doorkeeper's plea
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
द्वारपाळ विनंती करी । उभे द्वारीं राउळा ॥1॥
आपुलिया शरणागता । वाहों चिंता नेदावी ॥ध्रु.॥
वचना या चित्त द्यावें । असो ठावें पायांसी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कृपासिंधू । दीनबंधू केशवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The doorkeeper makes a plea, standing at the temple gate. Do not let Your devotees carry any burden of worry. Listen to this prayer; let it be known to Your feet. Says Tuka, O ocean of compassion, O Keshava, friend of the lowly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The doorkeeper makes his plea, standing at the temple gate. Let no burden of worry fall on those who have come to you for refuge. Give your mind to this prayer; let it be known to your feet. Tuka says: O ocean of compassion, O Keshava, friend of the lowly.
What it means
Tukaram casts himself as a servant standing guard at the Lord's gate, speaking up for those who have taken shelter there. His single request is that none of these refuge-seekers be left to carry the weight of worry. He asks only that the prayer reach the Lord's feet and be heard. He closes by naming the Lord's own nature as the guarantee: an ocean of compassion and Keshava, the friend of the lowly, who will not turn such people away.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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