Self-examination, look at your own faults
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कासया गुणदोष पाहों आणिकांचे । मज काय त्यांचें उणें असे ॥1॥
काय पापपुण्य पाहों आणिकांचें । मज काय त्यांचें उणें असें ॥ध्रु.॥
नष्टदुष्टपण कवणाचें वाणू । तयाहून आनु अधिक माझें ॥2॥
कुचर खोटा मज कोण असे आगळा । तो मी पाहों डोळां आपुलिये ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why should I examine the faults and merits of others? What do I lack because of them? Why should I scrutinize the sins and virtues of others? What do I lose by theirs? If I were to speak of anyone's wickedness, my own faults are far greater. Who is a worse cheat and fraud than I? Let me look at myself with my own eyes.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why should I look at the merits and faults of others? What do I lack because of them? Why should I weigh the sins and virtues of others? What do I lose by what is theirs? If I were to name anyone's wickedness, my own is far greater. Who is a worse cheat and fraud than I am? Let me look at myself with my own eyes.
What it means
Tukaram turns the common habit of judging others back onto the judge. He keeps asking what he actually gains or loses by inspecting other people's sins and virtues: nothing. Then he drops the verdict on himself, naming his own faults as larger than any he could point out in another. This is not self-hatred but a discipline of attention: the only conduct I can truly see and change is my own. The eyes that love to watch others are told to turn around.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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