Moral ideal, feed the hungry first
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
क्षुधेलिया अन्न । द्यावें पात्र न विचारून ॥1॥
धर्म आहे वर्मा अंगीं । कळलें पाहिजे प्रसंगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
द्रव्य आणि कन्या। येथें कुळ कर्म शोधण्या ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे पुण्य गांठी । तरि च उचितासी भेटी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To the hungry, give food without examining the vessel. The essence of dharma lies within; it must be shown in the right occasion. For matters of wealth and marriage, one should examine lineage and conduct. Says Tuka, only if merit is in hand does one meet with what is fitting.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To the hungry, give food without inspecting the vessel. The heart of dharma lies within, and it must show itself at the right moment. In matters of wealth and of marriage, you do examine lineage and conduct. Tuka says: only if merit is in hand does one meet with what is fitting.
What it means
Tukaram draws a clear line between mercy and prudence. When someone is hungry, you feed them and do not pause to scrutinize who they are or what their standing is, because the true essence of dharma is inward and proves itself precisely in such moments of need. He grants that other matters, settling property or arranging a marriage, are different, and there it is right to weigh family and character. The closing line ties it to merit: meeting what is truly fitting depends on the good one already carries. The poem keeps compassion and discernment each in its proper place, and refuses to let caution block the feeding of the hungry.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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