Worldly life, the self-deceiver
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पुढें जेणें लाभ घडे । तें चि वेडे नाशिती ॥1॥
येवढी कोठें नागवण । अंधारुण विष घ्यावें ॥ध्रु.॥
होणारासी मिळे बुिद्ध । नेदी शुद्धी धरूं तें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जना सोंग । दावी रंग आणीक ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
That which would bring future gain is the very thing the foolish destroy. What greater self-deception is there than swallowing poison in the dark? Fate conspires with those destined for ruin, not letting them hold on to good sense. Says Tuka, such people show one face to the world while harboring an altogether different color within.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The very thing that would bring gain ahead, the foolish destroy. Where is there a greater robbing of oneself than to drink poison in the dark? Fate falls in with those headed for ruin and will not let them keep their good sense. Tuka says: such people show one face to the world and carry another color inside.
What it means
Tukaram looks at the way we sabotage our own welfare. What would help us most is exactly what folly throws away, and he calls this self-robbery sharper than knowingly swallowing poison in the dark. He notices too that once a person is bent on ruin, circumstances seem to close around them and clarity slips out of reach. The closing line names the root pattern: a divided life, one face turned outward to be seen and a different reality hidden within, which is itself part of the ruin.
Worldly Life
The perplexities of action, karma, and navigating life in the world.
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