Worldly life, the fickleness of wealth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धनवंतालागीं । सर्वमान्यता आहे जगीं ॥1॥
माता पिता बंधु जन । सर्व मानिती वचन ॥ध्रु.॥
जव मोठा चाले धंदा । तंव बहिण म्हणे दादा ॥2॥
सदा शृंगारभूषणें । कांता लवे बहुमानें॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे धन । भाग्य अशाश्वत जाण ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The wealthy man is honored by all the world. Mother, father, brothers, and the whole community respect his word. As long as his business thrives, even a sister lovingly calls him 'brother.' His wife adorns herself and serves him with great regard. Says Tuka, know that wealth and fortune are impermanent.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The whole world honors the rich man. Mother, father, brothers, everyone treats his word as law. As long as the big business is running, even his sister calls him 'dada.' His wife dresses up and bows to him with great respect. Tuka says: know that wealth and fortune do not last.
What it means
Tukaram lays out, coldly and exactly, how the world bends toward money. The wealthy man's word is taken as final by parents, siblings, and neighbors alike, and the respect tracks the cash, not the man. He sharpens it with the family scene: while the business thrives, even his own sister sweetens to him and his wife adorns herself and defers. Then he pulls the floor out: all of this rests on wealth, and wealth is not permanent, so the honor it buys is borrowed and will be recalled. The warning is not against the relatives but against trusting a regard that money alone holds up.
Worldly Life
The perplexities of action, karma, and navigating life in the world.
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