Social criticism, devotion misplaced
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गोविंदावांचोनि वदे ज्याची वाणी । हगवण घाणी पिटपिट ते ॥1॥
मस्तक सांडूनि सिसफूल गुडघां । चार तो अवघा बावळ्याचा ॥ध्रु.॥
अंगभूत ह्मूण पूजितो वाहाणा । ह्मणतां शाहाणा येइल कैसा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे वेश्या सांगे सवासिणी । इतर पूजनीं भाव तैसा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The tongue that speaks without uttering Govinda's name produces nothing but foul and putrid noise. One who adorns his knees instead of his head with the sacred mark is wholly a fool. He who worships his own shoes because they are part of his body, how can he ever become wise? Says Tuka, a courtesan lecturing a chaste wife on propriety; such is the devotion of those who worship lesser things.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The tongue that speaks without Govinda's name makes only foul, sputtering filth. The man who drops the mark from his head and puts it on his knees is wholly a fool. He worships his own shoe because it is part of his body; how will such a man ever turn out wise? Tuka says: a courtesan lecturing a faithful wife on virtue, that is the devotion of those who worship lesser things.
What it means
Tukaram attacks worship that has lost its center. Speech without God's name, he says, is not neutral but foul; the mark of devotion belongs on the head, and to set it on the knees is to honor what is low and call it holy. The man worshiping his own shoe because it belongs to his body names the absurdity of revering whatever is near at hand instead of God. The closing image is the sharpest: misplaced devotion teaching others about devotion is like a courtesan instructing a faithful wife on chastity. The target is the pattern of honoring lesser things and dressing it up as piety, a confusion worth examining in oneself.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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