Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अनुभवावांचून सोंग संपादणें । नव्हे हें करणें स्वहिताचें॥1॥
तैसा नको भुलों बाहिरल्या रंगें । हित तें चि वेगें करूनि घेइप ॥ध्रु.॥
बहुरूपी रूपें नटला नारायण । सोंग संपादून जैसा तैसा ॥2॥
पाषाणाचें नाव ठेविलें देव । आणिका तारी भाव परि तो तैसा ॥3॥
कनक झाड ह्म वंदिलें माथां । परिं तें अर्था न मिळे माजी ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याचा भाव तारी त्यास । अहंभावीं नास तो चि पावे ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Putting on a show without real inner experience is not the path to one's own good. Do not be deceived by outward appearances; pursue your true welfare quickly. Narayana Himself plays many roles in many forms, yet after the performance He is exactly as He always was. A stone is called God, and through others' faith it can save them, yet the stone remains the same. One may bow one's head to a tree made of gold, yet one cannot extract real wealth from it. Says Tuka, it is one's own devotion that saves; the one puffed up with ego meets only with ruin.
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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