Saints, the fragrance of company
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अमृताचीं फळें अमृताची वेली । ते चि पुढें चाली बीजाची ही ॥1॥
ऐसियांचा संग देई नारायणा । बोलावा वचना जयांचिया ॥ध्रु.॥
उत्तम सेवन सितळ कंठासी । पुष्टी कांती तैसी दिसे वरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तैसें होइजेत संगें । वास लागे अंगें चंदनाच्या ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A vine of nectar bears fruit of nectar, and from its seed the same lineage continues. Grant me the company of such souls, O Narayana; let me be addressed by their sacred words. Noble company is cooling to the throat, and its nourishment and radiance show upon the body. Says Tuka, one becomes like those one keeps company with, just as the body takes on the fragrance of sandalwood.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A vine of nectar bears fruit of nectar, and from its seed the same sweet lineage goes on. Grant me the company of souls like that, Narayana, and let their sacred words be spoken to me. Such noble company is cooling to the throat, and its nourishment and glow show on the body itself. Tuka says: you become like the company you keep, just as the body takes on the scent of sandalwood held against it.
What it means
A poem in praise of holy company, satsang. Tukaram begins with a law of likeness: a nectar-vine yields nectar fruit whose seed yields the same, so good begets good down the line. From this he prays for the company of such souls and for their words to reach his ears. The benefit is not abstract; like cool water or good food, holy company shows its effect visibly, in nourishment and radiance. The closing image is his clinching argument: as sandalwood lends its fragrance to whatever it touches, so you slowly take on the quality of those you keep near. Choose your company, and you choose what you will become.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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