Plea to the Mother, a willful child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आरुष शब्द बोलों मनीं न धरावें कांहीं । लडिवाळ बाळकें तूं चि आमुचि आई ॥१॥
देई गे विठाबाई प्रेमभातुकें । अवघियां कवतुकें लहानां थोरां सकळां ॥ध्रु.॥
असो नसो भाव आलों तुझिया ठाया । पाहे कृपादृष्टी आतां पंढरीराया ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आम्ही तुझीं वेडीं वांकुडीं । नामें भवपाश आतां आपुलिया तोडीं ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do not hold in your mind any harsh words I may speak; I am but a willful child and you alone are my mother. O Mother Vithabai, give us the gift of love, a delight for all, young and old alike. Whether my devotion is worthy or not, I have come to your doorstep; look upon me now with merciful eyes, O Lord of Pandharpur. Says Tuka, we are your foolish, crooked ones; now sever our bonds of worldly existence with your name.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Do not hold in your heart the harsh words I speak. I am only a willful child, and you alone are my mother. O Mother Vithabai, give us the gift of love. Let it be a delight for all, young and old alike. Whether my devotion is worthy or not, I have come to your doorstep. Look on me now with merciful eyes, O Lord of Pandhari. Tuka says: we are your foolish, crooked ones. Now cut the bonds of this worldly life with your Name.
What it means
Tukaram comes to Vithoba the way a small child comes to its mother, and he asks her not to take offense at the sharp things he says. He does not claim to deserve anything; he simply names the relation and rests on it. The whole prayer turns on that bond: a child does not earn its mother, so he can come unworthy and still ask for love, for mercy, and for release. The gift he wants is not for himself alone but for everyone, young and old. The bonds he asks to be cut are cut by one means only, the Name.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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