Faith, sincerity over eloquence
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सरे आह्मांपाशीं एक शुद्धभाव । नाहीं तरी वाव उपचार ॥1॥
कोण मानी वरी रसाळ बोलणें । नाहीं जाली मनें ओळखी तों ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मां जाणीवेचें दुःख । न पाहों त्या मुख दुर्जनाचें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What we value is pure, sincere faith; without it, all ritual observance is hollow. Who will heed eloquent speech on the surface when genuine recognition has not arisen within? Says Tuka, knowledge brings us only sorrow; we will not look upon the face of a wicked person.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
With us, one thing carries weight: a pure heart. Without that, all the show of ritual is empty. Who cares for sweet, juicy talk on the surface, when the mind has not truly recognized God? Tuka says: cleverness only brings us grief. We will not even look at the face of a wicked person.
What it means
Tukaram weighs sincerity against display and finds display worthless. What counts with him is a pure, true heart; elaborate ritual and honeyed eloquence are hollow if the mind has not actually come to know God. He goes further and calls mere cleverness a source of sorrow, not a prize. The closing line is sharp: he will not even meet the face of the wicked. The point is not personal disgust but a refusal to be drawn into the company of those who trade in surface and never in genuine recognition.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
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