Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बरा कुणबी केलों । नाहीं तरि दंभेंचि असतों मेलों ॥१॥
भलें केलें देवराया । नाचे तुका लागे पायां ॥ध्रु.॥
विद्या असती कांहीं । तरी पडतों अपायीं ॥२॥
सेवा चुकतों संताची । नागवण हे फुकाची ॥३॥
गर्व होता ताठा । जातों यमपंथें वाटा ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे थोरपणें । नरक होती अभिमानें ॥५॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It is good that I was made a simple farmer, otherwise I would have died of pride. You have done well, O God; Tuka dances and falls at your feet. Had I possessed any learning, I would have fallen into ruin. I would have missed the service of the saints; that would have been a pointless loss. With pride and arrogance, I would have walked the road to Yama's city. Says Tuka, through self-importance and ego, people earn themselves a place in hell.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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