The child who is Lord of all
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय आतां यासि ह्मणावें लेंकरूं । जगाचा हा गुरु मायबाप ॥1॥
माया याची यासि राहिली व्यापून । कळों नये क्षण एक होतां ॥2॥
क्षण एक होतां विसरलीं त्यासि । माझेंमाझें ऐसें करी बाळा ॥3॥
करी कवतुक कळों नेदी कोणा । योजूनि कारणा तें चि खेळे ॥4॥
तें सुख लुटिलें घरिचिया घरीं । तुका ह्मणे परी आपुलाल्या ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
How can this one be called a mere child? He is the Guru and parent of the whole world. His maya keeps the world in its grip, yet for one moment it may lift, and then it falls again. In one moment they forget Him, and the sense of 'mine, mine' takes over in the child. He plays His wonders without letting anyone know, designing each event for its hidden purpose. Says Tuka, that bliss was tasted right there at home, each one in their own way.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What can you call this one, a mere child? He is the Guru, the mother and father of the whole world. His own maya keeps the world wrapped up; it lifts for a moment, and you cannot tell. In one moment they forget Him, and the child takes up its 'mine, mine.' He works His wonders and lets no one know, planning each event and so playing it out. Tuka says: that bliss was plundered right there at home, each one taking their own share.
What it means
Tukaram refuses the surface: the one Yashoda dandles is no ordinary infant but the Guru and parent of all worlds. His maya is exactly what hides this from those nearest Him; it lifts for an instant and falls again, so they keep forgetting and slipping back into 'mine, mine.' He stages His every play deliberately while letting no one catch the design. The note Tukaram lands is intimate: the bliss of God is not far off in some heaven but tasted right at home, each devotee taking it in their own measure.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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