Loyalty, never cut ties with your master
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ज्याचे गांवीं केला वास । त्यासी नसावें उदास॥1॥
तरी च जोडिलें तें भोगे । कांहीं आघात न लगे ॥ध्रु.॥
वाढवावी थोरी। मुखें ह्मणे तुझे हरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हे गोमटी । दासा न घलावी तुटी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One who dwells in another's village should not be indifferent to the host. Only then does one enjoy what has been earned, free from misfortune. Increase the host's glory; say with your lips, I am Yours, O Hari. Says Tuka, this is the beautiful way: never cut ties with your master.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
One who lives in another's village should not be cold toward the one who keeps him. Only then can he enjoy what he has earned, with no harm coming to him. Lift up your host's name; say with your mouth, I am yours, O Hari. Tuka says: this is the good way; a servant must never break with his master.
What it means
Tukaram uses the plain picture of a guest who lives off a host to teach the soul its proper bearing toward God. Whoever depends on another for shelter must not be indifferent to that giver, or the shelter itself is poisoned. The right response is gratitude that praises the host and openly confesses, I am yours, O Hari. Only this keeps a person safe in what he has been given. The lesson is loyalty: a servant must never sever the bond with his master.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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