Surrender, asking what to do
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विश्वास धरूनि राहिलों निवांत । ठेवूनियां चित्त तुझे पायीं ॥1॥
तरावें बुडावें तुझिया वचनें । निर्धार हा मनें केला माझा॥ध्रु.॥
न कळे हें मज साच चाळविलें । देसी तें उगलें घेइन देवा ॥2॥
मागणें तें सरे ऐसें करीं देवा । नाहीं तरी सेवा सांगा पुढें॥3॥
करावें कांहीं कीं पाहावें उगलें । तुका ह्मणे बोलें पांडुरंगा॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I rest in quiet faith, having placed my mind at Your feet. Whether I am saved or drowned, it is by Your word. This is the firm resolve I have made in my chitta. I cannot tell whether You are guiding me truly or leading me astray. Whatever You give, I shall accept it silently, O God. Grant me what I ask so that asking itself may end. If not, then tell me what service lies ahead. Says Tuka, should I do something, or should I simply watch in silence? Speak, O Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I rest quietly in trust, having laid my mind at Your feet. To be carried across or to drown is by Your word; this is the firm resolve I have made in my heart. I cannot tell whether You are truly guiding me or leading me astray. Whatever You give, I will take it without a word, O God. Bring my asking to an end. If not, then tell me what service comes next. Should I do something, or just watch in silence? Speak, O Panduranga. So says Tuka.
What it means
Tukaram has handed over the outcome and is waiting on God for instruction. He sets his mind at the Lord's feet and accepts in advance that whether he is saved or sunk depends entirely on God's word, not his own effort. He admits he cannot even tell guidance from being led astray, and he agrees to take whatever comes without complaint. The honesty of the prayer is its end: he presses God to either finish his wanting altogether or else tell him plainly what to do next, to act or to stay still, because a surrendered person still needs to know which way to face.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
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