Mythology, the Name cuts the bonds
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
रामें स्नानसंध्या केलें क्रियाकर्म । त्याचा भवश्रम निवारला ॥1॥
आणिकें दुरावलीं करितां खटपट । वाउगे बोभाट वर्माविण॥ध्रु.॥
रामनामीं जिंहीं धरिला विश्वास । तिंहीं भवपाश तोडियेले ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे केलें किळकाळ ठेंगणें । नामसंकीर्तनें भाविकांनीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Rama performed the rituals of bathing, prayer, and sacred action; through these, His worldly bondage was destroyed. Others who struggled with schemes and efforts gained nothing; empty noise without the true key avails nothing. Those who placed their trust in Rama's name cut through the bonds of worldly existence. Says Tuka, the faithful have made even death and time bow low through the chanting of the name.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Rama himself did the bathing, the prayers, the rites. By them his weariness of the world was taken away. Others stayed far off, busy with schemes and struggle. It was empty noise, with the real key missing. Those who held trust in Rama's name cut through the bonds of this world. Tuka says: the faithful have made death and time bow low, just by singing the Name.
What it means
Tukaram contrasts two ways of meeting the labor of life. He points to Rama doing the rituals, but the weight is shifted onto trust: rites without the true key are only busywork and noise, and the people lost in scheming gained nothing from them. The bonds of worldly existence are cut not by effort but by faith placed in Rama's name. His final claim is the sharp one: through the simple chanting of the Name, ordinary devotees have humbled even death and time itself.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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