Open table, the Name for all castes
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पव्हे घातली सर्वत्र । पंथीं अवघे पंथ मात्र । इच्छाभोजनाचें आर्त पुरवावया ॥१॥
यावें तेणें घ्यावें । न सरेसें केलें सदाशिवें ।
पात्र शुद्ध पाहिजे बरवें । मंगळभावें सकळ हरि म्हणा रे ॥२॥
नव्हे हें कांहीं मोकळें । साक्षी चौघांचिया वेगळें ।
नेदी नाचों मताचिया बळें । अणु अणोरणीया आगळें । महदि महदा साक्षित्वें हरि म्हणा रे ॥३॥
हे हरि नामाची आंबिली । जगा पोटभरी केली ।
विश्रांति कल्पतरूची साउली । सकळां वर्णां सेवितां भली । म्हणा हर हर महादेव ॥४॥
तुका हरिदास तराळ । अवघे हाकारी सकळ ।
या रे वंदूं शिखरातळ । चैत्रमास पर्वकाळ महादेवदर्शनें ॥५॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Rest-houses are set along every road, and all paths are merely paths, to fulfill the longing of the heart's desire is spread for all. Let whoever comes partake; the inexhaustible Lord Sadashiva has prepared it all. Only the vessel must be clean; with an auspicious spirit, say the name of Hari. This is no unguarded affair; its witness stands apart from any faction. It will not let anyone dance by the force of mere opinion, for it is subtler than the subtlest and greater than the greatest. This porridge of Hari's name has filled the belly of the world. The shade of the wish-fulfilling tree gives rest to all, and all castes may partake of it freely. Say Hara Hara Mahadeva. Says Tuka, the servant of Hari summons everyone. Come, let us bow from peak to foundation; in this festival month of Chaitra, may the sight of Mahadeva be ours.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Rest-houses are set along every road. All the paths are only paths. They are laid out to satisfy the heart's longing for food. Let whoever comes take what they need. Sadashiva, who never runs short, has prepared it all. Only the bowl must be clean and good. With an auspicious heart, all of you say the name of Hari. This is no loose, careless thing. Its witness stands apart from every faction. It will not let anyone dance on the strength of mere opinion. It is finer than the finest, greater than the greatest, the witness in all that is small and all that is large. Say the name of Hari. This porridge of Hari's name has filled the belly of the world. It is the shade of the wish-granting tree, where all may rest. All castes may take it, and it is good. Say Hara, Hara, Mahadeva. Tuka says: the servant of Hari calls out to everyone. Come, let us bow from the peak to the foot of the hill. In this festival month of Chaitra, let us have the sight of Mahadeva.
What it means
Tukaram turns the Name into a free public kitchen open to the whole world. The roads and rest-houses are the practices; the food is the longing of the heart; and the host is Sadashiva, who never runs out, so no one need be turned away. The single condition is an inner one: the bowl, the heart, must be clean, because this is not a loose affair that bends to anyone's faction or clever opinion. By calling it porridge that has filled the belly of the world and the shade of the wish-granting tree open to all castes, he insists the Name is for everyone, not the property of one rank. He ends as the crier of the feast, summoning all people to the festival sight of God.
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