Renunciation, indifferent to the world's scorn
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझी आतां लोक सुखें निंदा करू । ह्मणती विचारू सांडियेला ॥1॥
कारण होय तो करावा विचार । काय भीड भार करूं देवा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे काय करूं लापनिक । जनाचार सुख नासिवंत ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let the world now freely mock me, saying I have abandoned all reason. When the true purpose is served, what need is there for social propriety, O Lord? Says Tuka, why should I hide? The happiness of worldly custom is perishable.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let the world freely mock me now. Let them say I have thrown reason away. When the real purpose is served, what matters, O Lord? Why should I carry the weight of people's opinion? Tuka says: why should I act false to please anyone? The happiness of worldly custom does not last.
What it means
Tukaram answers those who call him a man who has lost his sense. He accepts the mockery freely, because once the one true aim, God, is reached, the world's approval weighs nothing. He refuses to bend under social pressure or to wear a false face just to keep people happy. The closing line gives the reason: the contentment that worldly custom offers is perishable, so it is no real loss to set it down for the sake of what endures.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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