Prayer, awaiting the command
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
देऊं कपाट । कीं कोण काळ राखों वाट ॥1॥
काय होईल तें शिरीं । आज्ञा धरोनियां करीं ॥ध्रु.॥
करूं कळे ऐसी मात। किंवा राखावा एकांत ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जागों । किंवा कोणा नेंदूं वागों ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Should I shut the door, or wait watching for the appointed time? Whatever comes upon my head, I hold Your command in my hands. Should I speak up plainly, or should I keep to solitude? Says Tuka, should I stay awake or let others carry on as they will?
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Should I shut the door, or keep watch for the right hour? Whatever falls on my head, I hold Your command in my hands. Should I speak my mind plainly, or keep to my solitude? Tuka says: should I stay awake, or let others carry on as they please?
What it means
This is the prayer of a servant who will not move without orders. Every line is a real question put to God: close up or keep watch, speak out or stay silent, stay vigilant or leave others to their ways. He refuses to decide on his own; whatever befalls him, he holds the Lord's command as the thing in his hands. The abhanga sits inside that uncertainty on purpose, naming the choices and handing each one back to God to settle.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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