Prayer, the mind stirred up
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नििश्चतीनें होतों करुनियां सेवा । कां जी मन देवा उद्वेगिलें ॥1॥
अनंत उठती चित्ताचे तरंग । करावा हा त्याग वाटतसे ॥ध्रु.॥
कोण तुह्मांविण मनाचा चाळक । दुजें सांगा एक नारायणा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझा मांडिला विनोद । करऊं नेणें छंद कराल काइ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I was performing my service in quiet contentment. Why then, O God, have You agitated my mind? Countless waves rise in the chitta, and it seems as though everything should be renounced. Who but You is the governor of the mind, O Narayana? Tell me if there is another. Says Tuka, this is my plea made in playful earnestness. I do not know how to play games. Will You play them on my behalf?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I was doing my service, settled and content. Why then, O God, have you stirred up my mind? Countless waves keep rising in my heart, and it feels as if I should give everything up. Who but you governs the mind? Tell me, Narayana, is there any other? Tuka says: this is my plea, made half in play. I do not know how to play these games. Will you play them for me?
What it means
Tukaram complains, half teasing, that God has disturbed a peace he had already found. He was serving quietly when suddenly the mind began to churn with endless waves, until renouncing everything seemed the only option. He then pins the responsibility where it belongs: God alone governs the mind, so this turmoil must be God's doing. Confessing that he does not know how to handle such inner games, he hands them straight back, asking God to play them on his behalf. The stake is simple: the disciple cannot quiet his own mind, so the one who stirred it must settle it.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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