Social criticism, the honored fool robbed
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
देहबुिद्ध वसे जयाचियें अंगीं । पूज्यता त्या जगीं सुख मानी ॥1॥
थोर असे दगा जाला त्यासी हाटीं । सोडोनिया गांठी चोरीं नेली ॥ध्रु.॥
गांठीचें जाउनि नव्हे तो मोकळा । बांधिलासे गळा दंभलोभें ॥2॥
पुढिल्या उदिमा जालेंसे खंडण । दिसे नागवण पडे गांठी ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसे बोलतील संत । जाणूनियां घात कोण करी ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One in whom body-consciousness resides takes pleasure in being honored by the world. A great deception has befallen him at the marketplace: thieves have stolen the bundle from his grasp. Having lost his capital, he is not free, for pride and greed have bound him by the neck. The trade ahead is ruined, and the swindle clings to him. Says Tuka, this is what the saints declare; who, knowing the danger, would still court destruction?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The man who lives inside his body loves to be honored by the world. He calls that pleasure. A great cheat has happened to him in the marketplace: thieves have cut his purse and carried it off. He has lost his capital, yet he is not free; pride and greed have tied a rope around his neck. The trade he meant to do ahead is ruined. The loss shows; his purse is gone. Tuka says: this is what the saints declare. Who, knowing the danger, would walk into his own ruin?
What it means
Tukaram watches a man who measures himself by the world's respect and names the loss hidden inside that pleasure. Living wholly as the body, he prizes honor, and while he is busy enjoying it the real wealth is being stolen out from under him. Worse, the theft does not loosen him; pride and greed bind his neck like a rope, so he is robbed and a prisoner at once. The saints say this plainly, and the abhanga turns it into a question for the listener: knowing the cheat lies in wanting honor, who would still chase it straight into his own ruin?
Worldly Life
The perplexities of action, karma, and navigating life in the world.
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