Social criticism, the begging pilgrim
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
लावूनियां मुद्रा बांधोनियां कंठीं । हिंडे पोटासाटीं देशोदेशीं ॥1॥
नेसोनि कोपीन शुभ्रवर्ण जाण । पहाती पक्वान्न क्षेत्रींचें तें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसे मावेचे मइंद । त्यापाशीं गोविंद नाहीं नाहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wearing religious stamps and tying sacred beads around the neck, they wander from land to land to fill their bellies. Donning a white loincloth, they look around for fine food at the holy places. Says Tuka, such ones are frauds in disguise. Govinda is nowhere near them.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
They stamp themselves with religious marks and tie sacred beads around the neck. They roam from land to land to fill their bellies. They wear a clean white loincloth. At the holy places they look around for fine food. Tuka says: such people are frauds in disguise. Govinda is not near them, not at all.
What it means
Tukaram tracks pilgrims who carry every credential, branded marks, beads, a spotless loincloth, but travel from shrine to shrine chasing good meals rather than God. The holy place becomes a free kitchen they survey for the best dish. He calls them what they are, frauds in disguise, and lands the verdict twice over: Govinda is nowhere near them. The examination is of using sacred travel and dress to feed the body while the soul goes hungry by choice.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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