Prayer, the belly and the broken path
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अगा ए सावळ्या सगुणा । गुणनिधिनाम नारायणा । आमची परिसा विज्ञापना । सांभाळी दीना आपुलिया ॥1॥
बहु या उदराचे कष्ट । आह्मांसि केलें कर्मभ्रष्ट । तुमची चुकविली वाट । करीं वटवट या निमित्यें ॥ध्रु.॥
जालों पांगिला जनासी । संसाराची आंदणी दासी । न कळे कधीं सोडविसी । दृढपाशीं बहु बांधलों ॥2॥
येथें तों नये आठव कांहीं । विसावा तो क्षण एक नाहीं । पडिलों आणिके प्रवाहीं । हित तों कांहीं दिसे चि ना ॥3॥
जीवित्व वेचलों वियोगें । हिंडतां प्रवास वाउगें । कांहीं व्याधि पीडा रोगें । केलिया भोगें तडातोडी ॥4॥
माझा मीं च जालों शत्रु । कैचा पुत्र दारा कैचा मित्रु । कासया घातला पसरु । अहो जगद्गु तुका ह्मणे ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
O dark-complexioned one, O treasure-house of virtues, Narayana, hear our plea and protect Your own helpless ones. Great are the hardships of this belly; they have made us fallen from our duty, led us astray from Your path, and made us chatter for these worldly needs. I have been scattered among people, given as a servant to worldly life. I do not know when You will free me; I am bound fast in strong bonds. Here no remembrance arises at all; there is not a moment's rest. I have fallen into another current, and no welfare is in sight. My life has been spent in separation, wandering on futile journeys, afflicted by disease and suffering. I have become my own enemy. What son, what wife, what friend is truly mine? Why did You spread this net? Says Tuka, O Lord of the World.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
O dark and lovely one with form, O Narayana whose name is the treasure-house of virtues, listen to our request and protect your own poor ones. The hardships of this belly are many. They have made us fall from our right work. They have led us off your path and set us chattering for the sake of these needs. I have been scattered among people, made the bonded servant of worldly life. I do not know when you will set me free. I am bound fast in strong cords. Here no remembrance of you rises at all. There is not a single moment of rest. I have fallen into another current. I can see no good for myself anywhere. My life has been used up in separation, in pointless wandering and travel, worn down by sickness and pain. I have become my own enemy. What son, what wife, what friend is truly mine? Why did you spread out this net? Tuka says: O Teacher of the world.
What it means
Tukaram traces his lost devotion back to a plain cause: the daily pressure of the belly. The need to feed and provide has dragged him off God's path, scattered him among people, and bound him as a servant to worldly life, until not a single moment of remembrance is left. He does not pretend the burden is light, but he also refuses to mistake it for his true home, asking what son, wife, or friend is finally his own. The blame turns inward, he has become his own enemy, and then outward in a raw question to God: why was this net of attachment spread in the first place? The cry stays a cry; he leaves it open, addressed only to the Teacher of the world.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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