Exhortation, the neglected vow
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पंधरां दिवसां एक एकादशी । कां रे न करिसी व्रतसार ॥1॥
काय तुझा जीव जातो एका दिसें । फराळाच्या मिसें धणी घेसी ॥ध्रु.॥
स्वहित कारण मानवेल जन । हरिकथा पूजन वैष्णवांचें ॥2॥
थोडे तुज घरीं होती उजगरे । देउळासी कां रे मरसी जातां ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे कां रे सकुमार जालासी । काय जाब देसी यमदूतां ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Every fortnight comes one Ekadashi; why do you not observe this sacred vow? Will your life end from fasting one day? Under the guise of eating light, you fill your belly. For your own good, honor the people, attend the story of Hari, and worship the Vaishnavas. You stay up late at home for trifles; why do you groan at the thought of walking to the temple? Says Tuka, why have you become so delicate? What answer will you give to the messengers of death?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Once a fortnight comes an Ekadashi; why do you not keep the simple vow? Will your life leave you in one day of fasting? Under cover of a light meal you stuff yourself full. For your own good, honor people, attend the story of Hari, worship the Vaishnavas. You stay up late at home over trifles; why do you act as if walking to the temple will kill you? Tuka says: why have you grown so delicate? What answer will you give the messengers of death?
What it means
Tukaram scolds the lazy excuses that smother simple devotion. The fast of Ekadashi comes only twice a month and harms no one, yet the listener dodges it and gorges on snacks while pretending to fast. He contrasts the energy spent staying up late on trifles with the groaning reluctance to walk to the temple or sit through the story of Hari. The harsh question at the end points at self-examination, not contempt: you indulge yourself now, but when the messengers of death come, what will you have to show them?
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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