The Name, the place made holy by remembrance
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जेथें आठवती स्वामीचे ते पाय । उत्तम ते ठाय रम्य स्थळ ॥1॥
रान अथवा घर एकांत लोकांत । समाधान चित्त तें ते घडी ॥ध्रु.॥
धन्य तो हा काळ सरे आनंदरूप । वाहातां संकल्प गोविंदाचे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे लाभकाळ ते चि जीणें । भाग्य नारायण उत्तम तें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wherever the Lord's feet are remembered, that is the noblest place, a beautiful site. Whether in the forest or at home, in solitude or in a crowd, the moment when the mind rests in contentment is the blessed moment. Blessed is that time which passes in the form of bliss, carrying the thought of Govinda. Says Tuka, to live with profit is to live remembering Narayana; that is the highest fortune.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wherever the Lord's feet are remembered, that is the noblest place, a lovely spot. Forest or house, alone or in a crowd: the moment the mind rests in peace, that is the blessed moment. Blessed is the time that passes in the form of joy, carrying the thought of Govinda. Tuka says: to live with profit is just this, to live remembering Narayana. That is the highest fortune.
What it means
Tukaram moves the measure of holiness from the place to the act of remembrance. No site is sacred in itself; the noblest place is wherever the Lord's feet are held in mind, and so forest, home, solitude, and crowd are all equal. What makes a moment blessed is the mind coming to rest in God, and what makes time well spent is its passing in the thought of Govinda. The claim he lands is a redefinition of a profitable life: not gain or status, but a life lived remembering Narayana, which he calls the highest fortune.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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