The Name lifts the lowborn high
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कथा हें भूषण जनामध्यें सार । तरले अपार बहुत येणें ॥1॥
नीचिये कुळींचा उंचा वंद्य होय । हरीचे जो गाय गुणवाद ॥ध्रु.॥
देव त्याची माथां वंदी पायधुळी । दीप झाला कुळीं वंशाचिये ॥2॥
त्याची निंदा करी त्याची कुष्ठ वाणी । मुख संवदणी रजकाची ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं चोरीचा व्यापार । विठ्ठलाचें सार नाम ध्यावें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The sacred story is the finest ornament among people, the essence of all things; countless souls have been saved by it. Even one born in a lowly family becomes honored and revered if he sings the glories of Hari. God Himself bows to the dust of such a devotee's feet; that soul becomes a lamp in the family lineage. But the tongue that slanders such a one becomes leprous; its mouth is like a washerman's rag. Says Tuka, there is no hidden dealing here; the name of Vitthal is the true essence. Take it openly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The sacred story is the ornament among people, the essence; countless souls have crossed over by it. One born in a low family becomes high and worthy of honor if he sings the praise of Hari. God himself bows to the dust of his feet; he becomes a lamp to his whole line. The tongue that slanders such a one turns leprous; its mouth is a washerman's rag. Tuka says: there is no hidden dealing here; meditate on the name of Vitthal, the essence.
What it means
Tukaram declares that singing God's story is the truest distinction among people, and that it overturns the order of birth. A person born low becomes high and honored, even revered, simply by praising Hari, until God himself bows to the dust of his feet and the devotee becomes a lamp for his whole lineage. Against this he sets a warning: the tongue that slanders such a devotee rots like leprosy, foul as a washerman's rag. The closing turn aims it at honesty: there is nothing secret or stolen about this path, so take up the Name of Vitthal openly and dwell on it.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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