Praise of Panduranga, sin cannot stay
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणीक ऐसें कोठें सांगा । पांडुरंगा सारिखें ॥1॥
दैवत ये भूमंडळीं । उद्धार कळी पावितें ॥ध्रु.॥
कोठें कांहीं कोठें कांहीं । शोध ठायीं स्थळासी ॥2॥
आनेत्रींचें तीथाअ नासे । तीथाअ वसे वज्रलेप ॥3॥
पांडुरंगींचें पांडुरंगीं । पाप अंगीं राहेना ॥4॥
ऐसें हरें गिरिजेप्रति । गुहए िस्थती सांगितली ॥5॥
तुका ह्मणे तीर्थ क्षेत्र । सर्वत्र हें दैवत ॥6॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Tell me, is there anywhere in this world a deity like Panduranga? He is the one who uplifts the age of Kali. In every place there is something or other, but one must search each sacred site to know. The merit of ordinary pilgrimages fades, but the holiness of Pandharpur stands firm like vajralep, the diamond-seal. Whatever sin touches Panduranga's domain simply cannot remain there. Thus did Hara tell Girija this hidden truth. Says Tuka, this deity is the pilgrimage, the sacred field, and everything in between.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Tell me, where is there another deity anywhere on earth like Panduranga? He is the one who lifts up this age of Kali. Here something, there something; you must search each place to know. The merit of ordinary holy places wears away, but the holiness of Pandharpur holds firm like a diamond-seal. Whatever sin touches Panduranga's domain cannot stay there. This is the hidden truth Hara told Girija. Tuka says: this deity is the pilgrimage, the sacred field, and everything at once.
What it means
Tukaram exalts Panduranga above every other deity by what He does: He is the rescuer of the present dark age. Other sacred places offer this or that partial merit, and one must hunt from site to site, but their virtue fades, while the holiness of Pandharpur is permanent, sealed like diamond. The strong claim is that no sin can survive contact with Panduranga's domain. He grounds this in the tradition that Shiva, here called Hara, taught it as a secret to Parvati, called Girija. The close gathers it all: this one deity is itself the pilgrimage, the holy field, and every sacred thing in one.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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