Exhortation, take the free Name
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पोटासाठीं खटपट करिसी अवघा वीळ । राम राम ह्मणतां तुझी बसली दांतखीळ ॥1॥
हरिचें नाम कदाकाळीं कां रे नये वाचे । ह्मणतां राम राम तुझ्या बाचें काय वेचें ॥ध्रु.॥
द्रव्याचिया आशा तुजला दाही दिशा न पुरती । कीर्तनासी जातां तुझी जड झाली माती ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐशा जीवा काय करूं आता । राम राम न ह्मणे त्याचा गाढव मातापिता ॥3॥
घ्या रे आपुलाल्या परी । नका ठेवूं कांही उरी । ओसरतां भरी । तोंडवरी अंबर ॥ध्रु.॥
वाहे बंदर द्वारका । खेप आली पुंडलिका । उभे चि विकिलें एका । सनकादिकां सांपडलें ॥2॥
धन्य धन्य हे भूमंडळी । प्रगटली नामावळी । घेती जीं दुबळीं । तीं आगळीं सदैव ॥3॥
माप आपुलेनि हातें । कोणी नाहीं निवारितें । पैस करूनि चित्तें । घ्यावें हितें आपुलिया ॥4॥
नाहीं वाटितां सरलें । आहे तैसें चि भरलें । तुका ह्मणे गेलें । वांयांविण न घेतां ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
For the belly's sake you labor the whole day through, yet when it comes to saying Rama, Rama, your jaw locks tight. Why can you never bring Hari's name to your tongue? What does it cost you to say Rama, Rama? For the greed of wealth, ten directions cannot satisfy you, yet when it is time for kirtan, your legs turn to clay. Says Tuka, what can be done for such a jiva? One who does not say Rama, Rama, his very parents are as witless as donkeys. Take what you need, each in your own way. Do not hold back any reserve. When the tide recedes, it covers your face with sand. The harbor of Dwaraka receives the merchandise; the shipment arrived for Pundalik. It was sold to the One alone, yet Sanakadika and others found it too. Blessed, blessed is this earth where the garland of names has appeared. Those humble ones who take it become greater than all. Measure it out with your own hands; no one can stop you. Make room in the chitta and take what benefits you. Says Tuka, the giving does not diminish; it remains as full as ever. Only by not taking does it go to waste.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
All day you toil and scrape for the belly's sake, but when it comes to saying Rama, Rama, your jaw locks shut. Why does Hari's name never come to your tongue? What does it cost your father to say Rama, Rama? In your greed for money the ten directions are not enough for you, but when it is time for kirtan your body turns to clay. Tuka says: what can be done for such a soul? Whoever will not say Rama, Rama, his parents are as foolish as donkeys. Take it, each in your own way; keep nothing back in reserve. When the tide pulls back, sand fills your mouth. The harbor of Dwaraka carries the goods; the cargo came for Pundalik. It was sold to the One alone, yet Sanaka and the others found it too. Blessed, blessed is this earth where the garland of names has appeared. The poor who take it become forever the greatest. Measure it out with your own hand; no one stops you. Make room in the mind and take what is good for you. The giving does not lessen it; it stays as full as before. Tuka says: it is lost only by your not taking it.
What it means
Tukaram scolds the listener for the lopsided effort of life: tireless labor and endless greed for the belly and for money, yet the jaw locks and the body turns to clay the moment the free, costless Name is asked for. The sharp lines about the witless soul and the donkey-parents are pointed at the self-defeating habit of refusing what costs nothing and saves everything, not at contempt for any individual. He urges everyone to take the Name freely, each in their own measure, holding nothing back, warning that delay leaves only sand in the mouth when the tide of life withdraws. The treasury images follow: the Name is cargo landed at Pandhari, sold to the one devoted heart yet still found by the ancient sages, and a garland freely available to even the poorest, who become the greatest by taking it. The closing assurance is that this store never shrinks with giving; the only way to lose it is to refuse to reach out your hand.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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