Prayer, drive out the enemies
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाप ताप माझे गुणदोष निवारीं । कृष्णा विष्णु हरी नारायणा ॥1॥
काम क्रोध वैरी घालोनि बाहेरी । तूं राहें अंतरीं पांडुरंगा ॥ध्रु.॥
करिशील तरी नव्हे कांइ एक । निमिनलें त्रैलोक्य हेळामात्रें ॥2॥
समर्थासि काय आह्मीं शिकवावें । तुका ह्मणे यावें पांडुरंगा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Remove my sins, afflictions, virtues, and faults, O Krishna, Vishnu, Hari, Narayana. Drive out the enemies of lust and anger, and dwell within me, O Panduranga. If You will it, nothing is impossible. You created the three worlds with a mere glance. What need is there for the Capable One to be instructed by us? Says Tuka, simply come, O Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Take away my sins, my afflictions, my virtues and my faults, Krishna, Vishnu, Hari, Narayana. Throw out the enemies, lust and anger, and come live within me, Panduranga. If You will it, nothing is impossible. You made the three worlds with a single glance. What can we teach the One who is able to do all? Tuka says: only come, Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram asks God to clear out not only his sins and faults but his virtues too, since clinging to one's own goodness is itself a tie; he wants the inner room emptied so God can live there. The enemies he names by name, lust and anger, are to be thrown out so the heart can become a dwelling. His confidence rests on God's power: One who made three worlds with a glance can surely do this small thing. He refuses to dictate the method, since instructing the all-able would be absurd. The whole prayer shrinks to one word of trust. Just come.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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