Moral ideal, honor the holy, not yourself
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
वैष्णवमुनिविप्रांचा सन्मान । करावा आपण घेऊं नये ॥1॥
प्रभु जाला तरी संसाराचा दास । विहित तयासी यांची सेवा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे हे आशीर्वादें बळी । जाईल तो छळी नरकायासीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should honor the Vaishnavas, sages, and brahmins, but should not seek such honor for oneself. Even if one becomes a ruler, one is still a servant of worldly life, and it is ordained to serve these holy ones. Says Tuka, those who torment these blessed ones, strong in their benedictions, shall go to hell.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Honor the Vaishnavas, the sages, and the brahmins. Do not take such honor for yourself. Even one who has become a ruler is still a servant of worldly life; serving these holy ones is his proper duty. Tuka says: these blessed ones are strong in their blessing. Whoever torments them will go to the torments of hell.
What it means
Tukaram sets out a rule about where honor belongs. The devotees, the sages, and the brahmins are to be honored, but a person must not turn that honor toward himself. Even a king, who looks like a master, is still bound as a servant within worldly life, and his fitting work is to serve these holy ones rather than to be served. The warning at the end points at a pattern, not a person: the blessing of such people is a real power, and to harm them is to call down on yourself the very suffering you deal out.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
More in this theme →