Prayer, why come down to worldly cares
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
वृत्तीवरि आह्मां येणें काशासाटीं । एवढी हे आटी सोसावया ॥1॥
जाणतसां परी नेणते जी देवा । भ्रम चि बरवा राखावा तो ॥ध्रु.॥
मोडूनि क्षरलों अभेदाची मूस । तुह्मां कां अळस वोडवला ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे होई लवकरि उदार । लांबणीचें फार काम नाहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why should I come down to the level of worldly concerns and endure such great strain? You know the truth, O Lord, yet You play the role of the unknowing; it is better to preserve that blessed ignorance. I have broken and poured out the mold of non-duality; why has this reluctance come upon You? Says Tuka, be generous quickly; prolonged delay serves no purpose.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why should I come down to the level of worldly concerns and bear such great strain? You know the truth, Lord, yet you act as one who does not know; it is convenient to keep up that pretense. I have broken and poured out the very mold of non-duality. Why has this laziness come over you? Tuka says: be generous quickly. There is no use in dragging it out so long.
What it means
Tukaram protests at being dragged back into the strain of ordinary worldly preoccupations when his heart is set elsewhere. He accuses God of playing dumb: God knows everything yet keeps up a convenient pretense of not knowing what His devotee needs. He says he has already melted down and poured out the very form of his separate self in seeking non-dual union, so the delay is on God's side, not his. The closing plea is blunt and affectionate: stop being slow, be generous now, this stalling helps no one.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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