Petition for one gift, the taste of God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
त्राहे त्राहे सोडवीं अनंता । लागों दे ममता तुझे पायीं॥1॥
एक चि मागणें देई तुझी गोडी । न लगे आवडी आणिकाची ॥ध्रु.॥
तुझें नाम गुण वर्णीन पवाडे । आवडीच्या कोडें नाचों रंगीं ॥2॥
बापा विठ्ठलराया हें चि देई दान । जोडती चरण जेणें तुझे ॥3॥
आवडीसारखें मागितलें जरी । तुका ह्मणे करीं समाधान ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Save me, save me, deliver me, O Ananta. Let my attachment cling only to Your feet. I ask but one thing: give me the sweetness of You alone. I need no love for anything else. I shall sing the praises of Your name and Your virtues in great ballads, and I shall dance with joy in the arena of devotion. O Father Vitthal, grant me this one gift by which I may reach Your feet. Says Tuka, if I have asked according to my chitta's true desire, then grant me satisfaction.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Save me, save me, deliver me, Ananta. Let my love cling only to your feet. I ask one thing only: give me the taste of you. I want no love for anything else. I will sing your name and your deeds in long songs. I will dance with joy in the place of devotion. Father Vitthalraya, give me this one gift, by which I reach your feet. Tuka says: if I have asked from my heart's true longing, then grant it, and let me rest.
What it means
Tukaram cries for rescue, but names exactly what rescue means to him: not safety, but a single fixed love. He asks for only one gift, the sweetness or taste of God, and refuses any appetite for anything besides. That one taste is not idle; it overflows into singing the Name and dancing in the company of devotion, and it is the very means by which he reaches Vitthal's feet. He closes by staking the prayer on its sincerity: if this is truly his heart's longing and not a passing whim, then let God satisfy it and still his restlessness.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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