Prayer, the weak one pleading
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न पवीजे तया ठाया । आलों कायाक्लेशेसीं ॥1॥
आतां माझें आणीं मना । नारायणा ओजेचें ॥ध्रु.॥
बहु रिणें पिडिलों फार । परिहार करावा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे निर्बळशक्ति । काकुलती म्हुण येतों ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have not reached that place, though I have come bearing the sufferings of this body. Now bring my mind back to its proper course, O Narayana. I am burdened under many debts. Please grant me relief. Says Tuka, I am weak in strength, and that is why I come to You pleading.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have not reached that place, though I came here carrying the sufferings of this body. Now bring my mind back to its proper course, Narayana. I am crushed under many debts; grant me relief. Tuka says: I have no strength of my own, and that is why I come pleading.
What it means
Tukaram admits he has fallen short. He set out toward the goal and bore the body's pain along the way, but he has not arrived, and he asks Narayana to bring his straying mind back into line. The many debts he names are the weight of all that binds him, and he begs to be released from them. He makes no claim of merit or power; the one ground he stands on is his own weakness, which is exactly why he comes pleading rather than demanding.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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