Prayer, the hand on the head
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां द्यावें अभयदान । जीवन ये कृपेचें ॥1॥
उभारोनी बाहो देवा । हात ठेवा मस्तकीं ॥ध्रु.॥
नाभी नाभी या उत्तरें । करुणाकरें सांतवीजे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे केली आस । तो हा दिस फळाचा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now grant me the gift of fearlessness, the life-giving waters of Your mercy. Raise Your arm, O Lord, and place Your hand upon my head. Comfort me with the words 'Fear not, fear not,' O compassionate one. Says Tuka, the day of fruition has come for the hope I have nurtured.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now give me the gift of fearlessness. Give me the life-giving water of your mercy. Raise your arm, O God, and lay your hand on my head. Comfort me with the words: fear not, fear not, O merciful one. Tuka says: the hope I held has come to the day of its fruit.
What it means
Tukaram asks for the blessing of fearlessness, naming it as a kind of water that gives life. He pictures the gesture exactly: God's arm lifted, the hand resting on his head, the spoken words 'fear not, fear not.' This is the classic sign of a granted refuge, protection made into touch and speech. The closing line says the long hope has finally reached its ripening day. The prayer rests on the certainty that the answer is now at hand.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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