Moral ideal, peace over ego
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अभिमानाची स्वामिनी शांति । महत्त्व घेती सकळ ॥1॥
कळोनि ही न कळे वर्म । तरि श्रम पावती ॥ध्रु.॥
सर्व सत्ता करितां धीर । वीर्यां वीर आगळा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तिखट तिखें । मृदसखें आवडी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Peace is the sovereign over ego; it draws all greatness to itself. Even among those who know the secret, if the vital core is not truly grasped, all their effort is mere toil. Patience holds dominion over all powers; in virility, this warrior stands above all others. Says Tuka, the sharp remains sharp, but the gentle companion wins by love.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Peace is the master over pride; it draws all greatness to itself. Even those who seem to know miss the secret, and so their effort is only toil. Patience rules over every power; in true strength this warrior stands above the rest. Tuka says: the sharp thing stays sharp, but the gentle companion wins by love.
What it means
Tukaram sets calm against ego and gives calm the crown. Peace, he says, is what actually commands greatness, while a person who has missed the living core of the teaching wears himself out for nothing. He reframes strength: patience is the real power, and the one who holds it is the higher warrior, not the loud or forceful one. The closing image makes the choice plain: sharpness keeps its edge, but it is gentleness, won through love, that prevails.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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