Krishna, the formless takes form
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जो का निर्गुण निराकार । तेथें धरियेले अवतार॥1॥
निर्गुण होता तो सगुणासि आला । भक्तिसाटीं प्रगटला ॥ध्रु.॥
जो का त्रिभुवनचाळक । तो हा नंदाचा बाळक ॥2॥
सोडविलें वसुदेवदेवकीसि । अवतार धरिला तिचे कुशी ॥3॥
मारियेला कंसराणा । राज्यीं स्थापिलें उग्रसेना ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे देवादिदेव । तो हा उभा पंढरिराव ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He who is formless and without qualities took on an incarnation. The One without attributes came into the world of form, manifesting for the sake of His devotees. He who governs all three worlds became Nanda's little child. He freed Vasudeva and Devaki, taking birth from her womb. He slew the tyrant Kamsa and established Ugrasena on the throne. Says Tuka, this God of gods stands here in Pandhari.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The one who has no qualities and no form took on a body here. The one beyond attributes came into form. For his devotees he appeared. The one who governs all three worlds became the little child of Nanda. He set Vasudeva and Devaki free, taking birth from her womb. He killed the tyrant king Kamsa and set Ugrasena on the throne. Tuka says: this God of gods is the one who stands here in Pandhari.
What it means
Tukaram tells the descent of the formless into form and then names where it ends. The one without qualities or shape, the ruler of all three worlds, became Nanda's small child for the sake of his devotees. The poem runs through the story: birth from Devaki's womb, the release of his imprisoned parents, the killing of the tyrant Kamsa, the restoring of Ugrasena to the throne. Then it lands the claim that matters for the worshipper: that same God of gods is the figure standing on the brick at Pandhari. The far-off absolute and the near, visible Lord are one.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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