Prayer, take me out of the trade
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाठीलागा काळ येतसे या लागें । मी माझें वाउगें मेंढीऐसें ॥1॥
आतां अगी लागो ऐसिया वेव्हारा । तूं माझा सोइरा पांडुरंगा ॥ध्रु.॥
वागविला माथां नसतां चि भार । नव्हे तें साचार जाणील तों ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे केलें जवळील दुरी । मृगजळ वरी आड आलें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Death pursues me on this path, and I, with my meaningless 'I' and 'mine,' am helpless as a sheep. Now let fire consume such worldly trade; You are my only kinsman, O Panduranga. I was carrying a needless burden on my head; by the time I recognized what was unreal, it was almost too late. Says Tuka, what was near was made distant by the mirage that came in between.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Death runs behind me on this road. With my useless I and mine, I am helpless as a sheep. Now let fire fall on such dealings. You are my kinsman, Panduranga. I carried a load on my head that was never mine. By the time I saw it was unreal, it was almost too late. Tuka says: what was near was made far. A mirage came and stood in the way.
What it means
Tukaram prays from the felt nearness of death and the helplessness of a self built on I and mine. He compares himself to a sheep, defenseless, and asks that the whole worldly trade be burned up, taking refuge in Panduranga as his only true kin. He confesses he carried a burden that was never really his, and only recognized its unreality almost too late. The final image names the trouble: the Lord was always near, but a mirage of the world rose up between them and made what was close seem far. The prayer is to clear that mirage away.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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