Mythology, Sita's lament in Lanka
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
येउनि गुंफेमाजी दुष्टें केली चोरी । कांहो मज आणिले अवघड लंकापुरी ॥१॥
सांगा वो त्रीजटे सखिये ऐसी मात । देईल कां नेदी भेटी रघुनाथ ।
मन उतावळि जाला दुरी पंथ । राहों न सके प्राण माझा कुडी आंत ॥ध्रु.॥
काय दुष्ट आचरण होतें म्यां केलें । तीर्थ व्रत होतें कवणाचें भंगीलें ।
गाईवत्सा पत्नीपुरुषा विघडिलें । न कळे वो संचित चरण अंतरले ॥२॥
नाडियेलें आशा मृगकांतिसोने । धाडिलें रघुनाथा पाठिलागे तेणें ।
उलंघिली आज्ञा माव काय मी जाणें । देखुनी सूनाट घेउनि आलें सुनें ॥३॥
नाहीं मूळ मारग लाग अणीक सोये । एकाविण नामें रघुनाथाच्या माये ।
उपटी पक्षिया एक देउनि पाये । उदकवेढ्यामध्यें तेथें चाले काये ॥४॥
जनकाची नंदिनी दुःखें ग्लानी थोरी । चुकली कुरंगिणी मेळा तैशा परी ।
संमोखी त्रीजटा स्थिर स्थिर वो करी । घेइल तुकयास्वामी राम लंकापुरी ॥५॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Sita laments in the Ashoka grove: the wicked stole me away by stealth and brought me to this perilous Lanka. Why, O Rama, have you gone so far from me? Tell me, dear Trijata, my friend, will Raghunath grant me his sight or not? My heart is desperate, the distance is vast, and my life can scarcely remain in this body. What evil did I commit? Whose pilgrimage or vow did I obsture? Did I separate a cow from its calf or a wife from her husband? I cannot fathom what past deed has caused these feet to be taken from me. I was deceived by the illusion of a golden deer; Raghunath was sent chasing after it. I violated his command, but what could I know of such sorcery? Seeing the place deserted, a demon carried me away. There is no path, no trail, no other recourse except the name of Raghunath alone. A bird gave his life fighting with his wings; and I am trapped here, surrounded by water, unable to move. Janaka's daughter is overwhelmed with grief, like a doe separated from the herd. Trijata consoles her: be steady, be steady; Says Tuka, my Lord Rama will come and reclaim Lanka.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Sita laments in the Ashoka grove: the wicked one stole me away by stealth; why was I brought to this dreadful Lanka? Why, O Rama, have you gone so far from me? Tell me, dear Trijata, my friend: will Raghunath grant me his sight or not? My heart is desperate, the road is long, and my life can hardly stay in this body. What wrong did I do? Whose pilgrimage or vow did I spoil? Did I part a cow from its calf, or a wife from her husband? I cannot tell what past deed has taken these feet from me. I was deceived by the longing for the golden deer; Raghunath was sent chasing after it. I broke his command, but what could I know of such sorcery? Seeing the place empty, a demon carried me off. There is no path, no trail, no other recourse, only the name of Raghunath. A bird gave his life fighting with his wings; and I am trapped here, ringed by water, unable to move. Janaka's daughter is overcome with grief, like a doe cut off from the herd. Trijata comforts her: be steady, be steady. Tuka says: my Lord Rama will come and reclaim Lanka.
What it means
Tukaram voices Sita in captivity, mourning in the Ashoka grove after Ravana's theft and crying out for the distant Rama. She searches her own conscience for what sin could have cost her his feet, and traces her plight back to her longing for the golden deer and her breaking of the protective command. Hemmed in by water with no path out, she has only one resource left, the name of Raghunath, the very thing the poem holds up as the refuge in despair. The closing turn shifts from her grief to assurance: through Trijata's steadying words and Tuka's own voice, the promise lands that Rama will come, take Lanka, and reclaim her.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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