Praise, the shelter of God's love
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पांडुरंगा तुझे काय वाणूं गुण । पवाडे हे धन्य जगीं तुझे ॥1॥
दंडिलें दुर्वासा सुरा असुरानें । तो आला गाहाणें सांगावया ॥ध्रु.॥
बिळचिये द्वारीं तुह्मी बैसलेती । दुर्वास विनंती करी भावें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कृपासागरा श्रीहरी । तुझी भक्तावरी प्रेमच्छाया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
O Panduranga, how shall I recount Your virtues? Your glorious deeds in this world are truly blessed. When the gods and demons harassed Durvasa, he came running to You for refuge. You were seated at the entrance of Bali's realm, and Durvasa entreated You with devotion. Says Tuka, O ocean of mercy, O Hari, Your loving shade shelters all Your devotees.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Panduranga, how shall I tell Your virtues? Your great deeds in this world are blessed. The gods and demons punished Durvasa. He came running to tell his trouble. You were sitting at Bali's door. Durvasa pleaded with You with feeling. Tuka says: ocean of mercy, Srihari, Your loving shade rests over Your devotee.
What it means
Tukaram confesses he cannot fully count God's glories, then points to the story where the sage Durvasa, hounded by gods and demons alike, runs to the Lord for refuge. He finds the Lord seated as doorkeeper at Bali's gate, and there pleads his case. The poem lands on the image of a sheltering shade: God's love spreads over the devotee like cool cover. Naming Him ocean of mercy, Tukaram says this shelter has no measured edge; it is simply what God is toward those who turn to Him.
The Nature of God
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