Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अभHाचे गांवीं साधु म्हणजे काय । व्याघ्रें वाडां गाय सांपडली ॥1॥
कसाबाचे आळी मांडिलें प्रमाण । बस्वणाची आण तया काइऩ ॥ध्रु.॥
केळी आणि बोरी वसती सेजारी । संवाद कोणे परी घडे येथें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे खीर केली काहेऑयाची । शुद्ध गोडी कैची वसे तेथें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What is a saint in a village of the faithless? It is like a cow trapped in a tiger's pen. In the lane of butchers, what weight does a vegetarian's oath carry? A banana tree and a thorny bush may live side by side, but what dialogue can take place between them? Says Tuka, if you make kheer from bitter gourd, what genuine sweetness can possibly be found there?
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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