Social criticism, the hidden poisoner
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तारतिम वरी तोंडा च पुरतें । अंतरा हें येतें अंतरीचें ॥१॥
ऐसी काय बरी दिसे ठकाठकी । दिसतें लौकिकीं सत्या ऐसें ॥ध्रु.॥
भोजनांत द्यावें विष कालवूनि । मोहचाळवणी मारावया ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे मैंद देखों नेदी कुडें । आदर चि पुढें सोंग दावी ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Everything appears in proper order and the words sound correct, but what lies within eventually rises to the surface. How can such trickery truly pass for the real thing, appearing in the world as if it were truth? It is like mixing poison into a fine meal, using sweet enticement to harm. Says Tuka, the deceiver never lets his crookedness show; he puts forward only the mask of welcome and respect.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
On the surface everything is in order and the words sound right; but what is inside comes up to the top in the end. How can such trickery really pass for the true thing, looking in the world as if it were truth? It is poison stirred into a good meal, sweet enticement used to kill. Tuka says: the cheat never lets his crookedness show; he puts only the mask of welcome and respect out in front.
What it means
Tukaram is describing the deceiver whose outside is flawless and whose inside is rotten. The order and the correct words are a surface; given time, what is truly within rises and shows itself. He names the deception sharply: it is poison mixed into a fine meal, sweetness used as the very means of harm, so the danger is greater for being pleasant. The closing line shows the method. The cheat keeps the crookedness perfectly hidden and leads with courtesy and respect. The poem points at the pattern of concealed ill will behind a kind face, urging you to trust what eventually surfaces over what is first served up.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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