Moral nerve, speak only what is righteous
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बोलावें तें धर्मा मिळे । बरे डोळे उघडूनि ॥१॥
काशासाठीं खावें शेण । जेणें जन थुंकी तें ॥ध्रु.॥
दुजें ऐसें काय बळी । जें या जाळी अग्नीसि ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे शूर रणीं । गांढें मनीं बुरबुरी ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Speak that which adds to righteousness, with eyes wide open. Why eat cow dung that makes everyone spit in disgust? What else is so powerful that it burns away sin? Says Tuka, the tongue that speaks truth is the real fire.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Speak only what adds to righteousness; keep your eyes wide open. Why eat dung that makes everyone spit in disgust? What else is so strong that it can burn sin to ash? Tuka says: a man is a hero on the battlefield, but inside he trembles like a coward.
What it means
Tukaram tells the tongue to speak with open eyes and to say only what serves righteousness. He makes the alternative repulsive: foul, shameful speech is like eating dung, and it leaves everyone spitting in disgust, so why choose it. Truthful, righteous speech is named as the rare fire strong enough to burn sin away. The closing line turns the mirror inward: a person can look brave in the open while quietly cowering within, and the test is whether the heart matches the show.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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