Prayer, come quickly and take my hand
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उसंतिल्या कर्मवाटा । बहु मोटा आघात ॥1॥
शीघ्र यावें शीघ्र यावें । हातीं न्यावें धरूनि ॥ध्रु.॥
भागलों या खटपटे । घटपटें करितां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कृपावंता । माझी चिंता खंडावी॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The pathways of karma have become exhausted, and the blows have been heavy. Come quickly, come quickly, and take me by the hand. I am weary of all this struggle and turmoil. Says Tuka, O compassionate one, relieve my anxiety.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The roads of karma have worn me out. The blows have been heavy. Come quickly, come quickly; take me by the hand and lead me. I am tired of all this struggle, this scraping and toiling. Tuka says: O merciful one, cut off my worry.
What it means
Tukaram cries out from exhaustion. The long roads of action have used him up, and the blows along the way have been hard. He begs God to come fast, to take him by the hand and lead him out, because he is worn down by endless struggle and busywork. The closing line asks the compassionate one to cut his anxiety clean off. It is the plain prayer of someone at the end of his own strength, asking to be carried the rest of the way.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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