Prayer, show me Your feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अल्प माझी मती । ह्मणोनि येतों काकुलती ॥1॥
आतां दाखवा दाखवा । मज पाउलें केशवा ॥ध्रु.॥
धीर माझ्या मना। नाहीं नाहीं नारायणा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे दया । मज करा अभागिया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My intellect is small; therefore I come to You in humble supplication. Now show me, show me, show me Your feet, O Keshava. My mind has no steadiness at all, O Narayana. Says Tuka, have mercy on this unfortunate one.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My understanding is small, so I come to You pleading. Now show me, show me Your feet, Keshava. There is no steadiness in my mind, none at all, Narayana. Tuka says: have mercy on this unfortunate one.
What it means
Tukaram prays from his own weakness rather than any strength. He admits his understanding is too small to manage on its own, and that is exactly why he throws himself on God. His one urgent request, repeated, is simply to be shown Keshava's feet, the place of refuge. He confesses his mind has no steadiness left in it and asks Narayana to show mercy to him as the helpless, luckless one he knows himself to be.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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