The Power of the Name

मैत्र केले महा बळी । कामा न येती अंतकाळीं ॥१॥

You made friends with the mighty, but they are of no use at the hour of death. Take the name of Rama now; fill your stor…

शुकसनकादिकीं उभारिला बाहो । परिक्षितीला हो दिसां सातां ॥१॥

Sages like Shuka and Sanaka raised their arms in triumph at what God did for Parikshit in seven days. At the first cry …

चाल केलासी मोकळा । बोल विठ्ठल वेळोवेळां ॥१॥

You have been set free. Now walk freely, and speak Vitthal's name at every turn. You carry no sin whatsoever. When you …

बाळ बापा म्हणे काका । तरी तो कां निपराध ॥१॥

If a child calls its father "uncle," is the child not blameless? Whatever the feeling, if it is sweet, Vitthal fulfills…

अरे हें देह व्यर्थ जावें । ऐसें जरी तुज व्हावें । द्यूतकर्म मनोभावें । सारीपाट ख…

If you wish this body to go to waste, then play board-games and gamble with full devotion. Then where will you find the…

इनामाची भरली पेठ । वाहाती दाट मारग ॥१॥

The marketplace of divine gifts is full to overflowing, and the roads are bustling with traffic. Every kind of goods ar…

वेदाचें गव्हर न कळे पाठकां । अधिकार लोकां नाहीं येरां ॥१॥

The depths of the Vedas cannot be grasped by mere reciters, and ordinary people have no authority over them. The name o…

पुण्यवंत व्हावें । घेतां सज्जनांची नांवें ॥१॥

Simply by taking the names of the good, one becomes virtuous. My tongue will not cease from this; it is a great gain got…

माझिये मनींचा जाणोनियां भाव । तो करी उपाव गुरुराजा ॥१॥

Knowing the longing in my mind, my Guru devised a remedy. He gave me a beloved mantra, so easy that there is no obstacle…

देवी देव जाला भोग सरला यावरी । सांगाया दुसरी ऐसी नाहीं उरली ॥१॥

The goddess has become the God; the experience is exhausted and no other power remains to speak of. Sing the divine name…

राम राम दोनी अक्षरें । सुलभ आणि सोपारें । जागा मागिले पाहारें । सेवटिचें गोड तें…

Rama, Rama: two syllables, simple and easy. Wake in the last watch of the night, for that which is final is truly sweet.…

रामकृष्ण गीती गात । टाळ चिपळ्या वाजवीत । छंदें आपुलिया नाचत । नीज घेऊनि फिरत गा …

Singing the songs of Rama and Krishna, clapping cymbals, dancing in his own rapture, the wandering minstrel goes from do…

आवल नाम आल्ला बडा लेते भुल न जाये । इलाम त्याकालजमुपरताही तुंब बजाये ॥१॥

The first and greatest name is Allah; take it and never be deceived. On the day of reckoning, even over the bridge of ju…

कमोदिनी काय जाणे तो परिमळ । भ्रमर सकळ भोगीतसे ॥१॥

Does the night-lotus know its own fragrance? It is the bee who enjoys it fully. In the same way, you do not know the swe…

आणीक काळें न चले उपाय । धरावे या पाय विठोबाचे ॥१॥

In this dark age no other remedy avails; one must hold fast to the feet of Vitthoba. All merit resides within those feet…

नाम साराचें ही सार । शरणागत यमकिंकर ॥१॥

The Name is the essence of all essences; even Yama's servants bow before one who has surrendered to it. Whether high or …

दोष पळती कीर्तनें । तुझ्या नामें संकीर्तनें ॥1॥

Sins flee from the power of kirtan, from your name sung in congregational praise. Why then would you make your own promi…

सुख या संतसमागमें । नित्य दुनावे तुझिया नामें । दहन होती सकळ कर्में । सर्वकाळ प्…

In the company of saints, joy grows ever greater through Your Name. All karmas are burned away, and I sway in love at al…

ऐसी हे गर्जवूं वैखरी । केशव मुकुंद मुरारी । राम कृष्ण नामें बरीं । हरी हरी दोष स…

Let us make the voice thunder forth: Keshava, Mukunda, Murari! The names Rama and Krishna are beautiful; Hari, Hari dest…

आतां येणें बळें पंढरीनाथ । जवळी राहिला तिष्ठत । पाहातां न कळे जयाचा अंत । तो चि …

Now by this power the Lord of Pandhari has remained standing close at hand. Looking upon Him, one cannot fathom His limi…

हें चि भवरोगाचें औषध । जन्म जरा तुटे व्याध । आणीक कांहीं नव्हे बाध । करील वध षड्…

This is the remedy for the disease of worldly existence. It severs the afflictions of birth and old age. No other harm …

चांगलें नाम गोमटें रूप । निवती डोळे हरती ताप । विठ्ठल विठ्ठल हा जप । प्रगट स्वल्…

What a beautiful Name, what a lovely form. The eyes find rest and all suffering is removed. This chant of "Vitthal, Vit…

गायनाचे रंगीं । शिH अद्भुत हे अंगीं ॥1॥

In the rapture of sacred song, a wondrous power comes over the body. This is Your gift, O God: accept this unbroken serv…

सत्य साच खरें । नाम विठोबाचें बरें ॥1॥

The Name of Vithoba is true, honest, and genuine. It severs all bonds and brings glory in both this world and the next. …

नसे तरी मनो नसो । परी वाचे तरी वसो ॥1॥

Even if my mind is not in it, let the Name at least dwell upon my tongue. Let this body perish in the chanting of Vittha…

तुटे भवरोग । संचितक्रियमाणभोग ॥1॥

The disease of worldly existence is destroyed, along with the effects of past, present, and future karma. Such is the Na…

सोडिला संसार । माया तयावरि फार ॥1॥

Even after abandoning worldly life, the power of illusion pursues one relentlessly. It runs behind, step by step, sharin…

बैसों खेळूं जेवूं । तेथें नाम तुझें गाऊं ॥1॥

Whether sitting, playing, or eating, we will sing Your Name. We will string the garland of the names Rama and Krishna an…

आतां पुढें धरीं । माझे आठव वैखरी ॥1॥

Now, O tongue, hold fast to the remembrance of my Lord. Do not babble uselessly about worthless things. Leave aside all…

काय नव्हे केलें । एका चिंतितां विठ्ठलें ॥1॥

What cannot be accomplished by contemplating Vitthal alone? It is the essence of all spiritual practices, carrying one a…

हो कां दुराचारी । वाचे नाम जो उच्चारी ॥1॥

Even if one is of wicked conduct, if the tongue utters the Name, it is enough. Even if there is no devotion in the heart…

देह हा सादर पाहावा नििश्चत । सर्व सुख एथें नाम आहे ॥1॥

This body should be regarded carefully and with certainty. All happiness resides here in the Name. When Brahman is trul…

जवळी मुखापाशीं । असतां नेघे अहनिऩशीं ॥1॥

It is right here, near your very lips, yet you will not take it, day or night. The Name destroys worldly existence; chan…

दीप न देखे अंधारा । आतां हें चि करा जतन ॥1॥

A lamp knows no darkness. Now guard this alone with care. Narayana, Narayana. This Name is wealth, held firm in the kno…

पडिलों भोवणीं । होतों बहु चिंतवणी ॥1॥

I had been spinning in circles, lost in too much thinking. I had gone astray, lost the path; quickly I seized the gain.…

द्रव्याचा तो आह्मी धरितों विटाळ । तया पाठी काळ लाग करी ॥1॥

I regard wealth itself as a source of contamination, for Death follows close behind it. I have kept this as my sole sust…

जतन करीन जीवें । शुद्धभावें करूनी ॥1॥

I shall guard it with my very jiva, with pure devotion. The name Vitthal, Vitthal is my wealth, my sustenance at the fi…

आह्मीं गावें तुह्मीं कोणीं कांहीं न ह्मणावें । ऐसें तंव आह्मां सांगितलें नाहीं द…

We shall sing, and let none object. God has not told us to hold back. Chant Rama, Rama, clap your hands. Dance and sway…

देव घ्या कोणी देव घ्या कोणी । आइता आला घर पुसोनी ॥1॥

Will someone take God? Will someone take God? He has come asking after the house, inquiring at every door. No one wants…

आतां आह्मां हें चि काम । न विसंभावें तुझें नाम । वाहुनियां टाळी । प्रेमसुखें नाच…

Now this alone is our work: never to forget Your name. Carrying the cymbal, we shall dance in the joy of love. All hard…

राम ह्मणे ग्रासोग्रासीं । तो चि जेविला उपवासी ॥1॥

One who says Rama with every morsel of food, that one has truly feasted even while fasting. Blessed, blessed is that bo…

राम ह्मणतां राम चि होइजे । पदीं बैसोन पदवी घेइजे ॥1॥

By chanting Rama, one becomes Rama Himself. Sitting at His feet, one receives the supreme station. Such bliss lies in t…

रामराम उत्तम अक्षरें । कंठीं धरिलीं आपण शंकरें ॥1॥

Rama, Rama: these supreme syllables were held in His own throat by Shankara Himself. See how they carry all three world…

राम ह्मणतां तरे जाणता अणतां । हो का यातिभलता कुळहीन ॥1॥

By saying Rama, the knowing and the unknowing are both saved, whatever their caste or lineage. By saying Rama, no other…

रामरूप केली । रामें कौसल्या माउली ॥1॥

Rama made His mother Kausalya into His very own form. Whoever holds Rama in the mind, in meditation and contemplation, …

अहल्या जेणें तारिली रामें । गणिका परलोका नेली नामें ॥1॥

Rama saved Ahalya; the Name carried the courtesan to the highest world. Rama, Hari, Raghuraj, Hari. Shiva's throat was…

मी तों अल्प मतिहीन । काय वणूप तुझे गुण । उदकीं तारिले पाषाण । हें महिमान नामाचें…

I am small and dull of wit. How can I describe Your glories? You made stones float upon the water. Such is the glory of …

महापातकांसी पळ कांप थोर । कैसे गर्जती घोष हे नामवीर ॥1॥

Before the mighty champions of the Name, great sins flee in terror, trembling with fear. How noble they are, these heroe…

इतन गोते काहे खाता । जब तूं आपणा भूल न होता ॥1॥

Why do you keep drowning when you could never truly be lost? The Indweller knows the truth. The mind holds one thing; t…

हांसत खेलत चालत बाट । खाणा खाते सोते खाट ॥1॥

Laughing, playing, walking the road, eating, sleeping on the cot. I have no love for caste. I do not distinguish betwee…

दुधभात घृत सकरपारे । हरते भुक नहि अंततारे ॥1॥

Why do you keep dying again and again, O unfortunate one? The count of your deaths is your own portion. Milk, rice, ghe…

ये हि तन करते क्या ना होय । भजन भगति करे वैकुंठे जाय ॥1॥

I am the servant of those who hear this truth. Listen, O people: He who slew Ravana gave Lanka to Vibhishana. What is i…

भीतर मैला केंव मिटे रे । मरे उपर धोय ॥1॥

What can a poor garment do if the wearer's inside is not dyed with God? Outward washing cannot remove inner filth. Say R…

नामाची आवडी तोचि जाणा देव । न धरी संदेह कांहीं मनीं ॥1॥

Know that one who loves the Name is truly God. Hold no doubt in your mind about this. I do not speak this without under…

साधीं हा प्रपंच पंचाय अग्न । तेणें पावसील निजशांती रे ॥1॥

Master this worldly life as the five fires of austerity. By doing so, you will attain your own innate peace. Chant the …

नव्हे गुरुदास्य संसारियां । वैराग्य तरी भेणें कांपे विषयां । तैसें नाम पंढरीराया…

Serving a guru is not possible for the worldly-minded. The renunciant trembles at the sight of sense pleasures. But the …

गोड जालें पोट धालें । अवचित वाचे आलें । ह्मणतां पाप गेलें । विठ्ठलसें वाचेसी ॥1॥

The belly is full and satisfied. The word came to the lips unbidden. By merely saying Vitthal, sin departed from the ton…

बरवी नामावळी । तुझी महादोषां होळी ॥1॥

Beautiful is the garland of Your Name; it makes a bonfire of the greatest faults. It has become our very life and water…

भाग्यवंतां हें चि काम । मापी नाम वैखरी ॥1॥

The fortunate ones have but one task: to measure out the Name in vaikhari. The body is nourished in the joy of it, and …

अवघी मिथ्या आटी । राम नाहीं तंव कंठीं ॥1॥

All effort is futile as long as Rama is not in your throat. Be alert, be alert! Untangle the mind from its own projecti…

नाम घेतां मन निवे । जिव्हे अमृत चि जरवे । होताती बरवे । ऐसे शकुन लाभाचे ॥1॥

When I take Your Name, the mind is cooled and the tongue tastes nothing but nectar. Such are the auspicious omens of gai…

वेळोवेळां हें चि सांगें । दान मागें जगासि ॥1॥

Again and again I say this, asking the world for this one gift: let the blessed word Vitthala be spoken. Let us feast o…

कर्म धर्म नव्हती सांग । उण्या अंगें पतन ॥1॥

Rituals and duties cannot be performed perfectly; any flaw leads to a fall. But the chanting of God's Name is easy and …

अवघा चि आकार ग्रासियेला काळें । एक चि निराळें हरिचें नाम ॥1॥

All form has been devoured by Time. Only Hari's Name stands apart, imperishable. I have lodged the indestructible one a…

नामाचें चिंतन प्रगट पसारा । असाल तें करा जेथें तेथें ॥1॥

Let the contemplation of the Name be your open enterprise. Wherever you are, do what you can. My Lord will surely set u…

नाम ह्मणतां मोक्ष नाहीं । ऐसा उपदेश करिती कांहीं । बधिर व्हावें त्याचे ठायीं । द…

Some teach that chanting the Name does not lead to liberation. One should become deaf to such wicked words. Those who a…

आह्मांसी तों नाहीं आणीक प्रमाण । नामासी कारण विठोबाच्या ॥1॥

For us, there is no authority higher than the Name of Vithoba. I have girded my loins and taken up His cause; I will no…

कोठें नाहीं अधिकार । गेले नर वांयां ते ॥1॥

There is no qualification needed here. Those who fail to see this waste their human lives. Listen to this simple truth:…

नामाचे पवाडे बोलती पुराणें । होऊनि कीर्तन तो चि ठेला ॥1॥

The Puranas sing the glory of the Name; He Himself became kirtan. In the throat of Adinatha, this mantra is supreme; He…

काळाचिया सत्ता ते नाहीं घटिका । पंढरीनायका आठवितां ॥1॥

Time has no power over the moment spent remembering the Lord of Pandhari. Time forever counts down one's lifespan, but …

नाशवंत देह नासेल हा जाणा । कां रे उच्चाराना वाचे नाम ॥1॥

This perishable body will surely perish. Why then do you not utter the Name with your tongue? Through the Name alone, c…

तप तीर्थ दान व्रत आचरण । गातां हरिगुण वारूं नये ॥1॥

While performing austerities, pilgrimages, charity, vows, and all observances, one must not stop singing the praises of …

गायें नाचें वायें टाळी । साधन कळी उत्तम हें ॥1॥

Singing, dancing, clapping the hands: this is the best spiritual practice for this present age. Who knows how many have…

कथेचा उलंघ तो अधमां अधम । नावडे ज्या नाम ओळखा तो ॥1॥

He who transgresses the sacred story is the lowest of the low. Know him as wretched who does not love the Name. Why liv…

विधिनिषेधाचा भारा । तेणें दातारा नातुडेसी ॥1॥

The burden of rules and prohibitions makes you unreachable, O Giver. Therefore with stammering, childlike speech, my to…

हरिनामाचें करूनि तारूं । भवसिंधुपार उतरलों ॥1॥

Making a raft of Hari's Name, I have crossed the ocean of existence. I have found it, I have found it! I have surrender…

कृष्णरामनाम मांडीं पां वोळी । तेणें होइल होळी पापा धुनी ॥1॥

Set up rows of Krishna and Rama's Name. By it, a Holi-fire will be made of sin's burning. Let the mind take up this rhy…

सेवा ते आवडी उच्चारावें नाम । भेदाभेदकाम निवारूनि ॥1॥

The truest service is to utter the Name with love, setting aside all concern of duality and non-duality. There is no ne…

ऐसी जोडी करा राम कंठीं धरा । जेणें चुके फेरा गर्भवास ॥1॥

Make this one investment: keep Rama upon your tongue. By it, the cycle of birth in the womb will cease. The craving for…

उगविल्या गुंती । ऐशा मागें नेणों किती ॥1॥

How many such knots have been untied before this, I do not know. Ajamela made the case famous: even his complete ruin w…

सरळीं हीं नामें उच्चारावीं सदा । हरि बा गोविंदा रामकृष्णा ॥1॥

Utter these simple names always: Hari, Govinda, Rama, Krishna. All merit, all holy seasons, all pilgrimages come to bat…

पवित्र तो देह वाणी पुण्यवंत । जो वदे अच्युत सर्व काळ ॥1॥

Sacred is the body, and blessed is the tongue that utters Achyuta's name at all times. By his contemplation, even the g…

येणें बोधें आह्मी असों सर्वकाळ । करूनि निर्मळ हरिकथा ॥1॥

With this understanding, let us abide at all times, keeping ourselves pure through Hari's kirtan. We are among the fort…

करीं हें चि काम । मना जपें राम राम ॥1॥

O mind, do this one task: chant Rama, Rama. Let this one passion take hold: Govinda, Govinda. Says Tuka, O mind, give …

ज्यासी आवडी हरिनामांची । तो चि एक बहु शुचि ॥1॥

Whoever loves the name of Hari is truly the most pure among all. The one who chants Hari's name as a sacred seed is the…

विठ्ठल विठ्ठल मंत्र सोपा । करी पापा निर्मूळ ॥1॥

The mantra of Vitthal is simple and uproots all sin completely. The fortunate carry this passion in their mind; the ble…

पंढरी पंढरी । ह्मणतां पापाची बोहोरी ॥1॥

Simply by saying 'Pandhari, Pandhari,' all sin is washed away. Blessed, blessed is this place in the world where the fes…

मज नाहीं तुझ्या Yाानाची ते चाड । घेतां वाटे गोड नाम तुझें ॥1॥

I have no craving for your esoteric knowledge; simply taking your name tastes sweet to me. I am an innocent child, a nur…

धन्य मी मानीन आपुलें संचित । राहिलीसे प्रीत तुझे नामीं ॥1॥

I consider my destiny blessed, for love of your name has stayed with me. I am truly fortunate now, of this there is no d…

न वेचे मोल कांहीं लागती न सायास । तरी कां आळस करिसी झणी ॥1॥

It costs nothing and requires no effort, so why do you hesitate even for a moment? Why not seize this precious essence t…

गातां आइकतां कांटाळा जो करी । वास त्या अघोरीं कुंभपाकीं ॥1॥

One who feels disgust at singing or hearing the Lord's name will find his dwelling in the darkest hell. The lord of deat…

बैसोनि निवांत शुद्ध करीं चित्त । तया सुखा अंतपार नाहीं ॥1॥

Sit in quietude and purify the mind; the joy of that state is without end. Gopal will come and take His seat within your…

तुझें नाम गोड नाम गोड । पुरे कोड सकळ ही ॥1॥

Your name is sweet, so sweet; it fulfills every longing. The tongue grows tired of all other tastes, yet with every sip …

एका गावें आह्मीं विठोबाचे नाम । आणिकांपें काम नाहीं आतां ॥1॥

We have taken up the single pursuit of Vitthoba's name; we have no business with anyone else now. Breaking off all the s…

अनुहात ध्वनि वाहे सकळां पिंडीं । राम नाहीं तोंडीं कैसा तरे ॥1॥

The unstruck sound resonates in every body, yet without Rama's name on the tongue, how can one be saved? God truly dwell…

तुजविण देवा । कोणा ह्मणे माझी जिव्हा ॥1॥

If my tongue ever calls upon anyone but You, O God, let it be shattered into a hundred pieces and fall away. If it shoul…

आह्मां सर्वभावें हें चि काम । न विसंभावें तुझें नाम॥1॥

With all my being, this alone is my work: never to lose hold of Your name. There is no need for any other worry now abou…

प्रेम तेथें वास करी । मुखीं उच्चारितां हरी ॥1॥

Love dwells wherever the name of Hari is uttered. Love comes to that village and delights the Vaishnavas. Love forceful…

आह्मी तेणें सुखी । ह्मणा विठ्ठल विठ्ठल मुखीं ॥1॥

We are happy when you say Vitthal, Vitthal with your lips. Your other riches and wealth are no better than dust to me. …

आनंदाच्या कोटी । सांटवल्या आह्मां पोटीं ॥1॥

Millions of joys are stored within us. The river of love flows in the rush of the divine name. This unbroken, unfailing…