Abhanga 4344
Tukārām declares: human birth is the rare site where Nāma works; the amaras themselves envy it; Yama himself respectfully waits.
The verse
स्वगाअचे अमर इच्छिताति देवा । मृत्युलोकीं व्हावा जन्म आम्हां ॥१॥
नारायणनामें होऊं जिवनमुक्त । कर्तिनीं अनंत गाऊं गीती ॥ध्रु.॥
वैकुंठींचे जन सदा चिंतिताति । कइं येथें येती हरिचे दास ॥२॥
यमधर्म वाट पाहे निरंतर । जोडोनियां कर तिष्ठतसे ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे पावावया पैल पार । नामंत्र सार भाविकासि ॥४॥
Literal translation
Svargāche amara ichchhitāti devā — mrtyu-lōkīm hāvā janma āmhām: svarga's amaras request the Deva — let us have janma in mrtyu-loka. Nārāyaṇa-nāme hōūm jīvana-mukta — kīrtīnī ananta gāūm gītī: by Nārāyaṇa-Nāma we'll become jīvana-mukta — sing ananta's kīrtīs in gītas. Vaikuṇṭhīmche jana sadā chintitāti — kaīm yethe yetī Hariche dāsa: Vaikuṇṭha-jana always think — when will Hari-dāsas come here. Yama-dharma vāṭa pāhe nirantara — jōḍoniyām kara tiṣṭhatase: Yama-dharma waits constantly — stands with folded hands. Tukā mhaṇe pāvāvayā paila pāra — nāma-mantra sāra bhāvikāsi: Tukā says: to reach the other shore — nāma-mantra is sāra for the bhāvika.
What it means
A 4-verse text on the uniqueness of human birth as the place where Nāma can be sung. Even amaras desire mrtyu-loka-birth; even Yama-dharma waits with folded hands for Hari-dāsas; Nāma-mantra is the sāra (essence) for crossing to the other shore.
For someone today
Tukārām declares: human birth is the rare site where Nāma works; the amaras themselves envy it; Yama himself respectfully waits.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's amaras-envy-human-birth; Nāma-mantra-sāra-for-bhāvika text
- Companion to 4337 (after-many-births-human-birth-rare)