Refuge, exhausted by the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बहु या प्रपंचें भोगविल्या खाणी । टाकोनियां मनीं ठेविला सीण ॥1॥
आतां पायांपाशीं लपवावें देवा । नको पाहूं सेवा भक्ती माझी ॥ध्रु.॥
बहु भय वाटे एकाच्या बोभाटें । आली घायवटे फिरोनियां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सिगे भरूं आलें माप । वियोग संताप जाला तुझा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This worldly life has put me through every kind of suffering, leaving only exhaustion in my mind. Now hide me at Your feet, O God. Do not look at my service or devotion. I am terrified even by the clamor of the world. Wounded, I have come back around again. Says Tuka, the measure is about to overflow. The anguish of separation from You has become unbearable.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
This worldly life has dragged me through every kind of suffering. It has left only weariness in my mind. Now hide me at your feet, O God. Do not weigh my service or my devotion. The clamor of the world fills me with fear. Wounded, I have come back around to you again. Tuka says: the measure is about to overflow. The pain of being apart from you has become too much.
What it means
Tukaram comes to God worn out, asking only to be hidden at his feet. He knows his own service and devotion will not stand inspection, so he begs God not to look at them; let the welcome rest on God's mercy, not on his merit. The world's noise terrifies him, and he describes himself as wounded, circling back to the one refuge he has. He warns that he is at his limit, the cup is brimming over, and the agony of separation from God can hold no more.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
More in this theme →