Moral ideal, refusing to slander
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोणा ही केंडावें हा आह्मां अधर्म । जोजो पावे श्रम तोतो देव ॥1॥
ह्मणउनि चित्ता सिकविलें वोजें । आतां हें चि दुजें न बोलावें ॥ध्रु.॥
हालविलें जरि परउपकारें । जिव्हे पाप खरें उपाधीचें॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जीव प्रारब्धा आधीन । कोण वाहे सीण करुणा शोभे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To slander anyone is a sin in our eyes. Whoever suffers hardship is God to us. For this reason I have taught my mind its duty: no other word should be spoken. If the tongue moves to criticize, even for another's benefit, it commits the sin of interference. Says Tuka, every jiva is subject to its own destiny. Who would bear the burden of needless grief? Compassion alone is fitting.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To slander anyone is, for us, a sin. Whoever is in distress is God to us. So I have carefully taught my mind its duty: from now on, speak no other word than this. Even if the tongue moves to criticize for someone else's good, that meddling is a real sin upon it. Tuka says: every soul is bound by its own destiny. Who would carry needless grief? Compassion alone is fitting.
What it means
Tukaram sets out a strict rule for his own speech. To run anyone down is a sin in his eyes, and he sees God in everyone who suffers, so he has trained his mind to say nothing else. He goes further: even faultfinding offered as helpful advice is still meddling, and the tongue that does it takes on real guilt. Since each soul carries its own destiny anyway, brooding over others' faults is needless grief; the only fitting response to another person is compassion.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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