The Supreme become a cowherd, butter and dance
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कवळाचिया सुखें । परब्रम्ह जालें गोरखें । हात गोऊनि खाय मुखें । बोटासांदी लोणचें ॥१॥
कोण जाणे तेथें । कोण लाभ कां तें । ब्रम्हादिकां दुर्लभ ॥ध्रु.॥
घाली हमामा हुंबरी । पांवा वाजवी छंदें मोहरी । गोपाळांचे फेरी । हरि छंदें नाचतसे ॥२॥
काय नव्हतें त्या घरीं खावया । रिघे लोणी चोरावया । तुका म्हणे सवें तया । आम्ही ही सोंकलों ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
For the joy of a single morsel, the Supreme Brahman itself became a cowherd boy. He eats with both hands and tucks a bit of pickle between his fingers. Who can know what gain is found there, a thing unattainable even to Brahma and the gods? He wrestles, he plays, he blows the flute and the shehnai and dances to their rhythm. In circles of cowherd boys, Hari dances to their beat. What was lacking in that house that He had to sneak in and steal the butter? Says Tuka, we too have been enticed and swept along in His company.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
For the joy of one mouthful, the Supreme Brahman became a cowherd boy. He eats with cupped hands, mouth full, a little pickle tucked between his fingers. Who can know what gain is there, what it is, a thing hard even for Brahma and the gods. He wrestles, he calls out, he blows the flute and the pipe to his own tune. In rings of cowherd boys, Hari dances to their beat. What was there lacking to eat in that house, that he had to slip in and steal the butter? Tuka says: along with him, we too have been enticed.
What it means
Tukaram dwells on the same scandal of scale: Brahman itself takes a cowherd's body for the plain joy of eating with his hands among friends. He insists that what is gained in that ordinary play is hidden even from Brahma and the gods, a sweetness the lofty cannot reach. The wrestling, the flute, the dancing in the boys' circle all show a God who keeps their rhythm rather than imposing his own. The butter theft is examined and found needless, he wanted for nothing, which makes it pure play and pure love. The last line draws the poet in: this is a delight that catches and carries you along once you come near it.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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