Prayer, leave everything to Panduranga
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पढीयंतें मागा पांडुरंगापाशीं । मज दुर्बळासी काय पीडा ॥1॥
या चि साटीं दुराविला संवसार । वाढे हे अपार माया तृष्णा ॥ध्रु.॥
कांहीं करितां कोठें नव्हें समाधान । विचारितां पुण्य तें चि पाप ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां निश्चळ चि भलें । तुज आठविलें पांडुरंगा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Ask everything of Panduranga; why should a weakling like me suffer? For this very reason I turned away from worldly life, where greed and attachment only grow. No matter what one does, there is no peace anywhere; examine it closely, and merit itself turns into sin. Says Tuka, now it is best to remain steadfast, O Panduranga; I have remembered You.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Ask everything of Panduranga. Why should a weakling like me suffer for it? It was for just this that I turned away from worldly life, where this endless illusion and craving only grow. Whatever one does, there is no peace anywhere. Look closely, and even merit turns into sin. Tuka says: now it is best simply to stay still. I have remembered you, Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram hands the whole burden over to Panduranga, refusing to carry the strain of seeking himself. He recalls why he left worldly life in the first place: it only feeds illusion and craving without end. He has concluded that no action brings peace, and that even good deeds, looked at closely, breed fresh attachment and so turn into sin. So his settled resolution is to stop striving and stay still, resting in one thing only, the remembrance of God.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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