Adoration, the Lord arriving on Garuda
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गरुडावरि बैसोनि येतो जगजेठी । त्याचे चरणीं मिठी घालूं चला ॥1॥
सांवळें रूपडें देखिलें लोचनीं । शंख चक्र दोन्ही शोभताहे ॥ध्रु.॥
पीतांबर झळके हे चि त्याची खूण । वाकी रुणझुण करिताती ॥2॥
गरुडाचा चपेटा असे नेटें । कस्तुरीमळवट शोभताहे ॥3॥
पदक एकावळी शोभताहे कंठीं । तुका ह्मणे मिठी घालूं चला ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Riding upon Garuda, the Lord of the world approaches. Come, let us embrace His feet. That dark, beautiful form is seen by these eyes; the conch and discus shine splendidly in His hands. The yellow garment gleams; this is His mark. The anklets jingle melodiously. Garuda soars with majestic speed, and the mark of musk paste adorns the Lord's forehead. A pendant and a single-strand necklace grace His throat. Says Tuka, come, let us embrace Him.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The Lord of the world comes riding on Garuda. Come, let us clasp His feet. This dark, lovely form is seen by my eyes; the conch and the discus both shine in His hands. The yellow garment gleams: that is His mark. The anklets ring softly. Garuda comes on with strong, swift wings, and the musk paste shines on the Lord's brow. A pendant and a single strand of jewels grace His throat. Tuka says: come, let us hold Him close.
What it means
This is pure adoration, a devotee watching the Lord arrive and pointing out each beloved detail. Tukaram names the signs by which Vitthal is known: the dark beautiful form, the conch and discus, the yellow silk, the ringing anklets, the musk mark on the brow, the necklace at the throat, all seen as the eagle Garuda sweeps Him near. The poem is built on the repeated call, come, let us embrace His feet, then come, let us hold Him close. The point of the seeing is not to describe but to draw near; every shining detail is an invitation, and the only fit response to the Lord's coming is to run and clasp Him.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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