The Name and the river save every caste
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
द्वितीया सोमवासरीं प्रथमप्रहरीं तुकोबा गुप्त जाले ॥1॥
जाती पंढरीस । ह्मणे जाईन तयांस ॥1॥
तया आहे संवसार । ऐसें बोले तो माहार ॥ध्रु.॥
असो नसो भाव । जो हा देखे पंढरिराव ॥2॥
चंद्रभागे न्हाती । तुका ह्मणे भलते याती ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
On the second day of the dark half of Phalguna, in the first watch, on a Monday, in the Virodhi year of Shake 1571, Tukoba became invisible. Those who go to Pandhari, I say, go to them. Even one with worldly ties speaks thus, says the lowliest among men. Whether devotion is present or not, whoever beholds the Lord of Pandhari is blessed. Says Tuka, whoever bathes in the Chandrabhaga, of whatever caste, is purified.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
On a Monday, in the first watch of the second day of dark Phalguna, Tukoba became hidden. Those who go to Pandhari, I say, go to be theirs. Even one bound in worldly life speaks this way, says the lowest among men. Devotion there or not, whoever sees the Lord of Pandhari is blessed. Tuka says: whoever bathes in the Chandrabhaga, of whatever caste, is made pure.
What it means
The poem opens by marking the day Tukaram disappeared, then turns to Pandhari and who it is for. The radical claim is that the gate is open to all: even one still tangled in the world, even the man counted lowest, has a place there. Whether your devotion is great or small or absent, simply beholding the Lord of Pandhari blesses you. And bathing in the Chandrabhaga purifies anyone of any caste at all. Tukaram sets the worth not in birth or earned piety but in the Lord and the river themselves, who refuse no one.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →