राम
गाथा 1433The Power of the Name

Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram

मराठी मूळ

नाम ह्मणतां मोक्ष नाहीं । ऐसा उपदेश करिती कांहीं । बधिर व्हावें त्याचे ठायीं । दुष्ट वचन वाक्य तें ॥1॥

नवविधीचा निषेध । जेणें मुखें करिती वाद । जन्मा आले निंद्य । शूकरयाती संसारा ॥2॥

काय सांगों वेळोवेळां । आठव नाहीं चांडाळा । नामासाठीं बाळा । क्षीरसागरीं कोंडिलें ॥3॥

आपुलिया नामासाठीं । लागे शंखासुरापाठीं। फोडोनियां पोटीं । वेद चारी काढिले ॥4॥

जगीं प्रसिद्ध हे बोली। नामें गणिका तारिली । आणिकें ही उद्धरिलीं । पातकी महादोषी ॥5॥

जे हे पवाडे गर्जती । नाम प्रल्हादाचा चित्तीं । जळतां बुडतां घातीं । राखे हातीं विषाचे ॥6॥

काय सांगों ऐशीं किती । तुका ह्मणे नामख्याती । नरकाप्रती जाती । निषेधिती तीं एकें ॥7॥

Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)

English Translation

Some teach that chanting the Name does not lead to liberation. One should become deaf to such wicked words. Those who argue against the nine modes of devotion are born in disgrace, condemned to a sow's round of worldly life. How many times must I say it? The fallen one has no memory: for the sake of the Name, the child was imprisoned in an ocean of milk. For the sake of His own Name, the Lord pursued Shankhashura, tore open his belly, and retrieved the four Vedas. It is well known: the Name alone saved Ganika the courtesan, along with many other great wrongdoers. The Name of Prahlad lived in his chitta; whether burning, drowning, or poisoned, the Lord saved him with His own hands. Says Tuka, how many such legends shall I tell? The glory of the Name is boundless. Those who deny it shall go to hell.

We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.

नाम महिमा

The Power of the Name

The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.

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