Exhortation, take the teaching in
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
शाहाणियां पुरे एक चि वचन । विशारती खुण ते चि त्यासी ॥1॥
उपदेश असे बहुतांकारणें । घेतला तो मनें पाहिजे हा ॥ध्रु.॥
फांसावेना तरिं दुःख घेतें वाव । मग होतो जीव कासावीस ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नको राग धरूं झोंडा । नुघडितां पीडा होइल डोळे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
For the wise, a single word is enough; that very sign opens everything to them. Teaching exists for many kinds of people, but what has been received must be taken into the mind. If it does not take hold, suffering only grows, and the jiva becomes tormented. Says Tuka, do not hold a grudge obstinately. If you refuse to open your eyes, the pain will only worsen.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
For the wise, one word is enough. That single sign opens everything to them. Teaching is given for many kinds of people, but what is received must be taken into the mind. If it does not take hold, suffering grows in vain, and then the jiva becomes tormented. Tuka says: do not hold a stubborn grudge. If you refuse to open your eyes, the pain will only get worse.
What it means
Tukaram contrasts the ready listener with the one who resists. A single word unlocks everything for the wise, while teaching meant for all kinds of people does nothing unless it is actually taken into the mind. When it fails to take hold, the suffering it was meant to end only grows, and the soul is left in torment. His final appeal is direct and personal: drop the stubborn grudge against the teaching, because refusing to open your eyes does not protect you. It simply lets the pain deepen. The hard word is aimed at the obstinacy itself, urging the listener to relent.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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