Social criticism, devotion to the world
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
संसाराचें धांवे वेठी । आवडी पोटीं केवढी ॥1॥
हागों जातां दगड सांची । अंतरीं ही संकल्प ॥ध्रु.॥
लाज तेवढी नारायणीं। वांकडी वाणी पोरांपें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बेशरमा । श्रमावरी पडिभरू॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Look how eagerly one runs on worldly errands, with such great devotion to the mundane. Even while attending to nature's call, one hoards stones and harbors worldly schemes. Shame is felt only before Narayana, while harsh words come easily before the children. Says Tuka, O shameless one, you pile toil upon toil.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Look how a man runs about on worldly errands. How much eagerness fills his belly for them. Even while squatting to relieve himself, he hoards stones and schemes in his heart. He keeps his shame only for Narayana. To his own children he speaks crooked, harsh words. Tuka says: O shameless one, you pile labor upon labor.
What it means
Tukaram catches the everyday self pouring its whole heart into the wrong thing. The man chases worldly errands with a hunger that never quits; even at the latrine his mind is busy gathering and scheming. Then he names the reversal that should sting: the one being he feels shame before is God, while toward his own children he is harsh and twisted. The pattern to examine in oneself is this misplaced devotion, the energy and reverence spent on the world and on appearances while only piling toil on toil, the very thing we are blind to in ourselves.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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