Social criticism, true renunciation named
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ऐसे नाना भेष घेऊनी हिंडती । पोटासाटीं घेती प्रतिग्रह ॥1॥
परमार्थासी कोण त्यजी संवसार । सांगापां साचार नांव त्याचें ॥2॥
जन्मतां संसार त्यजियेला शुकें । तोचि निष्कळंक तुका ह्मणे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
In various disguises they roam about, accepting gifts for the sake of their bellies. Who truly renounces the world for the sake of the highest good? Tell me the name of such a one in truth. Says Tuka, only Shuka, who renounced the world at the moment of his birth, is truly spotless.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
In all sorts of disguises they roam about. They accept gifts only to fill their bellies. Who truly gives up the world for the sake of the highest good? Tell me, in truth, the name of even one such person. Tuka says: only Shuka, who renounced the world the moment he was born, is truly spotless.
What it means
Tukaram surveys the whole crowd of costumed beggars and asks a sharp question: name one who has actually renounced the world for God rather than for alms. The disguises change, but the motive stays the same, food. He answers his own challenge with a single example, Shuka, who turned from the world at the instant of birth, and calls him the one who is truly spotless. The contrast forces self-examination: real renunciation is inward and rare, not the outfit that begs.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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