Cry for help, drowning in the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आयुष्य गेलें वांयांविण । थोर झाली नागवण ॥1॥
आतां धांवें धांवें तरी । काय पाहातोसि हरी ॥ध्रु.॥
माझे तुझे या चि गती । दिवस गेले तोंडीं माती ॥2॥
मन वाव घेऊं नेदी । बुडवूं पाहे भवनदी ॥3॥
पडिला विषयाचा घाला । तेणें नागविलें मला ॥4॥
शरण आलों आतां धांवें । तुका ह्मणे मज पावें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My life has been wasted in vain; I have been grievously deceived. Now hurry, hurry, O Hari. What are You waiting for? Both You and I share this fate: the days have passed and dust fills our mouths. The mind will not let me come up for air; it seeks to drown me in the river of worldly existence. The assault of sense-pleasures has struck, and by them I have been stripped bare. I have come now as a refugee. Says Tuka, rush to me and save me.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My life has gone for nothing. I have been badly robbed. Now run to me, run, O Hari. What are You waiting for? You and I share the same fate: the days have passed and dust fills my mouth. The mind will not let me come up for air; it wants to drown me in the river of this world. The blow of the senses has fallen, and they have stripped me bare. I have come to You now for shelter; run. Tuka says: reach me.
What it means
Tukaram speaks from the edge of panic, naming his whole life as wasted and himself as a man already robbed. The danger is inward: his own mind holds him under in the river of worldly existence and will not let him breathe, and the pull of the senses has stripped him of everything. His cry is urgent and almost accusing: why do You wait, Hari, when even You stand to lose by my drowning? Having no strength left, he throws himself down as a refugee at God's door and asks only that help arrive in time.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
More in this theme →