Self-examination, the fault is your own
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विंचा पीडी नांगी । ज्याचा दोष त्याचे अंगीं ॥1॥
केला पाहिजे विचार । मन मित्र दावेदार ॥ध्रु.॥
मधुरा उत्तरीं । रांवा खेळे उरावरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे रेडा । सुखें जाती ऐशा पीडा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A scorpion stings with its own tail; its fault resides in its own body. One must reflect carefully; the mind can be both friend and accuser. With sweet words, a cobra plays upon your chest. Says Tuka, a bull endures all such torments without complaint.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A scorpion stings with its own tail. Its poison is in its own body; the fault is its own. So you must reflect. The mind can be your friend, and the mind can be the one who accuses you. With sweet words a snake will play upon your chest. Tuka says: a bull carries every such torment, and bears it without a sound.
What it means
Tukaram turns the eye inward and names where harm really comes from. Like the scorpion whose poison is in its own body, what wounds you is carried in yourself, and the mind is the place to look: it can be a friend or it can turn into your accuser. He warns that danger comes dressed in sweetness; soft words can be a snake resting on your chest. The bull who bears every blow without complaint is held up not as a victim but as the one who learns to carry what comes, while the work of watching the mind goes on.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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