Surrender, awaiting the Lord's word
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उपजलों मनीं । हे तों स्वामीची करणी ॥1॥
होइल प्रसादाचें दान । तरि हें कवुतक पाहेन ॥ध्रु.॥
येइल अभय जरि । तरि हे आज्ञा वंदिन शिरीं ॥2॥
भक्तिप्रयोजना । प्रयोजावें बंदिजना॥3॥
यश स्वामिचिये शिरीं । दास्य करावें किंकरीं ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आळीकरा । त्यासी योजावें उत्तरा ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This desire arose in my mind; it is the Lord's doing. If the gift of His grace is granted, then I shall watch this wonder unfold. If the assurance of fearlessness comes, I shall bow and receive that command upon my head. Let devotion be employed for the sake of the devoted. Let the glory rest upon the master's head, and let the servant carry out the service. Says Tuka, the one who makes a plea should be met with a fitting answer.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
This longing rose up in my mind; it is the Lord's own doing. If the gift of His grace is given, then I will watch this wonder. If His fearlessness comes to me, I will bow and take His command upon my head. Let devotion be put to use for the sake of the devoted. Let the glory rest on the master's head, and let the servant do the service. Tuka says: the one who makes a plea should be met with a fitting answer.
What it means
Tukaram begins by refusing to take credit for his own desire: the very wish for God arose in him because God put it there. So he waits, watching, ready to act only on the Lord's signal. If grace and the gift of fearlessness come, he will obey at once and carry out the work as a servant, but he insists the credit belong to the master, not to him. The closing line is a quiet demand made in the language of fairness: a soul that pleads sincerely deserves an answer.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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