The Name, saved at the last hour
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न वेचे मोल कांहीं लागती न सायास । तरी कां आळस करिसी झणी ॥1॥
ऐसें हे सार कां नेघेसी फुकाचें । काय तुझें वेचे मोल तया ॥ध्रु.॥
पुत्रस्नेहें शोक करी अजामेळ । तंव तो कृपाळ जवळी उभा ।
अनाथांच्या नाथें घातला विमानीं । नेला उचलूनि परलोका ॥2॥
अंतकाळीं गणिका पिक्षयाच्या छंदें । राम राम उच्चारिलें ।
तंव त्या दिनानाथा कृपा आली । त्यानें तयेसी वैकुंठा नेलें ॥3॥
अवचिता नाम आलिया हे गती । चिंतितां चित्तीं जवळी असे ।
तुका ह्मणे भावें स्मरा राम राम । कोण जाणे तये दशे ॥4॥
दुष्टाचें चित्त न भिन्ने अंतरीं । जरी जन्मवरी उपदेशिला।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It costs nothing and requires no effort, so why do you hesitate even for a moment? Why not seize this precious essence that is offered freely? What expense is it to you? Ajamela, out of love for his son, cried that name at the hour of death, and the compassionate Lord stood right beside him, placed him in a celestial chariot, and carried him to the highest world. The courtesan Pingala, absorbed in her parrot's chanting, uttered the name of Rama, and the Lord of the lowly took pity and brought her to Vaikuntha. If such is the reward when the name comes even by accident, imagine what comes to one who remembers it with intention. Says Tuka, chant Rama, Rama with feeling, for who knows when that final hour may arrive?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It costs nothing. It takes no effort. So why are you lazy even for a moment? Why not take this essence when it is free? What does it spend of yours? Ajamela, grieving for his son, cried out that name at his death. At once the merciful Lord stood beside him, set him in a heavenly chariot, and carried him to the other world. The courtesan, caught up in her parrot's chanting, said Rama, Rama at the end. The Lord of the helpless took pity and brought her to Vaikuntha. If even the name spoken by accident leads there, think what comes to one who holds it in mind on purpose. Tuka says: with feeling, remember Rama, Rama. Who knows when that hour will come?
What it means
Tukaram presses the cheapest, easiest thing there is: the Name costs nothing and takes no labor, so refusing it is pure sloth. He offers two proofs of how far it reaches. Ajamela called the name only because it was his son's, and the courtesan only echoed her parrot, yet both were carried to the highest world. His point lands hard: if the Name works even when it slips out by accident, it works all the more when you hold it deliberately. So remember Rama now, with feeling, because the final hour gives no warning.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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