Prayer, hold God to His promise
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सुलभ कीर्तनें दिलें ठसावूनि । करितां धरणी उरी कोण ॥1॥
आतां न टळावें केलिया नेमासी । उदाराचा होसी हीन काय ॥ध्रु.॥
एका नेमें कोठें दुसरा पालट । पादिर तो धीट ह्मणती त्यासी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे किती बोलसी उणें । एकाच वचनें खंड करीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Through kirtan, You have imprinted Yourself deeply. Who can hold back when the earth itself is not enough? Now do not break the promise that was made; are You, the generous one, to become small? Whoever changes course midway is called a renegade. Says Tuka, how much more will You say in shortfall? Settle it all with a single word.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Through easy kirtan you have stamped yourself deep in me. When that begins, who can hold back, even if the whole earth is not enough? Now do not slip out of the promise you made. Will you, the generous one, make yourself small? Whoever changes course halfway is called a turncoat to his face. Tuka says: how much more will you say in excuses? Settle the whole thing with a single word.
What it means
Tukaram says God has pressed His own form into him through the simple practice of kirtan, and once that praise rises no one can hold it back. On that footing he holds God to a promise already given and warns that to back out now would make the generous Lord small, like a man who turns coat midway and is named a traitor. He has no patience for further excuses. The whole abhanga drives toward one demand: God need only say one word to make good on everything.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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