Adoration of Vithabai, beyond the Vedas
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझी परब्रम्ह वेल्हाळा वो । कोटि रविशशि माझी । परब्रम्ह वेल्हाळा वो ॥१॥
राजस विठाबाई । माझें ध्यान तुझे पायीं वो । त्यजुनियां चौघींसी । लावी आपुलिये सोई वो ॥ध्रु.॥
सकुमार साजिरी । कैसीं पाउलें गोजिरीं वो । कंठीं तुळसीमाळा ।
उभी भीवरेच्या तिरीं वो । दंत हिरया ज्योति । शंखचक्र मिरवे करीं वो ॥२॥
निर्गुण निराकार । वेदां न कळे चि आकार वो । शेषादिक श्रमले ।
श्रुती न कळे तुझा पार वो । उभारोनि बाहे । भक्तां देत अभयकर वो ॥३॥
येउनि पंढरपुरा । अवतरली सारंगधरा वो । देखोनि भक्ति भाव ।
वोरसली अमृतधारा वो । देउनि प्रेमपान्हा । तुकया स्वामीनें किंकरा वो ॥४॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My beloved is the playful Parabrahma, radiant as ten million suns and moons. O beautiful Vithabai, my meditation rests at your feet. Forsaking the four pursuits, I follow only your path. How delicate and lovely are your tender feet, with a garland of tulsi at the throat, standing on the bank of the Bhima. Your teeth gleam like jewels; the conch and discus shine in your hands. You are formless and beyond all attributes; even the Vedas cannot fathom your shape, and Shesha and the scriptures tire in seeking your limit. With arms raised, you bestow fearlessness upon the devoted. Says Tuka, having come to Pandharpur as Sarangadhara, seeing the love of the devotees you overflowed with streams of nectar and gave the milk of divine love to this servant.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My beloved is the playful Parabrahma, radiant as ten million suns and moons. O lovely Vithabai, my whole meditation rests at your feet. I let go of the four pursuits and follow only your way. How tender and beautiful are your feet, a garland of tulsi at your throat, as you stand on the bank of the Bhima. Your teeth gleam like jewels; the conch and the discus shine in your hands. You are without form, beyond all qualities; even the Vedas cannot grasp your shape, and Shesha and the scriptures grow weary seeking your limit. With your arms raised, you grant fearlessness to those who love you. Tuka says: you came to Pandharpur as Sarangadhara, and seeing the love of your devotees you overflowed with streams of nectar and gave this servant the milk of your love.
What it means
Tukaram adores Vithabai, his beloved form of God at Pandharpur, as the playful Absolute itself, brighter than countless suns and moons. He makes his choice clear: he sets aside the four standard aims of life and rests his whole mind at her feet. He holds two truths together, the close and the vast: he can describe her tender feet, her tulsi garland, her gleaming teeth and the conch and discus in her hands, yet she is also formless and beyond all attributes, past the reach of the Vedas and the great serpent Shesha. The poem closes in gratitude: drawn by the devotees' love, she poured out nectar and fed him, her servant, with the very milk of divine love.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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