The Name, catching God in our words
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सत्ताबळें येतो मागतां विभाग । लावावया लाग निमित्य करूं ॥1॥
तुझीं ऐसीं मुखें करूं उच्चारण । बोलें नारायण सांपडवूं ॥ध्रु.॥
आसेविण नाहीं उपजत मोहो । तरि च हा गोहो न पडे फंदीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां व्हावें याजऐसें । सरिसें सरिसें समागमें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By the force of our right, we come to claim our share. Let us seize the occasion to begin. With mouths like Yours, let us utter the Name and catch Narayana in our words. Without desire, infatuation does not arise; without infatuation, one does not fall into delusion's trap. Says Tuka, now one must become like Him; in equal company, like meets like.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By the force of our right we come to claim our share; let us seize the occasion to begin. With mouths like yours we will utter the Name and catch Narayana in our words. Without desire no infatuation is born; without infatuation a man does not fall into delusion's trap. Tuka says: now one must become like him, equal beside equal, in close company.
What it means
Tukaram approaches God as one claiming a rightful share, looking for a pretext to begin the work. The plan is bold: with our own mouths we will chant the Name and so catch Narayana, snaring God in our very words. He notes the chain that ordinarily binds people: desire breeds infatuation, and infatuation drops a man into delusion. The way out is to redirect that same clinging toward God. The closing line states the aim of devotion plainly: to become like the Lord, standing as equal beside equal in his intimate company.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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