Social criticism, knowledge without freedom
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाणे वर्तमान । परि तें न वारे त्याच्याने ॥1॥
तो ही कारणांचा दास । देव ह्मणवितां पावे नास ॥ध्रु.॥
वेची अनुष्ठान। सिद्धी कराया प्रसन्न ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याचें । मुदल गेलें हाटवेचें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One may know the present state of affairs, yet be unable to change a thing. Such a person is still a slave to causes; calling himself godly, he only hastens his own destruction. He spends his spiritual practice trying to win favors from lesser powers. Says Tuka, in this way he has lost even his original capital.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He knows how things stand, yet he cannot change a thing himself. He too is a slave to causes. Calling himself godly, he only runs toward his own ruin. He spends his practice trying to win favors from lesser powers. Tuka says: this way he has lost even his original capital.
What it means
Tukaram warns against using spiritual practice as a tool for gain. The man here can see the present state of things clearly, but his knowing changes nothing, because he is still bound to causes and effects like everyone else. The error is naming himself godly while bending his discipline toward winning favors from lesser powers, which only speeds his undoing. The closing line puts it in a merchant's terms: chasing small returns, he has lost even the principal, the very ground he started from.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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