Social criticism, the deaf ear
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
हरिकथे नाहीं । विश्वास ज्याचे ठायीं ॥1॥
त्याची वाणी अमंगळ । कान उंदराचें बीळ ॥ध्रु.॥
सांडुनि हा रस । करिती आणीक सायास ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे पिसीं । वांयां गेलीं किती ऐसीं॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One who has no faith in Hari's story has a tongue that is impure. His ears are like the burrows of mice. Abandoning this nectar, they pursue other vain endeavors. Says Tuka, how many such mad ones have gone to waste in this way.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The one who has no faith in Hari's story: his speech is foul. His ears are a rat's hole. Leaving this nectar, they labor at other things. Tuka says: how many such mad ones have gone to waste this way.
What it means
Tukaram measures a person by one thing: whether the story of Hari has any place in them. Where that faith is missing, the speech turns foul and the ears are no better than a rat's burrow, openings that hear nothing of worth. Such people set aside the nectar that was right there and pour their effort into other, empty labors. He calls this madness and counts the cost: how many have simply gone to waste this way. The sting is aimed at the pattern of turning a deaf ear, not at hatred of any single person, and it asks the listener to check his own hearing.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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