Adoration, the Lord on the brick
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुळसीमाळा घालुनी कंठीं । उभा विटेवरी जगजेठी । अवलोकोनि पुंडलीका दृष्टी । असे भीमातटीं पंढरीनाथ ॥1॥
भुक्तिमुक्ति जयाच्या कामारी । रििद्धसििद्ध वोळगती द्वारीं । सुदर्शन घरटी करी । काळ कांपे दुरी धाकें तया ॥2॥
जगज्जननी असे वाम भागीं । भीमकी शोभली अर्धांगीं । जैसी विद्युल्लता झमके मेघीं । दरुषणें भंगी महा दोष ॥3॥
सुखसागर परमानंदु । गोपीगोपाळां गोधनां छंदु । पिक्षश्वापदां जयाचा वेधु । वाहे गोविंदु पांवा छंदें ॥4॥
मुखमंडित चतुर्भुजा । मनमोहना गरुडध्वजा । तुका ह्मणे स्वामी माझा । पावे भक्तिकाजा लवलाहीं ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wearing the tulsi garland around His neck, the Lord of the World stands upon the brick. Gazing upon Pundalika, the Lord of Pandhari rests on the bank of the Bhima. Liberation and worldly pleasure are His servants; miraculous powers attend His door. The Sudarshana whirls as a protective canopy, and Death trembles in fear of Him from afar. The Mother of the universe stands at His left side; Bheemaki adorns His other half like lightning flashing in the clouds. Her mere glance destroys the greatest sins. He is an ocean of bliss, supreme joy, the delight of the gopis, cowherds, and cattle. Even birds and beasts are drawn to Him. Govinda plays His flute in sweet rhythm. With a beautiful face and four arms, He enchants the mind and bears the Garuda banner. Says Tuka, my Lord swiftly comes to the aid of His devotees.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The tulsi garland on his neck, the Lord of the world stands on the brick. His eyes resting on Pundalika, Pandharinath stands on the bank of the Bhima. Liberation and worldly pleasure are his serving-maids. Wealth and powers wait at his door. The Sudarshana circles as his guard, and Death trembles far off in fear of him. The Mother of the universe stands at his left side; Rukmini adorns his other half, like lightning flashing in a cloud. One look from her breaks the greatest sin. He is an ocean of bliss, the highest joy, the delight of the gopis, the cowherds, and the cattle. Even birds and beasts are drawn to him. Govinda plays his flute in sweet rhythm. With a lovely face and four arms, he enchants the mind and carries the Garuda banner. Tuka says: my Lord comes swiftly to his devotees' aid.
What it means
This is a portrait of Vitthal standing on the brick at Pandhari, the pose given to him out of love for his devotee Pundalika. Tukaram piles up the marks of his sovereignty: liberation and worldly pleasure serve him as maids, riches and miraculous powers wait at the door, his discus guards him, and even Death keeps its distance in fear. Rukmini, named here as the Mother of the universe, shares his form like lightning in a cloud, her glance alone able to break the worst sin. He is bliss itself, drawing gopis, cowherds, cattle, even birds and beasts, by the sweetness of his flute. The closing line lands the point of all this glory: this Lord of every power comes quickly when his devotees call.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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