Mythology, the Name cools the fire
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ददुनराचें पिलुं ह्मणे रामराम । नाहीं उदक उष्ण होऊं दिलें ॥1॥
कढेमाजी बाळ करी तळमळ । गोविंद गोपाळ पावें वेगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
आज्ञा तये काळीं केली पावकासी । झणी पिलीयासी तापवीसी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझे ऐसे हे पवाडे । वणिनतां निवाडे सुख वाटे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A frog's child utters the name of Rama, and the water does not scald it. In the boiling pot the young one cries out. O Govinda, O Gopala, come quickly. At that time the Lord commanded the fire itself not to burn the little creature. Says Tuka, such are Your glorious deeds. It brings joy to recount them in full.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The frog's child cries out Rama, Rama, and the water is not allowed to scald it. In the boiling pot the little one writhes. O Govinda, O Gopala, come quickly. At that time He commanded the fire itself: do not heat the little ones. Tuka says: such are Your great deeds. To recount them fully brings joy.
What it means
Tukaram tells a small rescue story to show how directly the Name works. A frog's young, caught in boiling water, cries out the name of Rama, and the Lord orders the very fire not to burn them. The point is the reach of God's protection: even a creature as low as a frog, even in a pot already boiling, is saved the instant the Name is uttered. Tukaram says recounting such deeds is itself a joy, because each one widens the listener's confidence that no caller is too small to be heard.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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