Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अझुनि कां थीर पोरा न म्हणसी किर । धरुनियां धीर लाजे बुर निघाला ॥१॥
मोकळा होतासि कां रे पडिलासि डाई । वरिलांचा भार आतां उतरेसा नाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
मेळवूनि मेळा एकाएकीं दिली मिठी । कवळिलें एक बहु बैसविलीं पाठीं ॥२॥
तळील तें वरी वरील तें येतें तळा । न सुटे तोंवरी येथें गुंतलिया खेळा ॥३॥
सांडितां ठाव पुढें सईल धरी हात । चढेल तो पडेल ऐसी ऐका रे मात ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे किती आवरावे हात पाय । न खेळावें तोंच बरें वरी न ये डाय ॥५॥
कोडें - अभंग २
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Child, why won't you stand still and call out "I quit!"? Summon your nerve. Ashamed, you ducked and went under. You were free and clear, so why did you fall on a bad throw? Now the weight of those on top will not come off. Gathering the whole crowd, they seized each other all at once. One was grabbed while many more climbed on his back. The one below comes up, the one on top goes down. Until you break free, you are tangled in this game. Leave your spot and the next player grabs your hand. Whoever climbs will fall. Listen to these words. Says Tuka: how long can you restrain your hands and feet? Better not to have played at all than end up under the pile.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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