Mythic origin, breaking the door
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दुर्वासें निरोप आणिला ये रिती । मग वाढलेती नारायणा ॥1॥
ठेविलें चरण बिळचिये द्वारीं । शीर अंगावरी लांबविलें ॥ध्रु.॥
पाडियेलें द्वार द्वारावतियेसी । वरि हृषीकेशी निघालेती ॥2॥
तेथूनियां नाम पडिलें द्वारका । वैकुंठनायका तुका ह्मणे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Durvasa brought back this reply, and then the Lord stretched Himself. He placed His feet at Bali's doorway and extended His head above. He broke through the gateway of Dwaraka and emerged on the other side. From that event the city received its name Dwaraka. Says Tuka, O Lord of Vaikuntha.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Durvasa brought back this answer. Then Narayana grew large. He set His feet at Bali's door. He stretched His head up over the body. He broke open the doorway at Dwaravati. Hrishikesha came out above. From that the name Dwaraka was given. Tuka says: O Lord of Vaikuntha.
What it means
Tukaram tells the strange exit: refused release at Bali's door, the Lord simply grows vast, plants His feet at the gate, and breaks through the opening above. The poem reads the city's name Dwaraka, gate, out of this very act of breaking through a door. It is a playful, vivid retelling, not a doctrine: God is so committed to His word at Bali's door that even leaving becomes a wonder. The closing address, Lord of Vaikuntha, sets the cosmic scale of the one who would stoop to such a game for love.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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