Social criticism, the title without the heart
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न मनीं ते ज्ञानी न मनीं ते पंडित । ऐसे परीचे एकएका भावें ॥1॥
धातू पोसोनियां आणिकां उपदेश । अंतरीं तो लेश प्रेम नाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
न मनीं ते योगी न मनीं ते हरिदास । दर्शनें बहुवस बहुतां परीचीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तयां नमन बाहएात्कारी । आवडती परी चित्तशुद्धीचे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I do not accept those who merely call themselves wise, nor those who claim to be scholars; I regard each according to their inner spirit. They fatten their own senses while giving sermons to others, with not a trace of love within. I do not accept those who pose as yogis, nor those who call themselves Hari's servants; I have seen many forms of such display. Says Tuka, I bow outwardly to them, but my true affection is for those who are pure of heart.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I do not count as wise those who only call themselves wise, nor as scholars those who claim the name; I weigh each one by the spirit inside him. They feed their own appetites while preaching to others, and within there is not a trace of love. I do not count as a yogi the one who poses as a yogi, nor as Hari's servant the one who claims it; I have seen many kinds of such display. Tuka says: I bow to them on the outside, but my real love is for those who are pure of heart.
What it means
Tukaram refuses to take spiritual titles at face value. The labels he names, wise man, scholar, yogi, servant of Hari, can all be worn as a costume while the inner life stays empty of love. His test is what is inside: the person who lavishes care on his own appetites while handing out sermons fails it, however learned the speech or impressive the pose. The danger he is pointing at is not other people so much as the pattern itself, the temptation to settle for the appearance of devotion. He will offer such people an outward bow for the sake of courtesy, but his real reverence is reserved for the one whose heart is actually clean.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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