Rama's kingdom, the womb-cycle ended
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जालें रामराज्य काय उणें आम्हांसी । धरणी धरी पीक गाई वोळल्या ह्मैसी ॥1॥
राम वेळोवेळां आम्ही गाऊं ओविये। दिळतां कांडितां जेवितां गे बाइये ॥ध्रु.॥
स्वप्नीं ही दुःख कोणी न देखे डोळां । नामाच्या गजरें भय सुटलें काळा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे रामें सुख दिलें आपुलें । तयां गर्भवासीं येणें जाणें खुंटलें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Rama's kingdom has come. What do we lack? The earth bears her harvest; cows and buffaloes yield freely. Again and again we shall sing Rama's glory, while grinding, while husking, while eating, O sisters. Not even in dreams does sorrow appear before anyone's eyes. By the resounding of the Name, fear was loosed even from Death. Says Tuka, Rama has given His own bliss to all. For those who have received it, the coming and going through the womb is ended.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Rama's kingdom has come. What do we lack? The earth holds her harvest; cows and buffaloes give milk freely. Again and again we will sing Rama's praises, O sisters, while grinding, while pounding the grain, while eating. No one sees sorrow even in a dream. By the loud ringing of the Name, fear was loosed even from Death. Tuka says: Rama has given his own bliss to all. For those who have received it, the coming and going through the womb is ended.
What it means
Tukaram describes life under Rama's rule as a world where lack itself has disappeared. The land yields, the cattle give freely, and the Name is sung not in a temple hour but woven into grinding, pounding, and eating, the plain labor of women's days. He raises the claim by stages: no sorrow even in dreams, then fear gone even from Death. The last line names the deepest stake. The bliss Rama gives ends rebirth itself, the endless coming and going through the womb, so the outward plenty is a sign of an inward release.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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