True caste is devotion, not birth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ब्राह्मण तो याती अंतेज असतां । मानावा तत्वता निश्चयेसी ॥1॥
रामकृष्णें नाम उच्चारी सरळें । आठवी सांवळें रूप मनीं ॥ध्रु.॥
शांति क्षमा दया अलंकार अंगीं । अभंग प्रसंगीं धैर्यवंत ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे गेल्या शडऊर्मी अंगें । सांडुनियां मग ब्रह्मं चि तो ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Even if one is born into a family the world despises, he should be considered a true Brahmin in spirit and in truth. If he sincerely chants the names Rama and Krishna and holds that beautiful dark form in his mind, if peace, forgiveness, and compassion adorn his being, if he is unshakable and courageous in every situation, Says Tuka, once the six waves of bodily existence are cast aside and conquered, such a one is Brahman itself.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Even a man born into a family the world despises should be held a true Brahmin, truly and for certain, if he chants the names Rama and Krishna with a clean heart and keeps that dark, beautiful form in his mind. If peace, forgiveness, and compassion adorn him, if he stays unbroken and brave in every situation, Tuka says: once the six waves of bodily life are thrown off and conquered, he is Brahman itself.
What it means
This is the bright half of Tukaram's teaching on caste, the mirror of his attack on the false Brahmin. He says plainly that birth into a despised family is no bar at all: the lowest-born devotee who loves Rama and Krishna with a sincere heart is to be honored as a true Brahmin. The marks he names are inward, peace, forgiveness, compassion, steadfast courage, not ritual or descent. And he carries it to its limit: when such a one masters the six surges of bodily existence, he is not merely worthy but is Brahman itself. Devotion and conquered passion, not the accident of birth, decide who is holy.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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