Devotion, the Name in everything
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विठ्ठल टाळ विठ्ठल दिंडी । विठ्ठल तोंडीं उच्चारा ॥1॥
विठ्ठल अवघ्या भांडवला । विठ्ठल बोला विठ्ठल ॥ध्रु.॥
विठ्ठल नाद विठ्ठल भेद । विठ्ठल छंद विठ्ठल ॥2॥
विठ्ठल सुखा विठ्ठल दुःखा। तुकया मुखा विठ्ठल ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Vitthal is the cymbal, Vitthal is the procession, Vitthal is the word upon every tongue. Vitthal is the entire capital, Vitthal the speech, Vitthal everything. Vitthal is the sound, Vitthal is the distinction, Vitthal is the passion, Vitthal is all. Vitthal in joy, Vitthal in sorrow; Says Tuka, Vitthal alone fills the mouth.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Vitthal is the cymbal, Vitthal is the procession. Say Vitthal with your mouth. Vitthal is the whole fortune. Speak Vitthal, Vitthal. Vitthal is the sound, Vitthal is the difference, Vitthal is the delight, Vitthal. Vitthal in joy, Vitthal in sorrow. Tuka says: Vitthal alone fills my mouth.
What it means
Tukaram lets one name flood every category of his life until nothing is left outside it. The instruments and the kirtan procession, his whole wealth, sound itself, every distinction, every delight, his joy and his sorrow alike, all of it is named Vitthal. The relentless repetition is the point: the mind that holds the Name has no room for anything else, and the word becomes the only thing on his tongue. There is no argument here, only saturation. This is devotion as total absorption, where the Name has quietly replaced the world.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →