Social criticism, keep clear of the wicked
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विष्ठा भक्षी तया अमृत पारिखें । वोंगळ चि सखें वोंगळाचें ॥1॥
नये पाहों कांहीं गोहवाडीचा अंत । झणी ठाका संत दुर्जनापें ॥ध्रु.॥
भेंसळीच्या बीजा अमंगळ गुण । उपजवी सीण दरुषणें ॥2॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One who eats filth finds nectar foreign to his taste; the vulgar are only friends with the vulgar. Do not go looking into the affairs of the gutter folk; saints, be cautious and stay far from the wicked. The seed of bad company produces impure qualities and breeds suffering at the very sight.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The one who eats filth thinks it is nectar. The vulgar are friends only with the vulgar. Do not go looking into the affairs of gutter folk. Saints, be careful; stay far from the wicked. The seed of bad company brings impure qualities. The very sight of it breeds suffering.
What it means
Tukaram is warning the devout to choose their company well. He says a corrupt person mistakes filth for nectar and is at home only with others like himself, so there is no use trying to fix or fathom such people. The danger is not the wicked person alone but proximity to them: bad company is a seed that sprouts impure qualities in whoever stays near. He tells the saints to keep their distance, because even the sight of corruption breeds suffering and begins to work on you.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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