The saints, love of Hari is the measure
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
हो कां नर अथवा नारी । ज्यांचा आवडता हरि ॥1॥
ते मज विठोबासमान । नमूं आवडी ते जन ॥ध्रु.॥
ज्याचें अंतर निर्मळ । त्याचें सबाहए कोमळ ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे भावें । जिव्हें प्रेम वोसंडावें ॥3॥
हरिची हरिकथा नावडे जया । अधम ह्मणतां तया वेळ लागे ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Whether man or woman, whoever holds Hari as their beloved is equal to Vithoba in my eyes, and I bow to such people with delight. One whose inner being is pure will appear gentle in every outward way. Says Tuka, let love overflow from the depths of your being. As for those who have no taste for Hari or His stories, it takes no time at all to call them fallen.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Whether man or woman, whoever holds Hari dear is equal to Vithoba in my eyes, and I bow to such people with love. One whose inner being is clean is gentle in every outward way. Tuka says: with true feeling, let love overflow from your tongue. As for one who has no taste for Hari and his stories, it takes no time at all to call him fallen.
What it means
Tukaram makes love of Hari, not gender or station, the only thing that ranks a person; whoever loves Hari he honors as he would honor God himself. He reads the inside from the outside: a pure heart shows as gentleness in all dealings, so character is the visible sign of devotion. He calls for love to overflow openly through speech, devotion that does not stay hidden. The sharp closing line is aimed at a pattern, not a person: indifference to Hari and his stories is the one thing he will name fallen, a warning to examine where your own taste lies.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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