Social criticism, the missed hour of grace
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
लटिक्याचे वाणी चवी ना संवाद । नांहीं कोणां वाद रुचों येत ॥1॥
अन्याय तो त्याचा नव्हे वायचाळा । मायबापीं वेळा न साधिली ॥ध्रु.॥
अनावर अंगीं प्रबळ अवगुण । तांतडीनें मन लाहो साधी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे दोष आणि अवकळा । न पडतां ताळा घडे तसे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The speech of the false one has neither savor nor coherence; no one finds pleasure in disputing with it. The fault is his own, not mere idle chatter; he failed to seize the moment of grace from his divine parents. When unruly faults grow strong in the body, the mind must quickly strive for what is beneficial. Says Tuka, faults and decline occur whenever things fall out of harmony.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The false man's speech has no savor and no sense. No one enjoys arguing with it. The fault is his own; it is not just idle chatter. He did not seize the moment of grace from his mother and father. When unruly faults grow strong in a person, the mind must quickly turn to what does good. Tuka says: faults and ruin come whenever a life falls out of tune.
What it means
Tukaram is examining the pattern of a life gone hollow, not heaping scorn on a man. The speech of someone false rings empty, with neither flavor nor coherence, and no one even wants to argue with it. He locates the cause: not in chance, but in a moment of grace that was offered and not taken. When such faults are left to grow strong, the only cure is for the mind to turn quickly toward the good. The warning is for self-examination: ruin is simply what happens when a life slips out of tune with its own deepest aim.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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