Social criticism, the worthless company
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणीक काय थोडीं । परि तें फार खोटीं कुडीं ॥१॥
सदा मोकळीं च गुरें । होती फजीत तीं पोरें ॥ध्रु.॥
सदा घालिता हुंबरी । एक एकांचे न करी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे घरीं माय । वेळोवेळां मारी ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There are plenty of others, but they are all deceitful and hollow. These children are like cattle always set loose, always making a commotion but never attending to one another. Says Tuka, the mother at home scolds them again and again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Are there few others? Yes, but they are mostly false and hollow. They are like cattle always let loose; those children are forever in disgrace. They keep bellowing, raising a din, and none of them does anything for another. Tuka says: at home the mother beats them again and again.
What it means
Tukaram dismisses the crowd of so-called companions as false and empty, comparing them to stray cattle that wander loose and make noise but help no one. The point is aimed at a pattern, not at any one person: company that is all bluster and self-regard, never any real care for the next person. Such people end up shamed wherever they go, scolded even at home. The contrast left unspoken is the one true companion the devotee should seek instead of this loud, useless herd.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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