Pilgrimage, the road to Pandhari
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पंढरीस जाऊं ह्मणती । यम थोर चिंता करि ती ॥1॥
या रे नाचों ब्रह्मानंदें । विठ्ठलनामाचिया छंदें ॥ध्रु.॥
धरिली पंढरीची वाट । पापें रिगालीं कपाट ॥2॥
केलें भीमरेचें स्नान । यमपुरी पडिले खान ॥3॥
दुरोनि देखिली पंढरी । पापें गेलीं दुरच्यादुरी ॥4॥
दुरोनि देखिलें राउळ । हरुषें नाचती गोपाळ ॥5॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं जाणें । अखंड पंढरिराहणें ॥6॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Those who say they will go to Pandhari cause great worry to Yama. Come, let us dance in the bliss of Brahman, in the joyful chanting of Vitthal's Name. The moment one sets foot on the road to Pandhari, sins retreat behind closed doors. Bathing in the Bhimra river, the realm of Yama crumbles. Seeing Pandhari from afar, sins flee far, far away. Seeing the temple from a distance, the cowherds dance with delight. Says Tuka, there is no need to leave; one should dwell in Pandhari forever.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
When people say they will go to Pandhari, Yama himself worries greatly. Come, let us dance in the bliss of Brahman, in the joy of Vitthal's Name. The moment one takes the road to Pandhari, sins shut themselves behind doors. Bathe in the Bhimra, and the city of Yama crumbles. See Pandhari from far off, and sins flee far, far away. See the temple from a distance, and the cowherds dance with delight. Tuka says: there is no need to go away. Stay in Pandhari forever.
What it means
Tukaram makes the pilgrimage to Pandhari a rout of death itself. Yama, the lord of death, grows anxious the moment a soul sets out, because each step on that road slams the door on sin and each act of worship dismantles his kingdom. The call is to dance now in the Name of Vitthal rather than wait. He builds the relief in stages: setting out, bathing in the Bhima, the first far sight of the town and the temple, with sins fleeing further at each step. The closing line turns the journey inward: the true goal is not to arrive and leave but to dwell in Pandhari without ever departing.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →