Devotion, the divine thief of hearts
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मैंद आला पंढरीस । हातीं घेउनि प्रेमपाश ॥1॥
पुढें नाडियलें जग । नेतो लागों नेदी माग ॥ध्रु.॥
उभारोनि बाहे । दृष्टादृष्टी वेधीताहे ॥2॥
वैकंठीहुनि पेणें । केलें पंढरीकारणें ॥3॥
पुंडलिकें यारा । देउनि आणिलें चोरा ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे चला । तुह्मी आह्मी धरूं त्याला ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This enchanter has come to Pandhari, carrying the snare of love in His hands. He has captivated the whole world and leads them on, never letting anyone trace His path. Raising His arms, He draws people with a single glance. He has moved His dwelling from Vaikuntha and established it in Pandhari. Pundalika gave this thief safe passage and brought Him here. Says Tuka, come, let us all join hands and catch Him together.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
This enchanter has come to Pandhari, the snare of love in his hands. He has cheated the whole world and leads it on, never letting anyone find his track. He raises his arms and pulls people in with a single glance. He has moved his home from Vaikuntha and set it up here for Pandhari's sake. Pundalika gave this thief safe passage and brought him here. Tuka says: come, you and I, let us all join hands and catch him.
What it means
Tukaram plays with the image of God as a charming thief who steals hearts. Vitthal has come to Pandhari carrying a noose, but the noose is love, and with one look from his upraised arms he draws people to himself and leaves no trail to follow. The astonishing turn is that the Lord has abandoned even Vaikuntha, his own heaven, to dwell here, and it was the devotee Pundalika who brought this thief in. The closing invitation reverses the chase with delight: rather than fleeing the one who captures us, let us all band together and catch him. The whole poem makes surrender to God sound like joyful conspiracy.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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