The Name, the treasure that never runs out
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जुनाट हें धन अंत नाहीं पार । खात आले फार सरलें नाहीं ॥1॥
नारद हा मुनि शुक सनकादिक । उरलें आमुप तुह्मां आह्मां ॥ध्रु.॥
येथूनियां धना खाती बहु जन । वाल गुंज उणें जालें नाहीं ॥2॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This is an ancient treasure without end or limit. So many have partaken of it, yet it has never been exhausted. The sage Narada, Shuka, and the Sanakadiks have all drawn from it. What remains is enough for you and for us. Says Tuka, though countless people feed from this treasure, not even a grain has diminished.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
This is an old treasure with no end and no edge. Many have fed on it for a long time, and it has not run out. The sage Narada, Shuka, the Sanaka brothers, all took from it, and there is still plenty left for you and for us. Many people feed from this treasure, yet not a grain of it has grown less.
What it means
Tukaram pictures the Name, the wealth of God, as a treasure that cannot be spent. It is ancient and without limit; ages of people have drawn on it and it has never been depleted. He names great seekers, Narada, Shuka, the sons of Brahma, who all fed from it, and notes that the supply for ordinary people like us is undiminished. The point is reassurance: no matter how many partake, this riches loses nothing, so no one need fear arriving too late or finding the store empty.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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