The Name, the simple mantra
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विठ्ठल विठ्ठल मंत्र सोपा । करी पापा निर्मूळ ॥1॥
भाग्यवंता छंद मनीं । कोडें कानीं ऐकती ॥ध्रु.॥
विठ्ठल हें दैवत भोळें। चाड काळें न धरावी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे भलते याती । विठ्ठल चित्तीं ते शुद्ध ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The mantra of Vitthal is simple and uproots all sin completely. The fortunate carry this passion in their mind; the blessed long to hear it with their ears. Vitthal is a generous, guileless deity; one should never hold back out of doubt. Says Tuka, whoever holds Vitthal in their chitta, regardless of caste, becomes pure.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Vitthal, Vitthal, the mantra is simple, and it pulls sin up by the roots. The fortunate carry this delight in their mind; the blessed long to hear it in their ears. Vitthal is a guileless, open-hearted god; never hold back from him out of doubt. Tuka says: whatever caste you are, hold Vitthal in your heart and you are pure.
What it means
Tukaram is making the path small enough that anyone can walk it. The mantra is only the name twice over, nothing learned or elaborate, yet it tears out sin at the root, so the whole power lies in the saying. He calls those who delight in it the fortunate ones, and urges that no one shrink back in doubt, because Vitthal is open and simple-hearted, not a god to be feared. The last line cuts the knot of birth: purity comes from holding Vitthal in the heart, and caste has no say in it.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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