Prayer, the burning that cannot wait
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नव्हें मी आहाच आशेचें बांधलें । जें हें टोंकविलें नारायणा ॥1॥
अंतर तों तुम्हां बरें कळों येतें । वेव्हार उचितें चाळवीजे ॥ध्रु.॥
मनें कल्पीलें आवरितां पाप । संकल्पीं विकल्प याचि नांवें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मां न सोसे जळजळ । सिजल्यावरी जाळ कढ खोटा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I am not one who merely clings to hope; what You have hinted at, O Narayana, is something deeper. You know the inner truth well enough; carry out the dealings in a manner befitting the occasion. The mind imagines it is restraining sin, but this very act of resolve and counter-resolve is itself the problem. Says Tuka, I cannot bear this burning; once the cooking is done, the flame and its heat are pointless.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I am not someone who just clings to hope. What you have hinted at, Narayana, is deeper than that. You can see my inner heart well enough. Carry out your dealings as the moment deserves. The mind thinks it is holding back sin. But this very resolve and counter-resolve is itself the trouble. Tuka says: I cannot bear this burning. Once the food is cooked, keeping the flame on is false heat.
What it means
Tukaram tells God that his longing is not shallow hope but a response to what God Himself has hinted. He asks God, who already sees his heart, to act now and fittingly. Then he turns the lamp inward: the mind that congratulates itself for restraining sin is caught in its own endless resolving and second-guessing, and that churning is the very problem. He ends with a sharp image: he is already cooked through by this longing, so to keep the fire burning is pointless cruelty. The plea is for God to finish what is already done in him.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
More in this theme →