Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काहे भूमि इतना भार राखे । दुभत धेनु नहिं दुध चाखे ॥1॥
बरसतें मेघ फलतेंहें बिरखा । कोन काम अपनी उन्होति रखा ॥2॥
काहे चंदा सुरज खावे फेरा । खिन एक बैठन पावत घेरा ॥3॥
काहे परिस कंचन करे धातु । नहिं मोल तुटत पावत घातु ॥4॥
कहे तुका उपकार हि काज । सब कररहिया रघुराज ॥5॥
जग चले उस घाट कोन जाय । नहिं समजत फिरफिर गोदे खाय ॥ध्रु.॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why does the earth bear so great a burden? The milch cow does not taste her own milk. The clouds rain and the trees bear fruit. Why do they keep up this giving without ceasing? Why do the moon and the sun make their circuits? If they stopped for even a moment, they would be overwhelmed. Why does the philosopher's stone turn metal to gold? Its value is never diminished, even when it is struck. Says Tuka, service is the only work. The Lord of the Raghus makes all of them do it. The world follows this path; who would go any other way? Those who do not understand keep stumbling again and again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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