Social criticism, exposed by good company
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बहुतांचे संगती । बहु पावलों फजिती ॥१॥
बरें केलें नंदबाळें । मागिलांचें तोंड काळें ॥ध्रु.॥
माझा करितील तंटा । लपती आलिया बोभाटा ॥२॥
तुका म्हणी काई । किती म्हणों बाप आई ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
In the company of many I suffered only disgrace. The child of Nanda did well to blacken the faces of all those false ones. They would pick quarrels on my behalf, then hide the moment trouble came. Says Tuka, how long shall I go on calling for mother and father?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
In the company of many I met only disgrace. The child of Nanda did well; he blackened the faces of all those false ones. They would pick quarrels on my behalf, then hide the moment trouble came shouting. Tuka says: what now? How long shall I keep calling on father and mother?
What it means
The speaker looks back on the crowd he kept and sees that it brought only shame. He credits the child of Nanda, Krishna, with exposing those false friends and blackening their faces by showing them up for what they were. Such people were quick to start fights in his name and quick to vanish when the trouble they stirred came back loud. The closing question turns inward and weary: how long will he keep crying out to parents, to ordinary worldly supports, instead of resting in the one who actually stood by him? The verse points at the pattern of fair-weather company and the habit of leaning on the wrong refuges.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
More in this theme →