The Name at the meal, God the true enjoyer
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भोक्ता नारायण लक्षुमीचा पति । ह्मणोनि प्राणाहुती घेतलिया ॥1॥
भर्ता आणि भोक्ता कर्त्ता आणि करविता । आपण सहजता पूर्णकाम ॥ध्रु.॥
विश्वंभर कृपादृष्टी सांभाळीत । प्रार्थना करीत ब्राह्मणांची ॥2॥
कवळोकवळीं नाम घ्या गोविंदाचें । भोजन भक्तांचें तुका ह्मणे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Narayana, the Lord of Lakshmi, is the true enjoyer of all offerings; therefore the ritual oblation is taken up. He is the sustainer and the enjoyer, the doer and the cause of all doing, Himself perfectly fulfilled. The Lord of the universe graciously watches over all and honors the prayers of the brahmins. Says Tuka, with every morsel, take the Name of Govinda; that is the true meal of the devotees.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Narayana, the Lord of Lakshmi, is the one who enjoys every offering. So the offering of life-breath is taken up. He is the husband and the enjoyer, the doer and the one who makes others do. He Himself is full and wants for nothing. The Lord of the universe watches over all with a gracious eye and honors the prayers of the brahmins. With every morsel, take the Name of Govinda. Tuka says: that is the true meal of the devotees.
What it means
Tukaram reframes the act of eating as worship by naming who really receives it. Narayana, Lakshmi's Lord, is the true enjoyer behind every offering, the doer and the mover of all doing, and yet wholly full in Himself, needing nothing from us. As the universe's sustainer He watches over all with grace and answers the brahmins' prayers. So the instruction lands simply: take the Name of Govinda with each mouthful, because for the devotees the food is not the meal; the remembrance of God woven through it is.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
More in this theme →