Social criticism, the false renouncer
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आवडीच्या मतें करिती भजन । भोग नारायणें ह्मणती केला ॥1॥
अवघा देव ह्मणे वेगळें तें काय । अर्थासाठीं डोय फोडूं पाहे ॥ध्रु.॥
लाजे कमंडल धरितां भोपळा । आणीक थीगळा प्रावरणा ॥2॥
शाला गडवे धातुद्रव्यइच्छा चित्तीं । नैश्वर्य बोलती अवघें मुखें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणें यांस देवा नाहीं भेटी । ऐसे कल्पकोटि जन्म घेतां ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
They worship according to their own inclination and claim that Narayana has ordained their indulgence. They say everything is God, so what is separate? Yet for the sake of gain they would gouge out eyes. They feel shame holding a gourd-vessel or patched garments, yet in their chitta they covet metal objects and wealth, while their mouths proclaim renunciation. Says Tuka, such people will never meet God, even if they take birth for crores of kalpas.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
They worship however they please, and say Narayana himself ordained their indulgence. They say all is God, so what is separate? Yet for the sake of gain they would gouge out eyes. They are ashamed to hold a gourd-bowl or wear patched cloth, but in their hearts they crave metal vessels and wealth, while their mouths preach renunciation. Tuka says: such people will never meet God, even if they take birth for crores of kalpas.
What it means
Tukaram exposes a gap between teaching and life. These people use lofty doctrine, all is God, nothing is separate, as a license to do whatever they want and call it divinely sanctioned, even while they would ruin others for profit. They are embarrassed by the real marks of the renouncer, the simple gourd and the patched robe, yet they secretly hunger for fine vessels and money, all the while preaching detachment. The verse names the cost bluntly: such doubleness keeps God forever out of reach, for no length of time can buy what only sincerity opens. The target is the pattern of hypocrisy, a mirror for any seeker to check his own heart against his words.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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