Prayer, the gift of fearlessness
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अभय उत्तर संतीं केलें दान । जालें समाधान चित्त तेणें ॥१॥
आतां प्रेमरसें न घडे खंडण । द्यावें कृपादान नारायणा ॥ध्रु.॥
आलें जें उचित देहविभागासी । तेणें पायांपासीं उभी असों ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे करी पूजन वैखरी । बोबडा उत्तरीं गातों गीत ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The saints have given the gift of fearless assurance, and by that my chitta is at peace. Now, O Narayana, grant me the gift of your grace so that this stream of love may never be broken. Whatever is due to this body, let me offer it standing at your feet. Says Tuka, I worship with my stammering voice, singing your song in broken words.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The saints gave me the gift of fearlessness, and my heart found peace by it. Now let this sweetness of love never be broken. Grant me the gift of your grace, Narayana. Whatever is owed by this body, let me offer it standing at your feet. Tuka says: I worship you with my stammering voice; in broken words I sing your song.
What it means
Tukaram traces a chain of gifts. The saints first gave him freedom from fear, and that settled his heart; now he asks God to keep the stream of love unbroken with further grace. He offers his whole bodily life as service rendered standing at God's feet, holding nothing back. The closing image is deliberately humble: he worships not with polished eloquence but with a stammering, faltering voice, singing in broken words. The poem says that the worth of worship lies in the love behind it, not in the skill of the tongue, so even clumsy praise is accepted.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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