Moral ideal, the trustworthy life
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नसावें ओशाळ । मग मानिती सकळ ॥1॥
जाय तेथें पावे मान । चाले बोलिलें वचन ॥ध्रु.॥
राहों नेदी बाकी । दान ज्याचें त्यासी टाकी ॥2॥
होवा वाटे जना । तुका ह्मणे साटीं गुणां ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should never have cause for embarrassment; then all will show respect. Wherever such a person goes, he is honored, and his spoken word carries weight. He leaves nothing outstanding; what belongs to each he returns in full. Says Tuka, one should live so that people wish to emulate one's virtues.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Never give cause for shame; then everyone respects you. Wherever such a person goes, he is honored, and his word holds. He leaves nothing owing; what belongs to each, he returns to them. Tuka says: live so that people want to copy your virtues.
What it means
Tukaram sketches the shape of a life that earns honest respect, not flattery. The root of it is having nothing to be ashamed of, so that a person can stand anywhere and be trusted, and his spoken word carries weight because it is backed by his conduct. He keeps no debts and returns to each what is theirs, owing nothing to anyone. The measure of such a life, Tuka says, is that others see it and wish to become like it.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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