Devotion, Pundalik who tricked the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाहाज पृथ्वीपति । केली ख्याती अद्भुत ॥1॥
भला रे पुंडलिका भला। महिमा नव जाये वणिनला ।
दगा देउनि अवघियांला । सांटविलें अविनाश ॥ध्रु.॥
केलें एके घरीं केणें । भरलीं सदोदित दुकानें ।
दुमदुमिलीं सुखानें । हे भाग्याची पंढरी ॥2॥
तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे किल्ल्या। संताचे हातीं दिल्या ।
आंगावेगळें आपुल्या । टाकुनि जाला मेहेमान ॥3॥
पाहा हो कलिचें महिमान । असत्यासी रिझलें जन।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A great vessel, a king of the earth: such wondrous fame was won. Blessed, O Pundalik, blessed indeed. Your greatness can never be fully described. You tricked the whole world and stored the Imperishable One away. You established a shop unlike any other, and its shelves overflow at all times, bursting with joy. This is the blessed city of Pandhari. Says Tukya-bandhu, you placed the keys in the hands of the saints; casting off all personal claim, you became a guest in your own home. Look at the power of this Kali age: the world has fallen in love with falsehood.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A great ship, a king of the earth: wondrous fame was won. Well done, Pundalik, well done; your greatness cannot be told. You tricked the whole world and stored away the Imperishable One. You set up a shop like no other; its counters are always full, ringing with joy. This is the fortunate city of Pandhari. Tukya-bandhu says: you handed the keys to the saints, gave up all claim of your own, and became a guest in your own house. Look at the power of the Kali age: people have fallen in love with falsehood.
What it means
This poem praises Pundalik, the devotee whose call held Vitthal standing on the brick at Pandhari. By his love he caught the Imperishable Lord and kept him for everyone, like a merchant whose shop never runs empty; this is what makes Pandhari fortunate. The striking turn is that Pundalik claims nothing for himself: he hands the keys to the saints and lives as a guest in his own home, so the treasure stays open to all. The closing line breaks the mood with a lament: in the Kali age, while this true treasure stands ready, people give their hearts to falsehood instead.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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