Sundar Te Dhyan Meaning — Line by Line

सुंदर ते ध्यान

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Sundar Te Dhyan with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

सुंदर ते ध्यान उभे विटेवरी । कर कटावरी ठेवूनिया ॥

Sundar Te Dhyan Ubhe Vitevari | Kar Katavari Thevuniya ||

MeaningBeautiful is that form worthy of meditation, standing upon the brick, His hands resting upon His waist.

Verse 2#

तुळसीहार गळां कासे पीतांबर । आवडे निरंतर तेंचि ध्यान ॥

Tulasihar Gala Kase Pitambar | Aavade Nirantar Techi Dhyan ||

MeaningA garland of tulsi about His neck, yellow silk wrapped at His waist — that very vision is ever-dear to me, beyond all ending.

Verse 3#

मकरकुंडले तळपती श्रवणीं । कंठीं कौस्तुभमणि विराजित ॥

Makarakundale Talapati Shravani | Kanthi Kaustubhamani Virajit ||

MeaningMakara ear-ornaments glitter upon His ears, and on His breast the Kaustubha jewel shines in splendour.

Verse 4#

तुका म्हणे माझे हेंचि सर्व सुख । पाहीन श्रीमुख आवडीने ॥

Tuka Mhane Majhe Hechi Sarva Sukh | Paahin Shrimukh Aavadine ||

MeaningTuka says: this alone is all my happiness — to gaze, again and again with loving delight, upon that blessed face.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

सुंदर ते ध्यान

Sundar Te Dhyan

That beautiful form (worthy of meditation)

उभे विटेवरी

Ubhe Vitevari

Standing upon the brick (the vit at Pandharpur)

कर कटावरी

Kar Katavari

Hands placed upon the waist (the iconic Vitthal posture)

ठेवूनिया

Thevuniya

Having placed / resting

तुळसीहार

Tulasihar

A garland of tulsi (holy basil) leaves

गळां

Gala

Around the neck

कासे पीतांबर

Kase Pitambar

Yellow silk (pitambara) wrapped at the waist

आवडे निरंतर

Aavade Nirantar

Ever-dear, beloved without end

तेंचि ध्यान

Techi Dhyan

That very form, that meditation

मकरकुंडले

Makarakundale

Fish/crocodile-shaped ear-ornaments (makara kundalas)

तळपती श्रवणीं

Talapati Shravani

Glitter and sparkle upon the ears

कंठीं

Kanthi

Upon the throat / chest

कौस्तुभमणि

Kaustubhamani

The Kaustubha jewel (the famous gem worn by Vishnu)

विराजित

Virajit

Shines resplendently

तुका म्हणे

Tuka Mhane

Tuka (Sant Tukaram) says

हेंचि सर्व सुख

Hechi Sarva Sukh

This alone is all my happiness

पाहीन श्रीमुख

Paahin Shrimukh

I shall gaze upon the blessed face

आवडीने

Aavadine

With loving delight

Origin & History

Source: Tukaram Gatha (Marathi abhang tradition of the Varkari sampradaya)

Author: Sant Tukaram

Period: 17th century CE

Sant Tukaram of Dehu poured his devotion to Vitthal into thousands of abhangs collected as the Tukaram Gatha. In 'Sundar Te Dhyan' he lovingly contemplates the standing image of Panduranga at Pandharpur — the form with hands on the waist that has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Rather than asking for anything, Tukaram declares that simply beholding the Lord's blessed face (Shrimukh) is the whole of happiness, making the abhang a model of pure, desireless devotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Sundar Te Dhyan' mean?▼

It means 'That beautiful form (worthy of meditation)'. The abhang is a contemplative description of Vitthal standing on the brick at Pandharpur, meant to fix that beautiful image in the devotee's mind.

Who composed 'Sundar Te Dhyan'?▼

It was composed by Sant Tukaram (17th century), the great Varkari poet-saint of Dehu, whose abhangs to Vitthal (Panduranga) are sung across Maharashtra. The signature line 'Tuka Mhane' (Tuka says) marks it as his.

Why does it describe the Lord's ornaments in detail?▼

The detailed description of the tulsi garland, yellow silk, makara earrings and Kaustubha jewel is a meditation aid: by dwelling on each beautiful feature, the devotee's wandering mind becomes absorbed in the Lord's form (saguna dhyana).

When is it best sung?▼

It is sung in daily morning or evening worship, during bhajan and kirtan, on Ekadashi, and especially during the Ashadhi and Kartiki pilgrimages to Pandharpur.

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