The Name, what saying Rama does
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
राम ह्मणतां कामक्रोधांचें दहन । होय अभिमान देशधडी ॥1॥
राम ह्मणतां कर्म तुटेल भवबंधन । नये श्रम सीण स्वप्नास ही ॥ध्रु.॥
राम ह्मणे जन्म नाहीं गर्भवास । नव्हे दारिद्रास पात्र कधीं ॥2॥
राम ह्मणतां यम शरणागत बापुडें । आढळ पद पुढें काय तेथें ॥3॥
राम ह्मणतां धर्म घडतील सकळ । त्रिमिर पडळ नासे हेळा ॥4॥
राम ह्मणतां ह्मणे तुकयाचा बंधु । तरिजेल भवसिंधु संदेह नाहीं ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By saying Rama, desire and anger are burnt to ash, and pride is banished far away. By saying Rama, the bond of karma is severed; not even the shadow of hardship or weariness can touch you. By saying Rama, there is no rebirth, no dwelling in the womb, no poverty ever. By saying Rama, even Yama surrenders, helpless before that immovable state. By saying Rama, all righteousness is fulfilled, and the veil of darkness is destroyed in a flash. Says Tukya-bandhu, by saying Rama, the ocean of worldly existence is crossed beyond doubt.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Say Rama, and desire and anger burn to ash; pride is driven out of the country. Say Rama, and the work of karma snaps, the bond of the world breaks; not even in a dream does toil or weariness come near. Say Rama, and there is no birth, no dwelling in the womb, never again a fitness for poverty. Say Rama, and even Yama becomes a helpless suppliant; what immovable state stands beyond that? Say Rama, and every duty is fulfilled, and the veil of darkness is destroyed in a flash. Tukya-bandhu says: say Rama, and the ocean of the world is crossed. There is no doubt of it.
What it means
This is a litany on the single act of saying the Name of Rama, and each line names one bondage it dissolves. Inwardly it burns away lust, anger, and pride; outwardly it cuts the chain of karma and rebirth so that even the womb and future poverty are escaped. It strips death of its terror, since Yama himself becomes a beggar before it, and it accomplishes the fruit of all duties at once while tearing away the veil of ignorance. The poem stakes everything on this one practice and ends with no hedge: the ocean of worldly existence is crossed, beyond doubt, by the Name.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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