Social criticism, hollow show versus true character
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नये स्तवूं काचें होतें क्रियानष्ट । काुंफ्दाचे ते कष्ट भंगा मूळ ॥1॥
नाहीं परमार्थ साधत लौकिकें । धरुन होतों फिकें अंगा आलें ॥ध्रु.॥
पारखिया पुढें नये घालूं तोंड । तुटी लाभा खंड होतो माना ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तरी मिरवतें परवडी । कामावल्या गोडी अविनाश ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should not praise what is brittle and corrupt in practice; the troubles born of pretense are the root of ruin. Spiritual life cannot be attained through worldly show; I held on, but it proved hollow in the end. One should not show one's face before a true appraiser; the loss of credit would shatter all standing. Says Tuka, then let the authentic display of character spread abroad; the sweetness of what has truly been accomplished is imperishable.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Do not praise what is brittle and corrupt in practice. The troubles born of pretense are the root of ruin. Spiritual life cannot be won by worldly show. I held on to it, but in the end it proved hollow. Do not put your face before a true judge. Your credit breaks, and your standing is cut down. Tuka says: let the real worth of your character shine instead. The sweetness of what you have truly attained never dies.
What it means
Tukaram contrasts the cheap glitter of pretense with the lasting weight of the real thing. He warns against admiring practices that look impressive but are inwardly rotten, because pretense itself is the seed of collapse. He admits the pull of it: he too clung to outward show, and found it empty in the end. Before a true appraiser, a man of God who can see, the fake is exposed and all borrowed reputation falls apart. So he urges that genuine character be what spreads abroad, for the sweetness of what you have actually realized is imperishable, while the show is not.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
More in this theme →