Cry for mercy, save my honor
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय नव्हे करितां तुज । आतां राखें माझी लाज ॥1॥
मी तों अपराधाची राशी । शिखा अंगुष्ट तोंपाशीं ॥ध्रु.॥
त्राहें त्राहें त्राहें । मज कृपादृष्टी पाहें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देवा । सत्या घ्यावी आतां सेवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What is impossible for You? Now protect my honor. I am a heap of offenses from head to toe. Save me, save me, save me! Look upon me with the eyes of mercy. Says Tuka, O God, accept my sincere service now.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What is impossible for You? Now guard my honor. I am a heap of offenses from the crown of my head to the tip of my toe. Save me, save me, save me. Look on me with the eyes of mercy. Tuka says: God, take up my service now, truly.
What it means
Tukaram throws himself entirely on God's power and mercy. He begins by granting that nothing is beyond God, so there is no excuse of difficulty. Then he confesses the worst: he is offense from head to foot, with no clean part to point to. Having no merit, he can only cry out, save me, save me, save me, and beg for the merciful glance. The honor he asks God to protect is finally God's own, for if God lets such a sinner drown, it is God's name that suffers; so he asks God to accept his service even now, as it stands.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
More in this theme →