Praise of the Vaishnava land
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जेथें वैष्णवांचा वास । धन्य भूमी पुण्य देश ॥1॥
दोष नाहीं ओखदासी । दूत सांगे यमापाशीं ॥ध्रु.॥
गरुडटकयांच्या भारें । भूमि गर्जे जेजेकारें ॥2॥
सहज तयां जनां छंद । वाचे गोविंद गोविंद ॥3॥
तुळसीवनें रंगमाळा । अवघा वैकुंठसोहळा ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे भेणें । काळ नये तेणें राणें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Where Vaishnavas dwell, that land is blessed and the country is holy. There is no need of a remedy for any blemish; the messenger tells Yama himself to stay away. Under the weight of the Garuda-standard processions, the earth resounds with cries of victory. Naturally, on the tongues of those people: Govinda, Govinda. Tulsi gardens and festive garlands of color: the full splendor of Vaikuntha itself. Says Tuka, out of sheer fear, Death does not enter that domain.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Where the Vaishnavas live, that land is blessed; that country is holy. There is no need of any cure for sin there. The messenger tells Yama himself to keep away. Under the weight of the Garuda banners in procession, the earth roars with cries of victory. On those people's tongues, without effort: Govinda, Govinda. Tulsi groves and bright garlands of color. It is the whole festival of Vaikuntha. Tuka says: out of sheer fear, Death does not enter that domain.
What it means
Tukaram is praising the place where devotees of Vishnu gather and saying what such a place becomes. The land itself turns holy, and the usual machinery of judgment loses its grip: no remedy for sin is needed, and Yama's own messenger is told to stay away. He fills in the scene, the standards and processions, the constant Govinda on every tongue, the tulsi and the garlands, until the village looks like Vaikuntha brought down to earth. The claim he lands is that death itself is afraid to enter where the Name is sung; the company of the devout is not a comfort but a stronghold.
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