The Name, fear cast off
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भय होतें आह्मीपणें । पाठी येणें घातलें ॥1॥
अवघा आपुला चि देश । काळा लेश उरे चि ना ॥ध्रु.॥
समर्थाचें नाम घेतां । मग चिंता काशाची ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणें नारायणें । जालें जिणें सुखाचें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The fear that came from the sense of I and mine has been cast behind. The whole land is now our own, and not a trace of death remains. When one takes the name of the Capable One, what worry can there be? Says Tuka, through Narayana, life has become blissful.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The fear that came from I and mine has been thrown behind me. The whole land is now my own; not a trace of death remains. When I take the name of the Capable One, what is there left to worry about? Tuka says: through Narayana, living has become full of joy.
What it means
Tukaram traces fear back to its root, the sense of I and mine, and says that root has been cast off. Once it is gone, there is no foreign ground left to fear; the whole land is his own, and even death leaves no trace. He gives the reason: when you take the name of the One who is able to do anything, worry has nothing to stand on. Resting in Narayana, life itself turns from dread into joy.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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