The Name, Hari saves the most fallen
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
होती हरिनामें चोखट । क्षण एक न लगतां ॥1॥
तुह्मी हरि ह्मणा हरि ह्मणा । महादोषांचे छेदना ॥ध्रु.॥
अतिप्रीतीचा बांधला । नष्ट चांडाळीं रतला ।
क्षण न लगतां नेला । वैकुंठासी हरि ह्मणतां॥2॥
अमित्य दोषाचें मूळ । जालें वाल्मीकास सबळ ।
जाला हरिनामें निर्मळ । गंगाजळ पैं जैसा ॥3॥
हरि ह्मणतां तरले । महादोषी गणिके नेलें ।
कुंटणी भिली उद्धरिलें । वैकुंठासी हरि म्हणतां ॥4॥
हरिविण जन्म नको वांयां । जैसी दर्पणींची छाया ।
ह्मणोनि तुका लागे पायां । शरण तया हरीसी ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By the name of Hari, they were purified in less than a moment. Say Hari, say Hari, for it severs the greatest sins. One deeply steeped in sin, attached to a fallen woman, was carried to Vaikuntha in an instant by uttering Hari's name. The immense burden of Valmiki's sins was formidable, yet by the name of Hari he became pure as the waters of the Ganga. By saying Hari, the courtesan was delivered, and the hunter woman Bhilli was saved and taken to Vaikuntha. Without Hari, birth is wasted, like a mere reflection in a mirror. Says Tuka, therefore I fall at the feet of Hari and surrender to Him.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By the name of Hari they were made spotless in less than a moment. You, say Hari, say Hari; it cuts down the greatest sins. One bound by his cravings, sunk in a fallen woman, was taken to Vaikuntha in an instant by saying Hari's name. The root of Valmiki's sins was vast and strong, yet by the name of Hari he became clean as the water of the Ganga. By saying Hari the great sinners crossed over; the courtesan was carried away, the hunter woman Bhilli was lifted up and taken to Vaikuntha by saying Hari. Without Hari, birth is wasted, like a shadow in a mirror. Tuka says: so I fall at His feet and take refuge in that Hari.
What it means
Tukaram presses the same point through example after example: there is no sin so great that Hari's name cannot cut it. He recalls the man drowned in his cravings, Valmiki the robber, the courtesan, the hunter woman Bhilli, and says each was lifted to Vaikuntha simply by the Name, in less than a moment. The thrust is not to excuse their sins but to show that the Name reaches even those the world counts as lost. He ends by drawing the conclusion for himself: a life without Hari is as empty as a reflection in a mirror, so he falls at Hari's feet and surrenders.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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