Prayer, servant of the servants
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मज दास करी त्यांचा । संतदासांच्या दासांचा ॥१॥
मग होत कल्पवरी । सुखें गर्भवास हरी ॥ध्रु.॥
नीचवृत्तिकाम । परी मुखीं तुझें नाम ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे सेवे । माझे संकल्प वेचावे ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Make me the servant of your saints, the servant of the servants of their servants. Then, O Hari, I will gladly endure the womb and birth again, age after age. Let my work be the lowliest there is, only let your name stay in my mouth. Says Tuka: let every resolve of mine be spent in that service.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Make me the servant of your saints. No, lower: the servant of the servants of their servants. Then I will gladly take birth again, age after age, O Hari. Let my work be the lowliest there is, only let your name stay in my mouth. Tuka says: let every plan and wish I have be spent in that service.
What it means
A prayer of radical humility. Tukaram does not ask to be a saint, or even a servant of saints, but the servant of their servants' servants, placing himself as low as language allows. From that low place he asks for something most seekers flee: he will accept rebirth itself, life after life, without complaint, on one condition, that God's name stay on his lips even in the meanest labor. The closing line gives his whole will away: let every intention he forms be used up in service. To be the lowest servant with the Name is, to him, the highest thing he can want.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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