Social criticism, knowledge without devotion
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाइकावे कानीं तयाचे ते बोल । भक्तीविण फोल ज्ञान सांगे ॥1॥
वाखाणी अद्वैत भक्तिभावेंविण । दुःख पावे सीण श्रोता वक्ता ॥ध्रु.॥
अहं ब्रह्म ह्मणोनि पािळत पिंडा । नो बोलावें भांडा तया सवें ॥2॥
वेदबाहए लंड बोले जो पाषांड । त्याचें काळें तोंड संतांमध्ये ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे खंडी देवभक्तपण । वरिष्ठ त्याहूनि श्वपच तो ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do not listen to the words of one who speaks of knowledge without devotion. He who praises non-duality without the spirit of devotion brings only suffering and weariness to speaker and listener alike. He claims "I am Brahman" while clinging to the body. Do not argue with such a person. The one who speaks filth and heresy outside the bounds of the Vedas has a blackened face among the saints. Says Tuka, whoever destroys the bond between God and devotee is lower than a shvapach.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Do not let his words into your ears: he teaches knowledge with no devotion in it; it is hollow. He praises non-duality with no love behind it. Speaker and listener both come away in pain and weariness. He says, "I am Brahman," while he still feeds and pampers his own body. Do not even argue with such a quarreler. The one who talks filth, who teaches heresy outside the Vedas, his face is blackened among the saints. Tuka says: whoever breaks apart God and devotee is lower than an outcaste who eats dog.
What it means
Tukaram attacks a specific failure: the teacher who recites high Advaita doctrine, "I am Brahman," while clinging to and indulging the very body that claim is supposed to undo. He says such teaching is empty and wearying for everyone, because the words have no devotion in them; non-duality spoken without love does not free the listener, it tires him. The harshness is aimed at the pattern of using lofty knowledge as cover for self-indulgence, not at any one person. The test he applies is whether the teaching binds the devotee to God or tears that bond apart. By calling such a one lower than an outcaste, he refuses to let learned speech buy respect when the life behind it is hollow.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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