The saints, teaching by living it
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अर्भकाचे साटीं । पंतें हातीं धरिली पाटी ॥1॥
तैसे संत जगीं । क्रिया करुनी दाविती अंगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
बालकाचे चाली । माता जाणुनि पाउल घाली ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नाव । जनासाटीं उदकीं ठाव ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
For the sake of a child, the teacher takes up the writing-slate. In the same way, saints act out their teachings in their own lives for the world to see. As a mother understands the child's pace and places her footstep accordingly, so do the saints guide us. Says Tuka, the boat exists for the people's sake, to carry them upon the water.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
For the sake of a small child, the teacher takes the writing-slate in his own hand. In the same way, saints in this world act out their teaching in their own bodies. As a mother knows the child's pace and places her step to match it, so the saints walk with us. Tuka says: the boat exists for the people's sake, to give them a footing upon the water.
What it means
Tukaram explains how saints teach. Like a teacher who picks up the slate himself so a child can learn by watching, the saints do not merely instruct in words; they live out the teaching in their own conduct for the world to see. Like a mother who shortens her stride to match her child's small steps, they meet ordinary people where they are. And like a boat, they exist for others' sake, giving people a footing to cross what they could not cross alone.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
More in this theme →