Social criticism, the false teacher
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पिंडपोशकाच्या जळो ज्ञानगोष्टी । झणी दृिष्टभेटी न हो त्याची ॥1॥
नाहीं संतचिन्ह उमटलें अंगीं । उपदेशालागीं पात्र जाला ॥ध्रु.॥
पोहों सिणलें नये कासे लावितो आणिका । ह्मणावें त्या मूर्खा काय आतां ॥2॥
सिणलें तें गेलें सिणलियापासीं । जाली त्या दोघांसी एक गति ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे अहो देवा दिनानाथा। दरुषण आतां नको त्याचें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Cursed be the spiritual talk of one who merely feeds his belly. May I never have to look upon his face. He bears no mark of saintliness on his person, yet he has set himself up as a teacher. He himself is drowning and cannot swim, yet he ties others to his waist. What can one say to such a fool? Those who clung to him are lost along with him; both share the same fate. Says Tuka, O Lord of the lowly, let me never have to see such a one again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Cursed be the holy talk of a man who only feeds his belly. Let me never even catch sight of his face. No sign of saintliness shows on him, yet he has set himself up to teach. He is drowning and cannot swim, and still he ties others to his waist. What can you say to such a fool? Those who clung to him are lost along with him. The two share one fate. Tuka says: O Lord of the lowly, let me never see such a one again.
What it means
Tukaram attacks the man who trades on spiritual words while living for his own appetite. The test he uses is plain: nothing of the saint has actually appeared in this man's life, so his teaching is hollow. The drowning swimmer is the heart of it. A teacher who has not crossed cannot carry anyone across; he only pulls his followers under with him. So the warning runs both ways: examine whether a guide has truly changed, and examine whether you are clinging to someone who is sinking.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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