Exhortation, follow the brave saints
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काळोखी खाऊन कैवाड केला धीर । आपुलिया हितें जाले जनामध्यें शूर ॥1॥
कां रें तुह्मी नेणां कां रे तुह्मी नेणां। अल्पसुखासाटीं पडशी विपत्तीचे घाणां ॥ध्रु.॥
नाहीं ऐसी लाज काय तयांपें आगळें । काय नव्हे केलें आपुलिया बळें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तरी सुख अवघें चि बरें । जतन करून हे आपुलालीं ढोरें॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
They swallowed darkness and made boldness their armor; in pursuit of their own good they became heroes in the eyes of the world. Why do you not understand? For the sake of petty pleasures you fall into the pit of calamity. Have you no shame, that you cannot do what they did by their own strength? Says Tuka, every happiness is indeed good; just guard your own cattle with care.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
They swallowed darkness and made courage their shield; for their own true good they became heroes before the world. Why do you not understand? Why do you not understand? For a little pleasure you fall into the crushing press of misery. Have you no shame? What did they have that is more than you? What did they not accomplish by their own strength? Tuka says: every happiness is good indeed; just guard your own cattle with care.
What it means
Tukaram holds up the saints as proof that the seeker has no excuse. They faced darkness, made boldness their armor, and became heroes in the eyes of the world by pursuing their own real good. Against that, he shames the listener who trades that good away for petty pleasures and so falls into the grinding mill of misery. The sharp question is leveled at the pattern, not the person: those heroes were not made of finer stuff; they used the same strength you already have. The closing image, guard your own cattle, brings it home to ordinary duty: tend faithfully what is actually yours, and the happiness will be real.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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