Abhanga 3902
God himself takes joy in kirtana and walks alongside whoever sings his praise, as Narada's example shows, so singing his glory is the love God treasures most.
The verse
कीर्तनाच्या सुखें सुखी होय देव । पंढरीचा राव संगीं आहे ॥१॥
भक्त जाय सदा हरि कीर्ति गात । नित्यसेवें अनंत हिंडतसे ॥ध्रु.॥
त्रैलोक्य भ्रमण फिरत नारद । त्यासंगें गोविंद फिरतसे ॥२॥
नारद मंजुळ सुस्वरें गीत गाये । मार्गा चालताहे संगें हरि ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे त्याला गोडी कीर्तनाची । नाहीं आणिकांची प्रीति ऐसी ॥४॥
Literal translation
Kīrtana-sukha — Deva-becomes-sukhī — Paṇḍharī-rāva-in-sanga. Bhakta-goes-singing-Hari-kīrti — Ananta-roams-for-nitya-sevā. Trailokya-bhramaṇa-Nārada — Govinda-roams-with-him. Nārada-mañjuḷa-sus-svara-gītī — Hari-on-path-with-him. Tukā: gōḍī-of-kīrtana — no-other-prīti-like-it.
What it means
THE canonical 4-verse Lord-roams-with-kīrtana-bhakta text. With the joy of kīrtana, even Deva becomes joyful — Paṇḍharī's-king is in the company. The bhakta goes ever-on, singing Hari's glory; for the sake of perpetual-service, Ananta roams (with him). Nārada wanders the three worlds — and Govinda roams with him. Nārada sings the song in sweet melody; on his path Hari walks with him. (Says Tukā:) he has fondness for kīrtana — no other love is like it for him. The Lord himself becomes-sukhī through kīrtana; he roams with the kīrtana-singing bhakta — this is the foundational claim for Vārkarī kīrtana-tradition. The Nārada-paradigm (kīrtana-sage par-excellence, whom Hari accompanies) gives the foundational warrant. Pair with 2864 (clap-hands kīrtana), 2919 (kīrtana-supremacy), 3833 (kīrtana-rasa).
For someone today
Tukaram says that when people sing kirtana, God himself becomes happy and joins the gathering, walking alongside whoever sings his glory. He points to Narada, who wanders through the three worlds singing sweet melodies, and says Govinda travels right beside him on that journey. The point is striking: God has no greater love than kirtana, and singing his praise is not just something we do for ourselves, it actually draws him near.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की जेव्हा लोक कीर्तन करतात तेव्हा देव स्वतः सुखी होतो आणि त्या सोहळ्यात सामील होतो, जो हरिकीर्ती गातो त्याच्यासोबत चालतो. ते नारदाचे उदाहरण देतात, जो तिन्ही लोकांत फिरत गोड सुरात गाणे गातो, आणि म्हणतात की गोविंद त्याच्याचसोबत त्या प्रवासात चालतो. यातील मुद्दा स्पष्ट आहे, देवाला कीर्तनासारखे दुसरे प्रेम नाही, आणि त्याची स्तुती गाणे हे फक्त आपल्यासाठी नाही, तर ते खरोखर देवाला जवळ आणते.
Where this applies
- When you wonder whether singing or chanting in a group actually means anything beyond the people present
- When you feel alone in your devotion and want to know that it draws real company
- When you're choosing between quiet private practice and joining others in shared song
- When you need encouragement to keep singing even when it feels like just noise to outsiders