Social criticism, the true outcaste
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अतिवादी नव्हे शुद्ध या बीजाचा । ओळखा जातीचा अंत्यज तो ॥१॥
वेद श्रुति नाहीं ग्रंथ ज्या प्रमाण । श्रेष्ठाचें वचन न मानी जो ॥ध्रु.॥
तुका म्हणे मद्यपानाचें मिष्टान्न । तैसा तो दुर्जन शिवों नये ॥२॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He is no pure seed, that loud-mouth; know him as one cast out in spirit. The Vedas, the scriptures, the words of the wise, he holds none as authority. Says Tuka, like a sweet dish served with liquor, such a wretch is not to be touched.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The argumentative loudmouth is no pure seed; recognize him for what he is, an outcaste in spirit, whatever his birth. He treats neither the Vedas, nor the scriptures, nor the words of the wise as having any authority over him. Tuka says: he is like a sweet dish served alongside liquor. Do not touch him.
What it means
Tukaram turns his definition of caste inward again. The real outcaste is not the low-born but the contentious man who recognizes no authority above his own opinion, not scripture, not the wise. Such a person is from a corrupt seed in spirit. The closing image is precise: a sweet dish set out with liquor is spoiled by the company it keeps, however good it looks; so the loudmouth's cleverness is poisoned by his refusal of all guidance. Stay away, not from his birth, but from his arrogance, which contaminates whatever it touches.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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