The genuine outshines the false
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तोंवरि तोंवरि शोभतील गारा । जंव नाहीं हिरा प्रकाशला ॥1॥
तोंवरि तोंवरि शोभतील दीपिका । नुगवता एका भास्करासी ॥2॥
तोंवरि तोंवरि सांगती संताचिया गोष्टी । जंव नाहीं भेटी तुक्यासवें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Pebbles appear splendid only until the diamond has not begun to shine. Lamps seem radiant only until the sun has not risen. People talk of the saints only until they have not met Tuka in person.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Pebbles look splendid only until the diamond begins to shine. Lamps look bright only until the sun rises. People talk of the saints only until they have met Tuka in person.
What it means
Tukaram uses two plain images of light to make one point: the false impresses only while the true is absent. Glass pebbles can pass for jewels until a real diamond is set beside them, and small lamps seem radiant until the sun comes up and drowns their flame. Then he turns the figure on himself: secondhand talk about holy people satisfies until you actually meet one. The claim is bold, naming his own company as that meeting, yet the point is not pride but contrast: hearsay holiness fades the moment living holiness stands before you.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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