Surrender, the warrior protect the wretch
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तूं बिळया शिरोमणी । आहेसि माजी ये त्रिभुवनीं । रिघालों पाठी तुझी ह्मणउनी । आतां करीन मी असेल तें ॥1॥
तूं देवा प्रतापदिनकर । सुरा असुरांचा सुर । महावीरां वीर धनुर्धर । मी तों पामर काय तेथें ॥ध्रु.॥
कृपासिंधु दीनवत्सल । फोडिली देवाची बंदशाळ । संहारूनि राक्षसदळ । शरणागत राजीं स्थापिला ॥2॥
उपकर्म करावा बहुत । तरी तूं जाणसी धर्मनीत । उचित काय तें अनुचित । राखें शरणागत आलों आतां ॥3॥
किती म्यां काय विनवावें । शरण आलों जीवें भावें । तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे करावें । क्षेम अवघें येणें काळें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
You are the supreme trickster, dwelling within these three worlds. I have taken refuge behind You, and so I will do whatever must be done. You, O God, are a sun of mighty prowess, a champion among gods and demons, a hero among great warriors and archers. What am I, a lowly wretch, in comparison? O ocean of mercy, lover of the humble, You have broken open the prison of the gods. Having destroyed the demon armies, You have restored the rightful kings who sought Your protection. If much good is to be done, You know the proper code. What is fitting and what is not, protect this refugee who has come to You now. How much more shall I plead? I have come to You with all my life and soul. Says Tukayabandhu, grant safety and well-being in this hour.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
You are the supreme champion, the crown of the strong, dwelling within these three worlds. I have taken refuge behind you, and so now I will do whatever must be done. You, O God, are a sun of mighty power, the god above gods and demons, a hero among great warriors and archers. What am I, a poor wretch, beside you? O ocean of mercy, lover of the lowly, you broke open the prison of the gods. You destroyed the armies of demons and set the surrendered kings back on their thrones. If much good is to be done, you know the law of right. What is fitting and what is not, you know; protect this refugee who has come to you now. How much more can I plead? I have come to you with all my life and heart. Tukayabandhu says: grant safety and well-being in this hour.
What it means
Tukaram pleads by leaning his whole weakness against God's strength. He stacks up the heroic titles, sun of power, god above gods and demons, hero among archers, and then sets himself beside them as nothing, a poor wretch with no standing of his own. His confidence does not come from himself but from precedent: this same Lord smashed the prison that held the gods and put surrendered kings back on their thrones. So he leaves the judgment of right and wrong, fitting and unfitting, entirely to God, and asks only the one thing a refugee can ask, to be kept safe in this present hour.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
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