Exhortation, teaching only the ready
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नसतां अधिकार उपदेशासी बळत्कार । तरि ते केले हो चार माकडा आणि गारूडी ॥1॥
धन धान्य राज्य बोल वृथा रंजवणें फोल । नाहीं तेथें ओल बीज वेची मूर्ख तो ॥ध्रु.॥
नये बांधों गांठी पदरा आण ऐसी तुटी । असोन कसोटी शिष्टाचारअनुभव॥2॥
उपदेसी तुका मेघ वृष्टीनें आइका । संकल्पासी धोका सहज तें उत्तम ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Forcing instruction upon one who has no readiness is like performing tricks with a monkey and a snake charmer. Wealth, grain, kingdom, and pleasing words are hollow entertainments. Where there is no receptive soil, the fool wastes his seed. Says Tuka, who teaches like the rain cloud, listen: what comes naturally and without contrivance, that alone is excellent.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To force teaching on one who is not ready for it is like the tricks of a monkey and a snake charmer. Wealth, grain, kingdom, fine talk: pleasing people with these is empty, just husk. Where the soil is not moist, the fool throws his seed away. Do not tie such a thing in the corner of your cloth; that knot only tears it; let your touchstone be the conduct and the experience of the wise. Tuka says: teach the way the cloud teaches, by raining. Forcing the outcome is the danger; what comes of itself is best.
What it means
Tukaram is warning against pushing spiritual teaching onto people who are not ready to receive it. Forced instruction, he says, is mere showmanship, like the trained antics of a monkey and a snake charmer, and pleasing crowds with wealth, grain, power, or clever words is hollow husk. The farming image carries the heart of it: scattering seed on dry, unreceptive ground is the act of a fool. So do not hoard or force such teaching; let your test be the lived conduct and experience of the wise. His closing picture is the cloud, which does not aim its rain at one field but lets it fall; in the same way, teaching that comes naturally, without contrivance, is the best, while straining to control the result is where the harm lies.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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