Krishna's deeds, the rescuer arms himself
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नारायणें कंस चाणूर मदिला । रार्ज्यीं बैसविला उग्रसेन ॥1॥
उग्रसेन स्थापियेला शरणागत । पुरविला अंत अभक्ताचा॥2॥
अवघें चि केलें कारण अनंतें । आपुलिया हातें सकळ ही ॥3॥
सकळ ही केलीं आपुलीं अंकित । राहे गोपीनाथ मथुरेसि ॥4॥
मथुरेसि आला वैकुंठनायक । जालें सकिळक एक राज्य ॥5॥
राज्य दिलें उग्रसेना शरणागता । सोडविलीं माता पिता दोन्हीं ॥6॥
सोडवणे धांवे भक्ताच्या कैवारें । तुका ह्मणे करें शस्त्र धरी ॥7॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Narayana slew Kamsa and Chanura. He installed Ugrasena on the throne. Ugrasena, who had sought refuge, was established. The destruction of the faithless was complete. The Infinite One accomplished everything by His own hand. He made all of them His own. The Lord of the Gopis dwelt in Mathura. A single undivided rule was established. The kingdom was given to the surrendered Ugrasena. Both parents, mother and father, were freed. He rushes to rescue His devotees. Says Tuka, He takes up weapons in His hands for their sake.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Narayana killed Kamsa and Chanura. He set Ugrasena on the throne. Ugrasena had come for refuge, and Narayana made him secure. He brought the faithless to their end. The Infinite One did all of it. He did it all with his own hand. He made everyone his own. The Lord of the gopis stayed in Mathura. One undivided rule was set up. He gave the kingdom to Ugrasena, who had surrendered. He freed both the parents, mother and father. He runs to rescue his devotees. Tuka says: he takes up weapons in his hands for their sake.
What it means
Tukaram tells the Mathura story to show what God does for those who turn to him. Krishna kills the tyrant Kamsa and his wrestler, then puts the surrendered Ugrasena on the throne and frees his own imprisoned parents. The point Tukaram draws is the rhythm of it: God acts with his own hand, finishes the work of the faithless, and makes everyone his own. The closing line is the sharp one. The same Infinite One who needs no weapon will take up weapons himself when a devotee is in danger; rescue is not theory, he comes running and armed.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
More in this theme →