Social criticism, the false renunciate
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
चुंबळीचा करी चुंबळीशीं संग । अंगीं वसे रंग क्रियाहीन ॥१॥
बीजा ऐसें फळ दावी परिपाकीं । परिमळ लौकिकीं जाती ऐसा ॥ध्रु.॥
माकडाच्या गळां रत्न कुळांगना । सांडूनियां सुना बिदी धुंडी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे ऐसा व्याली ते गाढवी । फजिती ते व्हावी आहे पुढें ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A man of worthless company keeps the company of the worthless; though devoid of practice, he wears the color of piety on his body. The fruit reveals itself at harvest to be of the same nature as its seed; its reputation in the world goes just as it deserves. It is like hanging a jewel around a monkey's neck while he abandons a noble bride and roams the alleys. Says Tuka, such a one was born of a she-donkey, and the disgrace that awaits him still lies ahead.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A worthless man keeps worthless company. He wears the color of piety on his body, but the practice is not in him. At harvest the fruit shows itself the same as its seed. So his reputation in the world goes exactly as he has earned it. It is a jewel hung round a monkey's neck. It is a man who abandons a noble bride and goes prowling the alleys. Tuka says: such a one was born of a she-donkey, and the disgrace ahead of him is still to come.
What it means
Tukaram is exposing the man who carries the outward color of devotion while the inner discipline is missing. Like keeps to like, and at the harvest the fruit cannot lie about the seed it grew from; the world's verdict on him will match what he actually is. The jewel on the monkey and the man who leaves a worthy wife to roam back streets name the same waste: real worth handed to one who cannot value it, and the good abandoned for the cheap. The harsh closing line and the warning of disgrace still ahead are aimed at the pattern of empty show, urging you to check whether your own practice matches your appearance.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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