Humble surrender, lead me by your light
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुझिया पार नाहीं गुणां । माझी अल्प मति नारायणा। भवतारका जी सुजाणा । एक विज्ञापना पायांपाशीं ॥1॥
काय जाणावें म्यां दीनें । तुझिये भक्तीचीं लक्षणें । धड तें तोंड धोऊं नेणें । परि चिंतनें काळ सारीं ॥ध्रु.॥
न लवीं आणीक कांहीं पिसें। माझिया मना वांयां जाय ऐसें । चालवीं आपुल्या प्रकाशें । हातीं सरिसें धरोनियां ॥2॥
तुज समपिनली काया । जीवें भावें पंढरीराया। सांभाळीं समविषम डाया । करीं छाया कृपेची ॥3॥
चतुर तरीं चतुरां रावो । जाणता तरीं जीवांचा जीव । न्यून तो कोण एक ठाव। आरुष भाव परि माझा ॥4॥
होतें तें माझें भांडवल । पायांपें निवेदिले बोल । आदरा ऐसें पाविजे मोल । तुका ह्मणे साच फोल तूं जाणसी ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There is no end to Your virtues, and my intellect is small, O Narayana. O wise one who ferries souls across this world, I make one humble request at Your feet. What can a pitiable one like me know of the marks of true devotion? I cannot even wash my face properly, yet I spend my time in contemplation of You. Do not let my mind go astray after any other madness. Lead me by Your own light, holding me hand in hand. I have surrendered this body and soul to You, O King of Pandhari. Guard me through every twist and turn; shelter me under the shade of Your mercy. You are wise among the wise, the life of all lives. Where is there any lack? My devotion may be rough and unpolished, yet it is mine. Whatever capital I had, I have offered these words at Your feet. Says Tuka, what is offered with love receives its due value. You know what is genuine and what is false.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There is no end to your virtues, Narayana, and my mind is small. O wise one who carries souls across this world, I make one request at your feet. What can a poor man like me know of the marks of true devotion? I cannot even wash my own face properly. Still I pass my time thinking of you. Do not let me run after any other madness. Do not let my mind go to waste. Lead me by your own light. Hold my hand and walk with me. I have given you this body, with my whole life and heart, O King of Pandhari. Keep me through every turn, smooth or rough. Make a shade of your mercy over me. You are the wise one among the wise, the life of all that lives. Where is there any lack in you? My devotion is rough and unpolished, but it is mine. Whatever capital I had, I have laid these words at your feet. Tuka says: what is offered with love receives its worth. You know what is real and what is hollow.
What it means
Tukaram opens by setting the scale: the Lord's virtues have no end, his own mind is small, so he asks for one thing only. He confesses he does not know the marks of real devotion and is barely competent at the smallest tasks, yet he spends his days remembering the Lord. The single request is that he be led, hand in hand, by the Lord's own light, and not let wander after other obsessions. He surrenders the whole of body and life to the King of Pandhari and asks to be guarded through smooth stretches and rough. The closing turn names his fear and his trust at once: his offering is crude, but it is sincerely his, and he leaves it to the Lord, who alone can tell the genuine from the hollow, to set its true value.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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