Surrender, the babbling child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आमुचें दंडवत पायांवरि डोई । व्हावें उतराई ठेवूनियां॥1॥
कराल तें काय नव्हे जी विठ्ठला । चित्त द्यावें बोला बोबडिया ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मी लडिवाळें अनाथें । ह्मणोनि दिनानाथें सांभाळावें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My prostration places my head upon Your feet. Accept it and be free of any debt to me. Is there anything You cannot do, O Vitthal? Lend Your ear to this babbling child's words. Says Tuka, we are Your helpless little ones. Therefore, O Lord of the lowly, You must look after us.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My bow lays my head on Your feet. Accept it, and let Yourself owe me nothing. Is there anything You cannot do, O Vitthal? Lend Your ear to these babbling words. Tuka says: we are Your spoiled helpless little ones; so, Lord of the destitute, You must look after us.
What it means
Tukaram comes empty-handed and makes his very helplessness the claim. He bows so completely that his prostration cancels any debt God could owe him; the offering is total. Then he leans on God's unlimited power and asks only that his stammering, childlike words be heard. He calls himself and his fellow devotees spoiled, helpless children who have nothing to give. The whole appeal rests on God's own title, Lord of the destitute: if that is who You are, then caring for the helpless is simply what You do.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
More in this theme →