Moral humility, asking for the leftovers
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
होऊं शब्दस्पर्श नये माझा तुह्मां । विप्रवृंदा तुह्मां ब्राह्मणांसी॥1॥
ह्मणोनियां तुह्मां करितों विनंती । द्यावें शेष हातीं उरलें तें ॥ध्रु.॥
वेदीं कर्म जैसें बोलिलें विहित । करावी ते नीत विचारूनि ॥2॥
तुमचा स्वधर्म माझा अधिकार । भोजन उत्तर तुका ह्मणे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I am not worthy of touching You, O Brahmins, O assembly of the learned. Therefore, I make this humble request: give me whatever remains, the sacred leftovers. Whatever duty the Vedas prescribe, carry it out after due reflection. Your domain is your own dharma, and my portion is what is left over. Says Tuka, my share is the remnant of the feast.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I am not fit even to touch you with my words, O Brahmins, O gathering of the learned. So I make this one request to you: give me into my hands whatever is left over, the sacred remnant. The duty the Vedas lay down as proper, carry it out, but only after weighing it with thought. Your own dharma is yours; my portion is what remains. Tuka says: my share is the leftover of the feast.
What it means
Tukaram speaks from low social standing to the learned Brahmins, naming the distance of caste rather than denying it. He does not claim their rites or their place; he asks only for the consecrated leftovers, the prasad of the feast, which is enough for him. Even as he defers, he slips in a quiet correction: perform the Vedic duties, yes, but only after reflection, not blindly. He keeps each in its own place, their dharma is theirs, his portion is the remnant, and he is content with that humble share.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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