Saints, the mark of the good
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
संगतीनें होतो पंगतीचा लाभ । अशोभीं अनुभव असिजेतें ॥1॥
जैसीं तैसीं असों पुढिलांचे सोई । धरिती हातीं पायीं आचारिये ॥ध्रु.॥
उपकारी नाहीं देखत आपदा । पुढिलांची सदा दया चित्तीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तरीं सज्जनाची कीतिन । पुरवावी आतिन निर्बळांची ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Through good company, one gains a seat at the feast of grace. Even in disgrace, experience must be lived through as it comes. However we may be, let us follow in the footsteps of those ahead; the practitioners guide us by hand and foot. The selfless one does not see hardship as his own; his mind always dwells on compassion for others. Says Tuka, let the glory of the righteous prevail, and may it fulfill the longings of the weak.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By keeping good company you win a seat at the shared meal of grace. Even through disgrace, what comes must be lived through. However we are, let us follow where those ahead have gone; the elders take us by hand and foot and lead us. The kind one does not count hardship as his own; his mind always rests on mercy for others. Tuka says: let the good name of the righteous stand, and let it answer the need of the weak.
What it means
Tukaram describes how the soul is carried along by good company and what true goodness looks like in it. Keeping the company of holy people earns you a place at the table of grace, but the path still passes through disgrace and difficulty that must simply be lived through. He counsels humility: follow the footsteps of those further along, who guide the beginner hand and foot. Then he names the mark of the genuinely good person, the one who does not treat his own hardship as a grievance and whose mind is always turned toward mercy for others. The closing prayer asks that the honor of such righteous people endure, so that it may meet the longing of the weak who depend on them.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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