Moderation, the inner sign of peace
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आहारनिद्रे न लगे आदर । आपण सादर ते चि होय॥1॥
परमितेविण बोलणें ते वांयां । फार थोडें काया पिंड पीडी ॥ध्रु.॥
समाधान त्याचें तो चि एक जाणे । आपुलिये खुणे पावोनियां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे होय पीडा ते न करीं । मग राहें परी भलतिये ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Food and sleep need no invitation; they come of their own accord. Speech without measure is wasted; too much or too little only afflicts the body. Only one who attains true contentment knows it, having reached his own inner sign. Says Tuka, do not do what causes suffering; then remain in whatever way suits you.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Food and sleep ask for no invitation. They come on their own. Speech without measure is wasted. Too much or too little only hurts the body. Only the one who has true contentment knows it. He reaches his own inner sign and knows. Tuka says: do not do what brings suffering. Then live in whatever way suits you.
What it means
Tukaram is drawing a simple rule for the body and the tongue. Appetite and sleep look after themselves, so they need no fussing over; speech is the one thing to keep measured, since too much or too little of it only wears you down. Real peace is not something another can certify for you: you know it from your own inner sign, the felt mark that you have arrived. From that he frees the seeker: avoid only what actually causes harm, and beyond that you are at liberty to live as suits you.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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