Krishna's deeds, wonder past the Vedas
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भोगियेल्या नारी । परि तो बाळब्रह्मचारी ॥1॥
ऐसी ज्याचें अंगीं कळा । पार न कळे वेदाला ॥ध्रु.॥
वळीवळी थोरथोर। मोडोनियां केले चूर ॥2॥
वांकडी कुबज्या । सरसी आणियेली वोजा ॥3॥
मल्ल रगडिला पायीं । गज झुगारिला बाहीं ॥4॥
जिवें मारियेला मामा । धांवें भक्ताचिया कामा ॥5॥
तुका ह्मणे पूर्ण । दावी भक्तीचीं विंदानें ॥6॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He consorted with women, yet He remained an eternal celibate. Such is the art within Him; even the Vedas cannot fathom its extent. He defeated mighty wrestlers one after another, crushing them to pieces. He straightened the hunchbacked Kubja and made her beautiful. He trampled the great wrestler beneath His feet and flung the elephant aside with His arms. He killed His own uncle Kamsa, always rushing to fulfill His devotees' needs. Says Tuka, the One who is complete reveals the wonders of devotion.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He took His pleasure with women, yet He stayed an unbroken celibate. Such is the power in Him that even the Vedas cannot find its limit. One after another He broke the mighty ones and ground them to dust. He took the crooked, hunchbacked Kubja and made her straight and lovely. He crushed the wrestler under His feet and flung the elephant aside with His arm. He killed His own uncle, and He runs to do His devotees' work. Tuka says: the One who is full reveals the wonders of devotion.
What it means
Tukaram piles up Krishna's deeds to show a power that holds opposites together. He moves among women yet remains the eternal celibate, a paradox the Vedas cannot resolve. He overpowers wrestlers and elephants, straightens the bent Kubja, and slays the tyrant uncle Kamsa, and in the same breath He comes running to do small things for His devotees. The point is not a list of feats but the kind of being who performs them: complete in Himself, owing nothing, He still bends to serve those who love Him. That stooping is the real wonder the deeds are meant to reveal.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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