Prayer, holding God to his pledge
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुझे नामें दिनानाथा । आह्मी उघडा घातला माथा॥1॥
आतां न धरावें दुरी । बोल येईल ब्रीदावरी ॥ध्रु.॥
पतित होतों ऐसा ठावा । आधीं कां न विचारावा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझे पायीं । आह्मी मिरास केली पाहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
O Lord of the lowly, in Your Name I have laid bare my head. Do not keep me at a distance now, or it will reflect on Your own pledges. You knew I was a wrongdoer beforehand; why did You not consider that before? Says Tuka, I have staked my claim at Your feet; know this well.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
O Lord of the lowly, in your Name I have laid my head bare before you. Do not keep me far off now, or the blame will fall on your own promise. You knew I was a fallen one; why did you not weigh that beforehand? Tuka says: at your feet I have made my claim; see this.
What it means
Tukaram throws himself wholly on God's mercy and then presses the claim with surprising boldness. He has surrendered, head bared, trusting the title that names God the protector of the lowly. So he argues that to turn him away now would stain God's own reputation, the very pledge that drew him. His sharp question, why did you not consider my failings before accepting me, holds the Lord to the deal: you took me knowing what I was. The closing line states his right outright; the devotee's helplessness has become his standing ground, and he refuses to let God off the hook.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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