The Name, the one true comfort
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
संसारा आलिया एक सुख आहे । आठवावे पाय विठोबाचे ॥1॥
येणें होय सर्व संसार सुखाचा । न लगे दुःखाचा लेश कांहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
घेईल तयासी सोपें आहे सुख । बोलियेलें मुखें नारायण ॥2॥
सांगितली सोय करुणासागरें । तुह्मां कांहो बरें न वाटतें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे तेणें उपकार केला । भोळ्या भाविकाला तरावया ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Having come into this world, there is one true comfort: remembering the feet of Vithoba. By this, all of worldly life becomes joyful and not a trace of suffering remains. This happiness is available to whoever takes it; simply speak Narayana with the mouth. The ocean of compassion has shown the way. Why does it not feel right to you? Says Tuka, He has done a great favor for the faithful, to carry them across.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Having come into this world, there is one comfort: remember the feet of Vithoba. By this, all of worldly life turns to joy, and not a trace of suffering is left. This happiness is there for whoever will take it; only speak Narayana with your mouth. The ocean of compassion has shown the way. Why does it not seem good to you? Tuka says: He has done this favor for the faithful, to carry them across.
What it means
Tukaram names the single comfort available to anyone born into this life: keep Vithoba's feet in mind. He insists the practice is easy and open to all; you need only say the Name, Narayana, with your mouth, and worldly life turns sweet with no suffering left. The way has been shown freely by God, the ocean of mercy, so the saint is puzzled, almost grieved, that people still hold back from it. The closing line frames the whole thing as a gift: God laid out this simple path on purpose, to ferry the faithful across the world they are drowning in.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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