Ecstasy, the kirtan defeats death
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
या रे हरिदासानो जिंकों किळकाळा । आमुचिया बळा पुढें किती बापुडें ॥1॥
रंग सुरंग घमंडी नाना छंदें । हास्यविनोदें मनाचिये आवडी ॥ध्रु.॥
येणें तेणें प्रकारें बहुतां सुख जोडे । पूजन तें घडे नारायणा अंतरीं ॥2॥
वांकडएा माना बोल बोलावे आर्ष । येईल तो त्यांस छंद पढीयें गोविंदा ॥3॥
आपुलालें आवडी एकापुढें एक नटा । नाहीं थोर मोठा लहान या प्रसंगीं ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे येथें प्रेम भंगूं नये कोणीं । देव भक्त दोन्ही निवडितां पातक॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Come, O devotees of Hari, let us conquer death itself! How small is its power before our strength! In full color and pageantry, in many moods and playful joys, let us sport as our hearts desire. Through this or that form of praise, all find happiness; the inner worship of Narayana takes place naturally. Let the crooked-necked ones speak their harsh words; whoever catches the rhythm, let them chant the name of Govinda. Each one as they love, one outdoing the next, dancing and playing; here there is no great or small. Says Tuka, let no one break the current of love here; to separate God and devotee is a sin.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Come, you servants of Hari, let us conquer death itself. How small is its power before our strength. In bright colors and pageantry, in many moods and playful joy, in laughter and delight as the heart loves, let us play. By one way or another, many people find happiness, and the inner worship of Narayana happens of itself. Let the crooked-necked ones speak their harsh words. Whoever catches the rhythm, let them chant Govinda. Each one as they love, one outdoing the next, dancing and acting; here there is no great one and no small one. Tuka says: let no one break the current of love here. To split apart God and devotee is a sin.
What it means
Tukaram is rallying the singers of Hari's name into a kirtan that he says overpowers death itself, because the gathered love of devotees is stronger than time. He blesses the whole noisy, colorful, playful display: many roads of praise bring people joy, and through it the real worship, the inner adoration of Narayana, happens without effort. He brushes aside the sour critics, the crooked-necked ones who sneer; let them grumble, while anyone who finds the beat joins the chanting of Govinda. In this circle there is no rank, no high and low, only people losing themselves in love. The closing claim names the one offense: to break that current of love, or to drive a wedge between God and devotee, is sin.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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