Exhortation, hold shame before the mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मायारूपें ऐसें मोहिलेंसे जन । भोगिती पतन नामाकर्में॥1॥
काय याची प्रीती करितां आदर । दुरावितां दूर तें चि भलें ॥ध्रु.॥
नाना छंद अंगीं बैसती विकार । छिळयेले फार तपोनिधि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसें सिकवितों तुज । आतां धरी लाज मना पुढें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Through the form of illusion, people have been beguiled. They suffer downfall through misuse of the Name. What good comes of cherishing such illusion? It is better to keep it at a distance. Countless passions and distortions take root in the being, and even great ascetics have been brought low by them. Says Tuka, this is what I am teaching you now: hold shame before your own mind going forward.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
People have been beguiled by the form of illusion. They fall by misusing the Name. What good comes of cherishing this illusion? Better to hold it far away. Many whims and distortions settle into the body, and even great ascetics have been brought low by them. Tuka says: this is what I am teaching you now. From here on, hold shame before your own mind.
What it means
Tukaram warns that Maya does not only deceive the worldly; it can corrupt the very practice of the Name when the Name is used as cover for craving. He names the stakes by pointing to ascetics, people of great discipline, who were still dragged down once passions took root in them, so no one can assume they are safe. His remedy is not external rule but inward shame, the honest sense before your own mind that catches the distortion early. The teaching is directed at self-examination: watch what whims are settling in you before they grow into a fall.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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