Prayer, guard the honor you gave us
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आह्मां केलें गुणवंत । तें उचित राखावें ॥1॥
तुह्मांसी तों चाड नाहीं । आणिकां कांहीं सुखदुःखां ॥ध्रु.॥
दासांचें तें देखों नये । उणें काय होइल तें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे विश्वंभरा । दृिष्ट करा सामोरी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
You have made us full of virtues. Maintain that honor. You have no personal stake in anyone's joy or sorrow. The shortcomings of Your servants should not be allowed to show. Whatever diminishment occurs, let it not be seen. Says Tuka, O Vishvambhara, turn Your gaze toward us.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
You have made us full of good qualities. Keep that honor as it should be kept. You have no stake in anyone's joy or sorrow. Do not let your servants' failings be seen. Whatever falls short, let it not show. Tuka says: Vishvambhara, turn your gaze toward us.
What it means
Tukaram reminds God that the virtues in his devotees are God's own gift, and asks God to protect that gift rather than let it be disgraced. He grants that God stands above all gain and loss, untouched by anyone's pleasure or pain, and uses this to press his plea: precisely because God is disinterested, let him not expose the shortcomings of those who serve him. The prayer is that whatever in us is lacking be covered, not paraded. It closes by asking Vishvambhara, the all-sustainer, simply to turn his face toward his servants; the gaze itself is the protection sought.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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