Social criticism, the empty preacher
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
स्वयें आपण चि रिता । रडे पुढिलांच्या हिता ॥1॥
सेकीं हें ना तेंसें जालें । बोलणें तितुकें वांयां गेलें ॥ध्रु.॥
सुखसागरीं नेघे वस्ती । अंगीं ज्ञानपणाची मस्ती ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे गाढव लेखा। जेथें भेटेल तेथें ठोका ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He himself is empty within, yet he weeps for the welfare of others. In the end, neither this nor that was accomplished; all his words went to waste. He will not take up residence in the ocean of bliss, yet he parades the arrogance of spiritual knowledge. Says Tuka, count him a donkey. Wherever you find him, give him a good thrashing.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He himself is empty inside, yet he weeps over the good of others. In the end it came to neither this nor that; all his talking went to waste. He will not take up his dwelling in the ocean of bliss, yet he wears the swagger of spiritual knowing. Tuka says: count him a donkey. Wherever you meet him, give him a good thrashing.
What it means
Tukaram is unmasking the man who preaches to others while empty within himself. He weeps and worries over everyone else's welfare, but has nothing inside, so in the end nothing comes of it and all his words are wasted. He refuses to actually dwell in the ocean of bliss that he talks about, yet he carries himself with the arrogance of one who knows. The blunt last line is satire aimed at the posture, not the person: such a one is no better than a donkey, and the swagger deserves to be beaten out of it. The point turns back on us: do not parade a knowing you have not lived.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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