Devotion to Vitthal

समचरणदृष्टि विटेवरी साजिरी । तेथें माझी हरी वृत्ति राहो ॥१॥

Beautiful is the even gaze of the Lord standing upon the brick. Let my mind rest there and nowhere else. I want nothing …

सुंदर तें ध्यान उभे विटेवरी । कर कटावरी ठेवूनियां ॥१॥

That beautiful form stands upon the brick, hands resting on the waist. Garlands of tulsi around the neck, a golden silk …

सदा माझे डोळे जडो तुझे मूर्ती । रखुमाईच्या पती सोयरिया ॥१॥

Let my eyes be forever fixed upon Your form, O husband of Rukmini, my dear companion. Sweet is Your form, sweet is Your …

राजस सुकुमार मदनाचा पुतळा । रविशशिकळा लोपलिया ॥१॥

He is royal, delicate, a statue fashioned by the god of love, dimming the splendor of the sun and moon. A musk-mark on t…

कर कटावरी तुळसीच्या माळा । ऐसें रूप डोळां दावीं हरी ॥१॥

Hands resting on the waist, garlands of tulsi around the neck: show me that form, O Hari. Both feet placed upon the bric…

गरुडाचें वारिकें कासे पीतांबर । सांवळें मनोहर कैं देखेन ॥१॥

When shall I see that enchanting dark one, with the Garuda banner behind him and golden silk at the waist? Beautiful amo…

वाळो जन मज म्हणोत शिंदळी । परि हा वनमाळी न विसंबें ॥१॥

Let the world scorn me and call me shameless; still I will not abandon this Vanamali. I have given up respectability and…

आधिल्या भ्रतारें काम नव्हे पुरा । म्हणोनि व्यभिचारा टेकलियें ॥१॥

My former husband could never satisfy my longing, so I have turned to another lover. Day and night I need him near me; I…

हाचि नेम आतां न फिरें माघारी । बैसलें शेजारीं गोविंदाचे ॥१॥

My resolve is firm now; I will not turn back, for I have taken my seat beside Govinda. I entered his house by force, bec…

नाहीं काम माझें काज तुम्हांसवें । होतें गुप्त ठावें केलें आतां ॥१॥

I have no business with you any longer; what was hidden is now out in the open. My secret love affair has been exposed, …

विसरले कुळ आपुला आचार । पती भावे दीर घर सोय ॥१॥

I have forgotten my lineage and customs, my husband, brother-in-law, and household concerns. I have abandoned respectabi…

न देखें न बोलें नाइकें आणीक । बैसला हा एक हरि चित्तीं ॥१॥

I see nothing else, speak of nothing else, hear nothing else; Hari alone is seated in my heart. I have no mother's home …

न राहे रसना बोलतां आवडी । पायीं दिली बुडी माझ्या मनें ॥१॥

My tongue cannot stop speaking of him with relish; my mind has plunged deep at his feet. Those who are willing, listen a…

पवित्र सोंवळीं । एक तीं च भूमंडळीं ॥१॥

Truly pure and sacred in all the world are only those whose beloved is God and whose love never wavers. They alone are t…

गौळीयाची ताकपिरें । कोण पोरें चांगलीं ॥१॥

What were the milkmaids of Gokul but simple women selling buttermilk, and what were their children but ordinary urchins?…

पंढरीचा महिमा । देतां आणीक उपमा ॥१॥

The glory of Pandhari is beyond all comparison. There is no place like it, where God meets you face to face, standing ri…

चित्तीं नाहीं तें जवळीं असोनि काय । वत्स सांडी माय तेणें न्यायें ॥१॥

What good is nearness if the heart is not in it? Even a mother abandons her calf by that same principle. Sweet is the br…

खेळ मांडियेला वाळवंटीं घाई । नाचती वैष्णव भाई रे । क्रोध अभिमान केला पावटणी । एक…

The game has been set up on the open sands with great fervor. The Vaishnava brothers dance, trampling anger and pride un…

जतिस पद राखों जेणें टिपरिया घाई । अनुहातें वायें मांदळा रे ॥१॥

Keep the rhythm and guard the beat of the wooden clappers while the unstruck sound plays upon the drum. Let us dance our…

कुसरी अंगें मोडितील परी । मेळविति एका छंदें रे ॥१॥

With skillful twists of the body they move in every fashion, yet they bring all together in one single rhythm. Nothing a…

या रे गडे हो धरूं घाई जाणतां ही नेणतां । नाम गाऊं टाळी वाहूं आपुलिया हिता ॥१॥

Come, friends, let us take up the game together, the knowing and the unknowing alike. Let us sing the Name and clap our …

तेथील मोकासी चार भुजा त्यासी । बाइला सोळा हजार रे ॥१॥

Its ruler has four arms and sixteen thousand wives. Let us dance our way to His town, O players, for He will give us res…

टाळ टिपरी मांदळे एक नाद रे । जाला बसवंत देवकीचा बाळ रे ॥१॥

Cymbals, clappers, and drums sound as one; the son of Devaki has become the champion of the arena. Come, let us see this…

इहलोकींचा हा देहे । देव इच्छिताती पाहें ॥१॥

Even the gods look upon this human body with longing. How blessed we are to have been born and become servants of Vittha…

पंडित वाचक जरी जाला पुरता । तरी कृष्णकथा ऐके भावें ॥१॥

Even if a scholar has mastered all learning, he should listen to the stories of Krishna with devotion. When milk, ghee, …

चवदा भुवनें जयाचिये पोटीं । तो चि आम्हीं कंठीं साठविला ॥१॥

He who contains the fourteen worlds within his belly, that very one we have enshrined in our hearts. What could possibly…

ते माझे सोयरे सज्जन सांगाती । पाय आठविती विठोबाचे ॥१॥

Those are my true kin, my noble companions, who remember the feet of Vitthal. As for the others, I regard them only as m…

आणिकांची स्तुति आम्हां ब्रम्हहत्या । एका वांचूनि त्या पांडुरंगा ॥१॥

To praise anyone other than Panduranga is, for us, as grave as killing a Brahmin. We devotees of Vishnu hold a single-po…

शास्त्राचें जें सार वेदांची जो मूर्ति । तो माझा सांगाती प्राणसखा ॥१॥

He who is the essence of all scriptures and the living form of the Vedas, he is my companion and my dearest friend. Ther…

तुझें वर्म ठावें । माझ्या पाडियेलें भावें ॥१॥

I know your secret, and I have won you over through devotion. Like a tortoise that withdraws its limbs, I will hold your…

कार्तिकीचा सोहळा । चला जाऊं पाहूं डोळां । आले वैकुंठ जवळां । सन्निध पंढरीये ॥१॥

Come, let us go see the festival of Kartik with our own eyes. Vaikuntha has come near, right here at Pandharpur. The har…

जया दोषां परीहार । नाहीं नाहीं धुंडितां शास्त्र । ते हरती अपार । पंढरपुर देखिलिय…

Those sins for which no remedy can be found even after searching all the scriptures are destroyed simply by seeing Pandh…

काय उणें आम्हां विठोबाचे पाई । नाहीं ऐसें काई येथें एक ॥१॥

What is lacking at the feet of Vitthoba? Is there anything that cannot be found there? Why then should I scatter my mind…

जे कां सिच्चदानंदीं नित्यानंदु । जे कां मोक्षसिद्धी तीर्थ वंदूं रे ॥१॥

Let us bow to that eternal bliss which is pure being, consciousness, and joy, which is the liberation, the attainment, t…

याजसाठीं भक्ति । जगीं रूढवावया ख्याति ॥१॥

The purpose of devotion is to establish its glory in the world. Otherwise, where is any second thing to speak of? This i…

पुत्राची वार्ता । शुभ ऐके जेवीं माता ॥१॥

As a mother's heart overflows with joy upon hearing good news of her son, so let my mind remain absorbed in singing and …

वैकुंठा जावया तपाचे सायास । करणें जीवा नास न लगे कांहीं ॥१॥

To reach Vaikuntha there is no need for the ordeals of penance or for destroying one's body. Pundalik rendered that grea…

अवघ्यां अवघा हा कैसा नवलाव । सर्वसाक्ष तेथें चि त्याचा जीव वो ॥१॥

How marvelous that the one who witnesses everything has his heart dwelling right there. Each one marvels to herself, yet…

गोवी सांगती वो सकळ ही जन । होतें संचित आणियेलें तेणें वो ॥१॥

Everyone tells me it was my own past merit that brought this about. What is done is done, and now nothing else will serv…

पाहावया माजी नभा । दिसे शोभा चांगली ॥१॥

Looking up into the sky, a beautiful radiance appears. He has settled in my mind; let no one shame me for it. He is dear…

आता न यें मागें । मी आलें याच्या रागें । काय माझें जगें । कोपोनियां करावें ॥१॥

I will not turn back now; I have come drawn by his love. Let the world rage as it will, what can it do to me? My eyes ha…

हरिरता चपळा नारी । लागवरी न रिघती ॥१॥

The women devoted to Hari are so swift that none can keep pace with them. With their whole being they are supreme, enjoy…

चौक भरियेला आसनीं पाचारिली कुळस्वामिनी । वैकुंठवासिनि ये धांवोनी झडकरी ॥१॥

The sacred square is drawn and the family goddess is invoked. Come quickly, O Vithabai, dweller of Vaikuntha. I have off…

माझा देव्हारा साचा । नाहीं आणीक कोणाचा । त्रिभुवनीं याचा । ठसा न लगे पुसावें ॥१॥

My shrine is the true one; it belongs to no other. Its imprint shines across all three worlds and needs no verification.…

पुढें येते देवी । तिची जती चालों द्यावी । मागील झाडावी । झाडा मान आसडी ॥१॥

The goddess approaches; let her procession move forward and sweep aside all obstacles behind it. Ekavira has entered the…

अवघ्या जेष्ठादेवी । कोण पूजनाचा ठाव । धरितां चि भाव । कोठें नाहींसें जालें ॥१॥

Which is the eldest among all goddesses, and where is her proper seat of worship? The moment you hold true devotion, all…

खेचर खडतर । काळ कांपती असुर । नांदे भीमातीर । पंढरपुर पाटणीं ॥१॥

Fierce spirits tremble and even Death and the demons shake with fear before her. She dwells on the banks of the Bhima at…

पुत्र पौत्र संपन्न भारी । तेणें कृपा केली आम्हांवरी गा ॥१॥

He who is rich in sons and grandsons has shown us his grace. Because of him I came to this land; without him I would hav…

माझी परब्रम्ह वेल्हाळा वो । कोटि रविशशि माझी । परब्रम्ह वेल्हाळा वो ॥१॥

My beloved is the playful Supreme, radiant as ten million suns and moons. O beautiful Vithabai, my meditation rests at y…

सुदिन सुवेळ । तुझा गोंधळ वो । पंच प्राण दिवटे । दोनी नेत्रांचे हिलाल वो ॥१॥

This is an auspicious day and hour for your sacred ceremony. The five vital breaths serve as torchbearers and the two ey…

विशाळ व्यंकट नेत्र । वैजयंती तळपे कंठीं वो । कास पीतांबराची । चंदन सुगंध साजे उट…

Wide and beautiful are her Venkata-eyes, and the Vaijayanti garland gleams at her throat. She wears a sash of yellow sil…

ठेवुनि गुरुचरणीं मस्तक । वदेल प्रसादिक वाणी । हरिहरांचे पवाडे ॥१॥

Bowing my head at the guru's feet, I will speak the words that flow by his grace, singing the heroic deeds of Hari and H…

तुम्ही तरी सांगा कांहीं । आम्हांविशीं रखुमाबाई ॥१॥

Will you not tell me something, Rukhmabai, on our behalf? If any remnant has been left over, send it to me quickly. I si…

गळित जाली काया । हें चि लळित पंढरिराया ॥१॥

The body has grown frail, and this itself is the final song, O Lord of Pandhari. Life has come to its closing hour, yet …

रत्नजडित सिंहासन । वरी बैसले आपण ॥१॥

Upon a jewel-studded throne he sits in person. Royal fans wave on either side, and Rukhmabai and Rahi stand close by. In…

हिरा शोभला कोंदणीं । जडित माणिकांची खाणी ॥१॥

A diamond shines in its setting, embedded in a mine of rubies. Just so does Narayana appear, his face the very ornament …

आशीर्वाद तया जाती । आवडी चित्तीं देवाची ॥१॥

Blessings upon those in whose hearts the love of God abides. May their well-being endure, and may their love grow ever g…

सांडूनि वैकुंठ । उभा विटेवरी नीट ॥१॥

Leaving Vaikuntha behind, he stands upright upon the brick. He has come, the Lord of the world has come, to meet his dev…

जाली पाकसिद्धि वाट पाहे रखुमाई । उदक तापलें डेरां चीकसा मर्दुनी अई ॥१॥

The meal is ready and Rukhmabai waits. The water is heated, and the herbal paste has been ground and prepared. Rise, O P…

उठा सकळ जन उठिले नारायण । आनंदले मुनिजन तिन्ही लोक ॥१॥

Rise, all people! Narayana has risen. The sages rejoice, and all three worlds are filled with gladness. Raise the cry of…

घडिया घालुनि तळीं चालती वनमाळी । उमटती कोमळीं कुंकुमाचीं ॥१॥

Placing ornaments beneath his feet, the Lord walks forward, and soft saffron footprints appear wherever he steps. All pe…

भीतरी गेले हरी राहा क्षणभरी । होईल फळ धीर करावा ॥१॥

Hari has gone inside; wait here a moment and the fruit will come if you are patient. Do not be hasty; hear what I say an…

द्या जी आम्हां कांहीं सांगा जी रखुमाई । शेष उरलें ठायीं सनकादिकांचें ॥१॥

Give us something, Rukhmabai; tell us, is there any remnant left over from what the sages ate? We sit outside, watching …

बहुडविलें जन मन जालें निश्चळ । चुकवूनी कोल्हाळ आला तुका ॥१॥

The crowd has been sent home, the mind has grown still, and Tuka has slipped away from the commotion. Now let the Lord t…

नाच गाणें माझा जवळील ठाव । निरोपीन भाव होईल तो ॥१॥

Song and dance are the only place I have near you. Whatever devotion arises, that I will offer. Your sleep is my own com…

उठा भागलेती उजगरा । जाला स्वामी निद्रा करा ॥१॥

Rise now, you who are weary from the night vigil; the Master has retired, so go and take your rest. Rukmini stands waiti…

पावला प्रसाद आतां विटोनि जावें । आपला तो श्रम कळों येतसे जीवें ॥१॥

The consecrated offering has been received; now you may depart refreshed. I know in my heart how much labor this has cos…

शब्दांचीं रत्नें करूनी अळंकार । तेणें विश्वंभर पूजियेला ॥१॥

I fashioned ornaments from the jewels of words and with them adorned the Lord of the universe. I prepared a meal of hear…

उठोनियां तुका गेला निजस्थळा । उरले राउळा माजी देव ॥१॥

Having risen, Tuka went to his own place, and the Lord remained within the temple. The exchange between servant and Mast…

ओवाळूं आरती पंढरीराया । सर्वभावें शरण आलों तुझिया पायां ॥१॥

Let me wave the lamp of worship before the Lord of Pandhari. With all my being I have come to the shelter of your feet. …

करूनि आरती । आतां ओवाळूं श्रीपती ॥१॥

Having prepared the worship, let us now wave the lamp before the Lord. Today the vow is fulfilled; blessed is this day. …

तुम्हीं जावें निजमंदिरा । आम्ही जातों आपुल्या घरा ॥१॥

You go to your own temple, and I shall go to my own home. O Vitthoba, let there be love between us; let me remain at you…

केली कटकट गाऊं नाचों नेणतां । लाज नाहीं भय आम्हां पोटाची चिंता ॥१॥

I have made a commotion, singing and dancing without knowing how, feeling no shame or fear, only the worry of my belly. …

आम्ही मागों ऐसें नाहीं तुजपाशीं । जरीं तूं भीतोसि पांडुरंगा ॥१॥

We do not ask for anything you need fear giving, O Panduranga. Consider it carefully; you already know: we are satisfied…

देखोनियां तुझ्या रूपाचा आकार । उभा कटीं कर ठेवूनियां ॥१॥

Seeing the form of your figure standing with hands placed upon your hips, my mind finds perfect contentment and I feel I…

जरी माझी कोणी कापितील मान । तरी नको आन वदों जिव्हे ॥१॥

Even if someone should cut off my head, O tongue, do not speak any name other than Panduranga's. This is my plea to all …

तुजविण वाणीं आणिकांची थोरी । तरी माझी हरी जिव्हा झडो ॥१॥

If my tongue ever praises any greatness other than yours, O Hari, then let it fall from my mouth. If my mind ever deligh…

परमेष्ठिपदा । तुच्छ करिती सर्वदा ॥१॥

Those whose sole wealth is the constant remembrance of Hari regard even the seat of Brahma as trivial. The pleasures of …

वसवावें घर । देवें बरें निरंतर ॥१॥

Let the house be inhabited by God, continually and without break. Let his company attend us in sitting, sleeping, eating…

प्रथम नमन तुज एकदंता । रंगीं रसाळ वोडवीं कथा। मति सौरस करीं प्रबळता । जेणें फिटे…

First I bow to you, O Ganapati, the single-tusked one; fill this recitation with color and sweetness. Strengthen my inte…

विठ्ठल आमचें जीवन । आगमनिगमाचें स्थान । विठ्ठल सिद्धीचें साधन । विठ्ठल ध्यानविसा…

Vitthala is our very life, the abode of all sacred knowledge. Vitthala is the means to all spiritual attainment, and Vit…

जेणें हा जीव दिला दान । तयाचें करीन चिंतन । जगजीवन नारायण । गाइऩन गुण तयाचे ॥1॥

I will meditate upon the One who gave this life as a gift. I will sing the virtues of Narayana, the life of the world. H…

तुळसीमाळा घालुनी कंठीं । उभा विटेवरी जगजेठी । अवलोकोनि पुंडलीका दृष्टी । असे भीम…

Wearing the tulsi garland around His neck, the Lord of the World stands upon the brick. Gazing upon Pundalika, the Lord …

अवघ्या दशा येणें साधती । मुख्य उपासना सगुणभक्ती। प्रगटे हृदयींची मूर्ती । भावशुि…

All spiritual states are attained through the primary practice of devotion to the Lord in form. The image within the hea…

श्रीअनंता मधुसूदना । पद्मनाभा नारायणा । जगव्यापका जनादऩना । आनंदघना अविनाशा ॥1॥

O infinite Madhusudana, O Padmanabha, Narayana, all-pervading Janardana, fullness of bliss, imperishable one. O God of a…

विठ्ठल भीमातीरवासी । विठ्ठल पंढरीनिवासी । विठ्ठल पुंडलिकापासीं । कृपादानाविसीं उ…

Vitthal dwells on the bank of the Bhima. Vitthal resides in Pandhari. Vitthal is near Pundalika, supremely generous in b…

ताप हें हरण श्रीमुख । हरी भवरोगा ऐसें दुःख । अवलोकितां उपजे सुख । उभें सन्मुख दृ…

His holy face removes all burning pain. It cures the terrible disease of worldly existence. Beholding it, joy arises; it…

अगा ये वैकुंटनायका । अगा ये त्रैलोक्यतारका । अगा जनादऩना जगव्यापका । अगा पाळका भ…

O Lord of Vaikuntha, O deliverer of the three worlds, O all-pervading Janardana, O protector of Your devotees. O son of …

उभा देखिला भीमातीरीं । कर मिरवले कटावरी । पाउलें तरी सम चि साजिरीं । नाम तरी अनं…

I have seen Him standing on the bank of the Bhima, His hands resting gracefully upon His waist. His feet are beautifully…

विठ्ठला रे तूं उदाराचा राव । विठ्ठला तूं जीव या जगाचा ॥1॥

O Vitthal, You are the king of the generous. O Vitthal, You are the life of this world. O Vitthal, You are the very sum …

बरवा बरवा बरवा रे देवा तूं । जीवाहूनी आवडसी जीवा रे देवा तूं ॥1॥

How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful You are, O God. You are dearer to the soul than the soul itself. Gazing at Y…

तीथॉ केलीं कोटीवरी । नाहीं देखिली पंढरी ॥1॥

One may have made ten million pilgrimages and still not seen Pandhari. Let such a life be burned, for it has never behel…

कोणतें कारण राहिलें यामुळें । जें म्यां तुज बळें कष्टवावें ॥1॥

What pressing cause remains that would compel me to trouble You by force? I am not dying, nor is any harm befalling me. …

आणीक दुसरें मज नाहीं आतां । नेमिलें या चित्तापासुनियां ॥1॥

There is nothing else for me now. This has been decided within my mind once and for all. Panduranga in my thoughts, Pand…

होइऩन भिकारी । पंढरीचा वारकरी ॥1॥

I will become a beggar, a pilgrim of Pandhari. This alone is my creed and religion: nothing but the Name of Vithoba. Thi…

मोक्ष तुमचा देवा । तुह्मी दुर्लभ तो ठेवा ॥1॥

Your liberation, O God, is Your own affair. Keep that difficult treasure for Yourself. What I love is devotion; I have n…

नामपाठ मुक्ताफळांच्या ओवणी । हें सुख सगुणीं अभिनव ॥1॥

The chanting of the Name is like stringing pearls. This joy in the worship of the Lord in form is something new and wond…

नाहीं साजत हो मोठा । मज अळंकार खोटा ॥1॥

Grand ornaments do not suit me; false decorations are not my portion. I am the dust beneath the feet of the saints, the …

करावें चिंतन । तें चि बरें न भेटून ॥1॥

It is better to contemplate God without meeting Him in person, for then the feeling remains fresh and alive within. That…

जाणे भक्तीचा जिव्हाळा । तो चि देवीचा पुतळा ॥1॥

The one who knows the warmth of devotion is the true image of the Divine. No scholar or learned man appeals to my heart …