Mythology, the past does not stain
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गंधर्व अग्नि सोम भोगिती कुमारी । कोठें चराचरीं त्याग केला ॥१॥
गायत्री स्वमुखें भक्षीतसे मळ । मिळाल्या वाहाळ गंगाओघ ॥ध्रु.॥
कागाचिये विष्ठें जन्म पिंपळासि । पांडवकुळासि पाहातां दोष ॥२॥
शकुंतळा सूत कर्ण शृंगी व्यास । यांच्या नामें नाश पातकांसि ॥३॥
गणिका अजामेळ कुब्जा तो विदुर । पाहातां विचार पिंगळेचा ॥४॥
वाल्हा विश्वामित्र वसिष्ठ नारद । यांचे पूर्व शुद्ध काय आहे ॥५॥
न व्हावी तीं जालीं कर्में नरनारी । अनुतापें हरी स्मरतां मुक्त ॥६॥
तुका म्हणे पूर्व नाठवी श्रीहरी । मूळ जो उच्चारी नरक त्यासि ॥७॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Gandharvas, Agni, and Soma all partake of the virgin bride; where in all creation was desire ever renounced? Gayatri herself consumes impurities from her own mouth, and the streams that join the Ganga become the Ganga. The holy peepal tree was born from a crow's droppings, and even the Pandava lineage is not without blemish. Shakuntala, Suta, Karna, Shringi, and Vyasa: their very names destroy all sins. Ganika, Ajamila, Kubja, Vidura, and the courtesan Pingala all show this truth upon reflection. Valmiki the robber, Vishwamitra, Vasishtha, and Narada: their pasts were far from pure. Deeds done by men and women that should never have been done are wiped away when, in remorse, one remembers Hari. Says Tuka, Shri Hari does not even recall the past; whoever digs up those old roots falls into hell.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Gandharvas, Agni, and Soma all enjoy the virgin bride; where in all creation has desire been renounced? Gayatri eats impurities with her own mouth, and the streams that fall into the Ganga become the Ganga. The peepal tree is born from a crow's droppings, and even the Pandava line, looked at closely, carries blemish. Shakuntala, Suta, Karna, Shringi, Vyasa: their very names burn away sins. The courtesan, Ajamila, Kubja, Vidura, and Pingala the harlot, consider them and see. Valmiki the robber, Vishwamitra, Vasishtha, Narada: what pure past did any of them have? Men and women have done deeds that should never have been done, and remembering Hari in remorse, they are set free. Tuka says: Shri Hari does not call the past to mind; the one who digs up the old roots, hell is for him.
What it means
Tukaram is overturning the idea that a tainted past disqualifies anyone from grace. He stacks up case after case from the old stories, gods, sages, rivers, sacred trees, where the origin or conduct was impure, yet the holiness stands. The pivot is mercy: deeds that should never have been done are wiped clean when one turns back in genuine remorse and remembers Hari. He goes further than forgiveness, saying God does not even keep the memory of the past. The sting falls on the one who insists on excavating those old roots; that digging, not the old sin, is what earns hell.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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