Longing, hold to your own name
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोठे गुंतलासी द्वारकेच्या राया । वेळ कां सखया लावियेला ॥1॥
दिनानाथ ब्रीद सांभाळीं आपुले । नको पाहों केलें पापपुण्य ॥ध्रु.॥
पतितपावन ब्रीदें चराचर । पातकी अपार उद्धरिले ॥2॥
तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे द्रौपदीचा धांवा । केला तैसा मला पावें आतां ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Where have you become entangled, O King of Dwaraka? Why have you delayed, dear friend? Uphold your own promise as protector of the lowly; do not weigh my sins and merits. Your very title is 'Purifier of the Fallen'; by that name you have delivered countless wrongdoers throughout creation. Says Tukayabandhu, just as you rushed to Draupadi's cry, come to me now.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Where have you gotten caught up, O King of Dwaraka? Why have you delayed, dear friend? Keep your own promise as protector of the lowly. Do not stop to weigh my sins and merits. Your very title is Purifier of the Fallen; by that name you have lifted up countless sinners across all creation. Says Tukayabandhu: as you ran to Draupadi's cry, come to me now.
What it means
This is a cry of longing addressed to Krishna, the King of Dwaraka. The speaker scolds him gently for taking so long and presses him to live up to his own titles rather than judge the petitioner. The argument is built on the Lord's reputation: he is called Purifier of the Fallen, and that name has already saved sinners beyond counting, so to refuse now would betray his own promise. The plea ends on the remembered rescue of Draupadi, when Krishna rushed to cover her in her moment of shame; the speaker asks for exactly that swiftness turned toward himself. The signature here is Tukayabandhu, Tuka's brother, in whose voice this verse is given.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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