Mythology, love's own arrows
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
समरंगणा आला । रामें रावण देखिला ॥1॥
कैसे भीडतील दोन्ही । नांव सारुनियां रणीं ॥ध्रु.॥
प्रेमसुखाचें संधान । बाणें निवारिती बाण ॥2॥
तुकयास्वामी रघुनाथ । वर्म जाणोनि केली मात ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
On the field of battle, Rama beheld Ravana. See how these two shall clash, having pushed their boats into the river of war. With arrows born of love's own bliss, shaft wards off shaft. Says Tuka, Raghunath is my master. Knowing the vital point, He delivered the final defeat.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
On the field of battle, Rama beheld Ravana. See how these two will clash, having pushed their boats into the river of war. With arrows born of love's own bliss, shaft wards off shaft. Tuka says: Raghunath is my master. Knowing the vital point, he struck the final blow.
What it means
Tukaram pictures the climactic battle between Rama and Ravana, but colors it with his own devotion. The two warriors face off and let their arrows fly, shaft meeting shaft, yet he calls Rama's arrows arrows of love's own bliss, so even the fight is touched by sweetness for the devotee watching it. The poem ends by naming Rama, Raghunath, as Tukaram's own master and crediting him with knowing the vital point and delivering the decisive, final blow. The single stroke that ends Ravana stands for the master's power to strike down whatever stands against him.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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