The Name, the one who saves even by a glance
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
4028. विठोबाचें नाम ज्याचे मुखीं नित्य । त्या देखिल्या पतित उद्धरिलि ॥1॥
विठ्ठलविठ्ठल भावें ह्मणे वाचे । तरी तो काळाचे दांत ठेंसी ॥ध्रु.॥
बहुत तारिले सांगों किती आतां । ऐसा कोणी दाता दुजा नाहीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे म्यां ही ऐकोनियां कीर्ती । धरिला एकांतीं हृदयामाजी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One in whose mouth the name of Vithoba lives daily can uplift even the fallen by his mere sight. One who utters Vitthal, Vitthal with true feeling crushes the very teeth of Death. So many have been saved; how many more can I describe? There is no other benefactor like Him. Says Tuka, hearing of His fame, I too have embraced Him in the solitude of my heart.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
One who has Vithoba's name always in his mouth uplifts even the fallen by the mere sight of him. One who says Vitthal, Vitthal with true feeling breaks the very teeth of Death. So many have been saved; how many can I count now? There is no other giver like Him. Tuka says: I too, hearing of His fame, have held Him alone in my heart.
What it means
This abhanga praises both the Name and the one who keeps it constantly. Such a person becomes saving to others: even a glance at him lifts the fallen, and his heartfelt repetition of Vitthal's name shatters the power of Death itself. Tukaram says he cannot even count the many the Name has rescued, and that no other benefactor compares to this Lord. Then he places himself among the saved: having only heard of that fame, he has taken God into the quiet of his own heart and holds onto him there.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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