Vaishnava boldness, the Krishna-jewel
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कंठीं धरिला कृष्णमणी । अवघा जनीं प्रकाश ॥१॥
काला वांटूं एकमेकां । वैष्णवा निका संभ्रम ॥ध्रु.॥
वांकुलिया ब्रम्हादिकां । उत्तम लोकां दाखवूं ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे भूमंडळीं । आम्ही बळी वीर गाडे ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We have fastened the Krishna-jewel at our throats, and its light plays everywhere among the people. Let us share the feast with one another; what a splendid gathering of Vaishnavas this is. We shall show playful gestures even to Brahma and the highest beings. Says Tuka, upon the face of this earth, we are mighty warriors, strong and invincible.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We have worn the Krishna-jewel at our throats, and its light is everywhere among people. Let us share the feast with one another; what a fine, glad gathering of Vaishnavas. We will make playful faces even at Brahma and the highest beings. Tuka says: on the whole face of the earth, we are mighty warriors, strong and unbeatable.
What it means
Tukaram speaks for the band of devotees who carry the Name like a jewel at the throat, and whose shared joy lights up everyone around them. The shared feast is the kala, the cowherds' mingled food, and the gathering of Vaishnavas is its own delight. The boldness is deliberate: those who hold Krishna can make light even of Brahma and the lofty gods, because the Name outranks all heavenly station. The closing boast is not worldly conquest but spiritual fearlessness; devotion makes these unarmed singers the truly invincible ones on earth.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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