Krishna at Dwaraka, the city of no distinctions
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
रचियेला गांव सागराचे पोटीं । जडोनि गोमटीं नानारत्नें ॥1॥
रत्न खणोखणी सोनियाच्या भिंती । लागलिया ज्योति रविकळा ॥2॥
कळा सकळ ही गोविंदाचे हातीं । मंदिरें निगुतीं उभारिलीं ॥3॥
उभारिलीं दुगॉ दारवंठे फांजी । कोटी चर्या माजी शोभलिया ॥4॥
शोभलें उत्तम गांव सागरांत । सकळांसहित आले हरि ॥5॥
आला नारायण द्वारका नगरा । उदार या शूरा मुगुटमणि ॥6॥
निवडीना याति समान चि केलीं । टणक धाकुलीं नारायणें ॥7॥
नारायणें दिलीं अक्षई मंदिरें । अभंग साचारें सकळांसि॥8॥
सकळ ही धर्मशीळ पुण्यवंत । पवित्र विरक्त नारीनर ॥9॥
रचिलें तें देवें न मोडे कवणा । बिळयांचा राणा नारायण ॥10॥
बळबुद्धीनें तीं देवा च सारिखीं । तुका ह्मणे मुखीं गाती ओंव्या ॥11॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A city was built in the belly of the ocean, studded with every kind of gem. Gems adorned every corner. The walls were of gold, catching the sun's rays. All art and craft lay in Govinda's hands. The mansions were raised with care. Fortresses, gates, and galleries were erected, beautified with ramparts and watchtowers. The city shone, splendid in the ocean. Narayana came there with all His people. Narayana, the generous and valiant, the crowning jewel among warriors, came to the city of Dwaraka. He made no distinctions of caste; He treated all as equal. The strong and the small were the same to Narayana. He gave imperishable dwellings to all, real and unbreakable. All were virtuous, pious, pure, and devoted, men and women alike. What God has built, no one can destroy. The Lord of strength is Narayana. In might and wisdom, they were like God Himself. Says Tuka, they sang ovis with their lips.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A city was built in the belly of the ocean, set with all kinds of fine gems. Gems in every corner, walls of gold, catching the light of the sun. All the craft was in Govinda's hands. The mansions were raised with care. Forts, gateways, and walkways were put up, fine with ramparts and towers. The city stood splendid in the ocean. Hari came there with all his people. Narayana came to the city of Dwaraka, the generous, the brave, the crown-jewel of warriors. He made no choice of caste; he made all equal. The strong and the small were the same to Narayana. He gave everyone undying homes, real and unbreakable. All were righteous and full of merit, pure and devoted, women and men alike. What God has built, no one can break. Narayana is the lord of the strong. In strength and wisdom they were like God himself. Tuka says: they sang ovis with their mouths.
What it means
Tukaram describes Dwaraka, the city Krishna raises in the sea, jeweled and golden and made entirely by his own craft. But the splendor is not the point he dwells on. The thing he marks is that Krishna makes no distinction of caste there: high and low, strong and weak, all are treated as equal and all are given lasting homes. Under his rule the whole population becomes righteous and pure, men and women alike, and even comes to resemble God in strength and wisdom. The closing note, that they sang ovis as they lived, says the city's true wealth was a life of constant praise, not its gold.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
More in this theme →