Prayer, wake my mind, Narayana
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
देह प्रारब्धा शिरीं । असोन करी उद्वेग ॥1॥
धांव घालीं नारायणा । माझ्या मना जागवीं ॥ध्रु.॥
ऐसी चुकोनियां वर्में। पीडा भ्रमें पावलों ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कैंचा भोग । नव्हे रोग अंगींचा॥3॥
अनंताच्या ऐकों कीर्ती । ज्याच्या चित्तीं हरिनाम ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The body rests upon destiny's head, yet still one creates needless agitation. Rush to me, O Narayana; awaken my mind. Having missed the vital secret, I have suffered under the torment of delusion. Says Tuka, what suffering is this? It is no true disease of the body. Let us hear the glory of Ananta, in whose heart dwells the name of Hari.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My body rests on the head of destiny, yet still I stir up needless worry. Run to me, Narayana; wake up my mind. Having missed the vital secret, I have suffered under the torment of delusion. Tuka says: what suffering is this? It is no real disease of the body. Let us hear the glory of Ananta, in whose heart lives the name of Hari.
What it means
Tukaram points out a strange thing about human anxiety: the body's portion is already settled by destiny, so the churning of the mind adds nothing but its own torment. He calls on Narayana to come quickly and wake the mind from this restlessness. Then he diagnoses the trouble precisely: it is not a sickness of the body at all, but the suffering of delusion, of having missed the one secret. The cure he points to is to turn the ear toward the praise of the Endless One, whose name dwells in the devotee's heart.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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