The Name, its power to deliver
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नामांचा डांगोरा फिरवीं घरोघरीं । ह्मणा हरीहरी सर्वभावें ॥1॥
नामें हरती कर्में वैकुंठींची पै विस्त । संनिध श्रीपति सदोदित ॥ध्रु.॥
नामाचा महिमा बहुतां कळला । नामें उद्धरिला अजामेळ ॥2॥
गजेंद्राची िस्थति पुराणीं बोलती । नामें चि श्रीपति पावलासे ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे घेतां मुक्ति आहे । नामें सर्व पाहें आकिळलें॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Proclaim the Name from door to door. Say 'Hari, Hari' with your whole being. The Name removes all karma and opens the way to Vaikuntha. Shripati is always near. The greatness of the Name has been known to many. The Name delivered even the wrongdoer Ajamila. The Puranas tell the story of Gajendra: through the Name alone, Shripati came to his rescue. Says Tuka, by taking the Name, liberation is assured. The Name holds everything within its power.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Carry the Name from door to door like a town crier. Say Hari, Hari with your whole heart. The Name burns away karma and spreads the wealth of Vaikuntha; Shripati is always near. Many have come to know the greatness of the Name. The Name lifted up even Ajamila. The Puranas tell of Gajendra's plight: by the Name alone Shripati came to him. Tuka says: take the Name and liberation is yours. The Name holds everything within its grasp.
What it means
Tukaram is preaching the Name as the one accessible, all-sufficient practice. Said with the whole heart, repeated like a crier going door to door, it burns off karma and keeps God close at hand. He grounds the claim in two well-known rescues: Ajamila, a sinner saved when he called a holy name at death, and Gajendra the elephant, lifted from the crocodile when he cried out. The stakes he names are total: by simply taking the Name, liberation is assured, because the Name holds everything within its grasp.
The Power of the Name
The supremacy of nama-smarana: God's name as the highest practice.
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