A true soldier knows his own kind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जातीचा पाईक ओळखे पाइका । आदर तो एका त्याचे ठायीं ॥1॥
धरितील पोटासाटीं हतियेरें । कळती तीं खरें वेठीचींसीं ॥ध्रु.॥
जीताचें तें असे खरें घायडाय । पारखिया काय पाशीं लोपे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नमूं देव ह्मुण जना । जालियांच्या खुणा जाणतसों ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A born paik recognizes another paik. His respect is reserved for that one alone. Those who take up weapons for the belly are known for what they are: veth-men, not true paiks. The living proof of the genuine one is in his wounds. Before a true discerner, nothing can be concealed. Says Tuka, I bow to people, calling them God. Yet I know well the marks of those who have truly become this.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A born soldier recognizes another soldier. His respect is kept for that one alone. Those who take up weapons only for the belly are known for what they are: hired hands, not true soldiers. The living proof of the genuine one is in his wounds. Before a true judge, nothing can be hidden. Tuka says: I bow to people and call them God. Yet I know well the marks of those who have truly become this.
What it means
Only one who is the real thing can recognize the real thing; the true servant reserves his respect for his own kind. The mercenary who carries weapons just to be fed gives himself away, and the proof of the genuine one is plain in his scars. No pretense survives a discerning eye. In the last lines Tukaram holds two things together. He bows to everyone and honors the God in all people, yet he is not naive: he knows the visible marks of those who have actually been transformed, and is not fooled by those who only wear the name.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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