The saints, compassion as their capital
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
खळा सदा क्षुद्रीं दृष्टी । करी कष्टी सज्जना ॥1॥
करितां आपुलाले परी । धणीवरी व्यापार ॥ध्रु.॥
दया संतां भांडवल। वेची बोल उपकार ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आपुलालें । उसंतिलें ज्यांणीं तें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The wicked always look with petty eyes and cause distress to the good. Each carries on in his own fashion, trading to his full satisfaction. Compassion is the capital of the saints; they spend their words in service. Says Tuka, each one rests in whatever they have cultivated.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The wicked always look with petty eyes and trouble the good. Each one carries on in his own way, trading to his heart's content. Compassion is the capital of the saints; they spend their words in service. Tuka says: each person reaps whatever they have stored up.
What it means
Tukaram sets two ways of living side by side without contempt for the person. The wicked see small and so make trouble for the good, while everyone, good or wicked, simply does business in the currency that is his. He names the saints' currency plainly: their capital is compassion, and they spend it as words given in service to others. The closing line points at self-examination rather than judgment of anyone else: each of us draws on whatever we have actually cultivated and saved up.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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