Ecstasy, only Narayana remains
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बोळविला देह आपुलेनि हातें । हुताशिलीं भूतें ब्रह्माग्नीसीं ॥1॥
एकवेळे जालें सकळ कारण । आतां नारायण नारायण ॥ध्रु.॥
अमृतसंजीवनी निवविली खाई । अंगें तये ठायीं हारपलीं ॥2॥
एकादशीविध जागरण उपवास । बारावा दिवस भोजनाचा ।3॥
अवघीं कर्में जालीं घटस्पोटापाशीं । संबंध एकेसी उरला नामीं ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आतां आनंदीं आनंदु । गोविंदीं गोविंदु विस्तारला ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I performed the last rites of the body with my own hands. The elements were offered into the fire of Brahman. At once, all obligations were fulfilled; now there is only Narayana, Narayana. The nectar of immortality has been fed and the body has been soothed; all its parts have dissolved into that essence. The Ekadashi ritual of fasting and vigil concluded; the twelfth day is for the feast. All karmic rites ended with the breaking of the vessel; the only remaining bond is with the Name. Says Tuka, now there is bliss within bliss; Govinda has expanded into Govinda throughout all creation.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I sent off my own body with my own hands; I offered the elements into the fire of Brahman. In one stroke every obligation was finished; now it is only Narayana, Narayana. The nectar of immortality was fed and the body grew calm; all its parts dissolved into that essence. The Ekadashi vigil and fast are over; the twelfth day is for the feast. Every karmic rite ended when the vessel broke; the one bond that remains is with the Name. Tuka says: now there is bliss within bliss; Govinda has spread out into Govinda everywhere.
What it means
Tukaram again describes performing his own funeral as the end of the false self, offering the bodily elements into the fire of Brahman. With that one act every ritual duty is discharged at once, leaving nothing but the repeated Name, Narayana. He maps the death onto the cycle of Ekadashi: the fast and vigil are the dying, and the feast of the twelfth day is the joy that follows. When the vessel of the old self breaks, all karmic obligation ends and the single remaining tie is to the Name. What is left is bliss within bliss, with Govinda alone expanding into Govinda through all of creation.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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