Devotion, the herald of the Name
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाठवाल तेथें गर्जेन पवाडे । कायाअ देहाकडे नावलोकीं॥1॥
ह्मणउनि मागें कंठींचा सौरस । पावतील नास विघ्नें पुढें ॥ध्रु.॥
कृपेच्या कटाक्षें निभें किळकाळा । येतां येत बळाशक्तीपुढें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे गुढी आणीन पायांपें । जगा होइल सोपें नाम तुझें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wherever You send me, I shall proclaim Your glorious deeds, without a backward glance at this body. That is why the melody in my throat rises ever higher, and all obstacles ahead shall be destroyed. By one glance of Your mercy, even death is overcome; who can stand before such power? Says Tuka, I will bring my victory flag to Your feet, and Your name shall become easy for the whole world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wherever You send me, I will sing Your great deeds aloud, never glancing back at this body. So the sweetness in my throat keeps rising, and the obstacles ahead will be destroyed. With one merciful glance even death is held off; who can stand before such strength? Tuka says: I will plant Your victory flag at Your feet, and Your name will become easy for the whole world.
What it means
Tukaram offers himself as God's herald, ready to go anywhere and proclaim God's deeds without a thought for his own safety. His confidence is not in himself but in God's mercy: one glance from the Lord overcomes death and clears every obstacle on the road. The image of the song rising in his throat shows the devotion that fuels the mission. His aim is not personal glory but a public one: to raise God's banner and make the divine name so accessible that anyone, anywhere, can take it up.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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