Rasalila, dissolving into Narayana
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उदासीना पावल्या वेगीं । अंगा अंगीं जडलिया॥1॥
वेटािळला भोंवता हरी । मयोरफेरीं नाचती ॥ध्रु.॥
मना आले करिती चार । त्या फार हा एकला ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नारायणीं । निराजनी मीनलिया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The indifferent gopis, once they arrived, clung to Him body to body. Hari was surrounded on all sides; they danced around Him like peacocks. They did as they pleased, many against one. Says Tuka, these women have dissolved into Narayana, merged in that ultimate light.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The women who came indifferent are soon caught fast. Body clings to body. Hari is surrounded on every side; they dance around Him like peacocks circling. They do as their hearts please, many of them against the one. Tuka says: these women have melted into Narayana, merged into that one light.
What it means
Tukaram watches the rasalila and traces what happens to the soul that draws near God. The gopis come cool and detached, and at once they are gripped, body pressed to body, ringing Krishna on every side like peacocks at their dance. They have their way with the One who is alone among them. The point lands at the end: the many have dissolved into Narayana, merged into a single light. Drawing close in love is not finally keeping company; it is being absorbed into God.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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