Honest reproof, no enemy in it
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जग तरि आह्मां देव । परि हे निंदितों स्वभाव ॥1॥
येतो हिताचा कळवळा । पडती हातीं ह्मुन काळा ॥ध्रु.॥
नाहीं कोणी सखा । आह्मां निपराध पारिखा ॥2॥
उपक्रमें वदे । तुका वर्मासी तें भेदे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The world is God to us, yet we must criticize its ways. A deep concern for welfare arises within us: they are falling into the hands of Death. We have no personal enemy; we are blameless and impartial toward all. Says Tuka, through earnest speech, one pierces to the vital point.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The whole world is God to us. Yet we still criticize its ways. A deep concern for what is good rises in us, because people are falling into the hands of Death. We have no friend we favor and no enemy we hate; we are blameless and even toward all. We speak by trying to help. Tuka says: such speech pierces to the vital point.
What it means
Tukaram answers the charge that his rebukes are unkind. He holds two things at once: the world is God to him, and its conduct still has to be named for what it is. The concern that drives his criticism is that people are sliding toward death while they live badly. He insists he has no personal target, no favorite and no foe; he is impartial. His words cut to the quick precisely because they aim at the fault, not at the person, and because their only motive is the listener's good.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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