Falling at the feet, strength from a humble meal
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नेणती तयांसि साच भाव दावी हरी । लाज नाहीं नाचे पांवा वाजवी मोहरी ॥१॥
चला रे याच्या पायां लागों आतां । राखिलें जळतां महा आगीपासूनि ॥ध्रु.॥
कैसी रे कान्होबा एवढी गिळियेली आगी । न देखों पोळला तुज तोंडीं कोठें अंगी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे तुम्ही कां रे करितां नवल । आमची सिदोरी खातो त्याचें आलें बळ ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To the innocent, Hari reveals his true nature. He dances shamelessly and plays the shehnai without a care. Come, let us fall at his feet now, for he saved us from the great fire. How did you swallow such a blaze, Kanho, yet we see no burn upon your mouth or body? Says Tuka, why do you marvel? He eats our humble lunch, and from that comes all his strength.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To the innocent, Hari shows his true nature. He dances without shame and plays the reed pipe with no care. Come, let us fall at his feet now, for he saved us from the great fire. How did you swallow so great a blaze, Kanho, and yet we see no burn on your mouth or your body? Tuka says: why do you marvel? He eats our humble lunch, and from that comes all his strength.
What it means
After the rescue the cowherds want to fall at Krishna's feet, marveling that he swallowed the whole fire without a single burn. He, meanwhile, simply dances and plays his pipe as if nothing happened, showing his true self to those innocent enough to receive it. Tukaram caps it with a wry, tender claim in the last line: do not be amazed, for his strength comes from eating their plain shared lunch. The point is that God's power is fed by the simple love of his devotees; what looks like a miracle rests on their humble offering.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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