True worship, the Name above all rites
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाहुनियां ग्रंथ करावें कीर्तन । तेव्हां आलें जाण फळ त्याचें ॥1॥
नाहीं तरि वांयां केली तोंडपिटी । उरी ते शेवटी उरलीसे ॥ध्रु.॥
पढोनियां वेद हरिगुण गावे । ठावें तें जाणावें तेव्हां जालें ॥2॥
तप तिर्थाटण तेव्हां कार्यसििद्ध । िस्थर राहे बुिद्ध हरिच्या नामीं ॥3॥
यागयज्ञादिक काय दानधर्म । तरि फळ नाम कंठीं राहे ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे नको काबाडाचे भरी । पडों सार धरीं हें चि एक ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Study the scripture and then perform kirtan; only then does the scripture bear its fruit. Otherwise, all the recitation was mere lip-beating, and the remainder stays unfinished. Having recited the Vedas, one should sing the praises of Hari; only then is knowledge truly known. Austerity and pilgrimage reach their purpose only when the mind rests steadily in Hari's Name. What are sacrifices, ceremonies, and acts of charity worth if the Name does not stay on one's lips? Says Tuka, do not get buried under the load of strenuous practices; hold on to this one essence alone.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Study the scripture, then sing kirtan; only then does the scripture bear fruit. Otherwise it was only beating your mouth, and the rest is left undone. Recite the Vedas, then sing the praises of Hari; only then is what you know truly known. Austerity and pilgrimage reach their purpose only when the mind rests steady in Hari's Name. What are sacrifices and ceremonies and charity worth if the Name does not stay on your lips? Tuka says: do not get buried under the load of hard practices; hold to this one essence alone.
What it means
Tukaram is ranking the whole machinery of religion and putting one thing at the top. Reading scripture, reciting the Vedas, austerity, pilgrimage, sacrifice, charity: none of them is rejected, but each only bears fruit when it leads to and rests in the Name of Hari. Study that never becomes living praise is just lip-work, and effort without the Name stuck in the throat comes to nothing. The warning is against mistaking the load of practices for the goal. He tells you to drop the burden and keep the single essence, the Name.
True Worship
What genuine worship looks like, beyond outward observances and images.
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