Renunciation, the free man and the bound
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आशाबद्ध तो जगाचा दास । पूज्य तो उदास सर्वजना ॥1॥
आहे तें अधीन आपुले हातीं । आणिकां ठेविती काय बोल ॥ध्रु.॥
जाणतिया पाठीं लागला उपाध । नेणता तो सिद्ध भोजनासी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे भय बांधलें गांठीं । चोर लागे पाठी दुम तया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He who is bound by desire is a slave to the world. He who is detached is revered by all. What you already have is in your own hands; why place it in another's keeping? The learned one is burdened by complications, while the ignorant one is ready for the feast of grace. Says Tuka, he who keeps fear knotted within is like a thief: his tail gives him away.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He who is bound by desire is the world's slave. He who is unattached is honored by everyone. What you already have is in your own hands; why hand it over to others and give them a say? Trouble dogs the one who thinks himself clever, while the simple one sits ready for the feast. Tuka says: he who keeps fear knotted in his bundle is like a thief; his own tail gives him away.
What it means
Tukaram draws the sharp line between the man owned by his wants and the man who wants nothing. Desire makes you a slave to the whole world, dependent on everyone you hope to get something from, while detachment, owing nothing, asking nothing, is what earns real respect. He notes the irony that the clever, calculating man brings endless complications on himself, whereas the plain, unscheming one is the one actually ready to receive grace. The closing image is pointed but aimed at a pattern, not a person: fear and craving, kept hidden and knotted away inside, betray a man the way a thief is given away by his own tail. What you cling to in secret is exactly what exposes you.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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