Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
॥
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं पाइतन भूपतीशीं दावा । धिग त्या कर्तव्या आगी लागो ॥1॥
मुंगियांच्या मुखा गजाचा आहार । न साहावे भार जाय जीवें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आधीं करावा विचार । शूरपणें तीर मोकलावा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should not challenge a king without having earned that right; may fire consume such reckless ambition. An ant cannot take the food of an elephant; the weight of it would cost its life. Says Tuka, first deliberate carefully, and only then release the arrow with true aim.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
रूपक
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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