Parting at the gates, longing in separation
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाय फाकोनियां निवडितां गाई । आपलाल्या सोयी घराचिये ॥1॥
घराचिये सोयी अंतरला देव । गोपाळांचे जीव गोविंदापे॥2॥
गोविंदे वेधिलें तुका ह्मणे मन । वियोगें ही ध्यान संयोगाचें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
As the cows are sorted and separated, each heading toward its own home, God too fades from sight, each cowherd going his own way. The cowherds' souls remain with Govinda. Says Tuka, Govinda has captured their minds. Even in separation, they meditate on reunion.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The cows scatter as they are sorted out, each turning toward its own home. As they head for home, God slips out of sight; each cowherd goes his own way, but their souls stay with Govinda. Tuka says: Govinda has caught their minds. Even in separation, they keep meditating on reunion.
What it means
Tukaram catches the moment the day's company breaks up, when the cows are sorted and each boy turns toward his own house and Krishna passes from sight. Outwardly they separate, but their souls do not leave Govinda; he has captured their minds, so distance changes nothing inward. The closing claim is that even in separation they are meditating on reunion, which is the mark of true love. He is showing that once the heart is bound to God, parting only turns into longing, and longing is itself a form of communion.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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