Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
वांझेनें दाविलें गहवार लक्षणें । चिरगुटें घालून वाथयाला ॥1॥
तेवीं शब्दYाानी करिती चावटी । Yाान पोटासाटीं विकूनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
बोलाचि च कढी बोलाचा चि भात । जेवुनियां तृप्त कोण जाला ॥2॥
कागदीं लिहितां नामाची साकर । चाटितां मधुर गोडी नेदी ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे जळो जळो ते महंती । नाहीं लाज चित्तीं आठवण ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A barren woman puts on the show of a cradle ceremony, dressing up rags and rocking them. Just so, those who trade in mere word-knowledge make a show of spirituality and sell their learning for the sake of their belly. A broth made only of words, a meal made only of speech: who has ever been satisfied by eating such a thing? Writing the name of sugar on paper does not give sweetness when you lick it. Says Tuka, cursed be such false holiness. They have no shame and no remembrance of God.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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