Social criticism, do not fake the part
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सदा सर्वकाळ अंतरीं कुटिल । तेणें गळां माळ घालूं नये ॥1॥
ज्यासी नाहीं दया क्षमा शांति । तेणें अंगीं विभूती लावूं नये ॥ध्रु.॥
जयासी न कळे भक्तीचें महिमान । तेणें ब्रह्मज्ञान बोलों नये ॥2॥
ज्याचें मन नाहीं लागलें हातासी । तेणें प्रपंचासी टाकुं नये ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे ज्यासी नाहीं हरिभक्ति । तेणें भगवें हातीं धरूं नये ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One who is always crooked within should not wear a garland around the neck. One who has no compassion, forgiveness, or peace should not smear sacred ash upon the body. One who does not know the greatness of devotion should not speak of Brahman-knowledge. One whose mind is not yet under control should not abandon worldly duties. Says Tuka, one who has no devotion to Hari should not take up the ochre robes of renunciation.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A man who is always crooked inside should not put a garland around his neck. A man with no compassion, no forgiveness, no peace should not smear sacred ash on his body. A man who does not know the greatness of devotion should not speak of the knowledge of Brahman. A man whose mind is not yet in his own hands should not abandon his worldly duties. Tuka says: a man who has no devotion to Hari should not take up the ochre robes.
What it means
Tukaram lists the marks of the holy life and tells the unready to leave each one alone. The garland, the sacred ash, the talk of Brahman, the giving up of household duties, the renouncer's ochre robe: each is honest only when an inner reality stands behind it. Worn without the crookedness cured, without compassion, without true knowledge, without a mastered mind, without love for Hari, the sign becomes a lie. The teaching is aimed at the impulse to claim the role before living it, and it asks the listener to check whether the inside matches the outside before reaching for the costume.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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