Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय तीं करावीं मोलाचीं माकडें । नाचत ती पुढें संसाराच्या ॥1॥
झाडा देतेवेळे विचकिती दांत । घेती यमदूत दंडवरी ॥ध्रु.॥
हात दांत कान हलविती मान । दाखविती जन मानावया ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे किती जालीं हीं फजित । मागें नाहीं नीत भारवाही ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What use are these precious monkeys, dancing before the world? When the time of reckoning comes, they bare their teeth, and the messengers of death seize them with rods. They shake their hands, teeth, ears, and heads to impress the people. Says Tuka, how long will they endure this disgrace, for they have no righteousness to carry them forward.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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