Moral ideal, steadiness over craving
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आशा तृष्णा माया अपमानाचें बीज । नासिलिया पूज्य होईजेतें ॥1॥
अधीरासी नाहीं चालों जातां मान । दुर्लभ दरुषण धीर त्याचें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं आणिकांसी बोल । वांयां जाय मोल बुद्धीपाशीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Desire, greed, and maya are the seeds of dishonor. Only by destroying them does one become truly worthy of reverence. The impatient one loses respect even while walking; the sight of one with true steadfastness is rare. Says Tuka, there is nothing more to say. Wisdom spent on the unworthy is wasted.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Desire, craving, and maya are the seeds of dishonor. Only by destroying them does one become worthy of reverence. The restless one loses respect even as he walks; the sight of a truly steady one is rare. Tuka says: there is nothing more to say. Wisdom spent on the unworthy is wasted.
What it means
Tukaram names the roots of disgrace, desire, craving, and the pull of maya, and says honor comes only when these are uprooted. He contrasts the restless person, who forfeits respect with every step, against the rare one whose steadiness makes even the sight of him precious. The closing line is a plain caution about discernment: pouring wisdom into someone who is unworthy of it is effort thrown away. The poem asks the listener to look at their own restlessness and craving rather than to judge another's.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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