The Name, pleading with Narayana
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणीक पाखांडें असती उदंडें । तळमिळती पिंडें आपुलिया ॥1॥
त्याचिया बोलाचा नाहीं विश्वास । घातलीसे कास तुझ्या नामीं ॥ध्रु.॥
दृढ एक चित्तें जालों या जीवासी । लाज सर्वविशीं तुह्मांसी हे ॥2॥
पीडों नेदी पशु आपुले अंकित । आहे जें उचित तैसें करा ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे किती भाकावी करुणा । कोप नारायणा येइल तुह्मां ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There are many other sects and doctrines in abundance, each tormented in its own body. I have no faith in their words; I have bound myself to Your Name alone. With a firm and single mind, I have committed this life to You; the responsibility for everything now rests with You. Do not let the lowly beasts that belong to You suffer; do what is fitting. Says Tuka, how much more must I plead for mercy? Will You not grow angry with Yourself, O Narayana?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There are countless other sects and false paths; each one writhes in its own body. I put no trust in their words. I have bound my waistcloth tight to your Name alone. With one firm mind I have given this life to you; now the shame of everything is yours, not mine. Do not let the helpless beasts who belong to you suffer; do whatever is fitting. Tuka says: how long must I keep begging for mercy? Will you not feel ashamed, O Narayana, that you stay angry with your own?
What it means
Tukaram sets his single refuge against a crowd of rival sects and doctrines, which he sees as tormented and untrustworthy, and declares he has tied himself wholly to God's Name. Having handed his whole life over with one undivided mind, he argues that the responsibility, the very honor of the matter, has passed to God; if the devotee fails, the disgrace is now God's. He calls the devotees lowly beasts who belong to God and asks their owner not to let them suffer. The closing lines push the plea to its sharpest point, almost daring Narayana: how long must mercy be begged for, and is it not God himself who should be ashamed to keep his own creatures waiting?
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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