Lost at sea, a cry for the pilot
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आह्मां आपुलें नावडे संचित । चरफडी चित्त कळवळ्यानें ॥1॥
न कळतां जाला खोळंब मारगा । जगीं जालों जगा बहुरूपी ॥ध्रु.॥
कळों आलें बरें उघडले डोळे । कर्णधार मिळे तरि बरें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे व्हाल ऐकत करुणा । तरि नारायणा उडी घाला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I am not pleased with my own destiny. My heart is agitated by this world's sharp edges. Without understanding, I stumbled and lost my way, becoming a many-faced player in the world's theater. But now my eyes have opened and I see clearly. If only a pilot could be found to steer me right. Says Tuka, if you will hear this cry of compassion, O Narayana, then take the plunge and come.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I am not pleased with what my past has earned me. My heart frets at the sharp edges of this world. Without seeing it, my road got blocked. In this world I became a man of many faces. Now I have understood; my eyes are open. If only a pilot would come to steer me, that would be good. Tuka says: if you will listen to this cry, then Narayana, leap in and save me.
What it means
Tukaram confesses he is unhappy with his own lot and torn by the harshness of worldly life. He admits that, without noticing, he lost his way and became a many-faced player, fitting a different face to each situation. The change is that his eyes are now open: he sees the trouble clearly and knows he cannot steer himself out of it. So he asks for a helmsman, and the helmsman he wants is God; he begs Narayana to hear his cry and dive in to pull him out.
Prayers
Direct appeals to God: for protection, guidance, strength, and mercy.
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