Moral ideal, learning without a steadied mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
शास्त्रज्ञ हो ज्ञाते असती बहुत । परि नाहीं चित्त हाता आलें ॥1॥
क्षणा एका साटीं न धरवे धीर । तेणें हा रघुवीर अंतरतो ॥ध्रु.॥
तोळाभर सोनें रतिभार राई । मेळविल्या पाहीं नास होतो ॥2॥
हरीचे अंकित असती विरळागत । तयांसी अच्युत कृपा करी ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे काय धुडवण्या गोष्टी । जंव नाहीं गांठी चित्त आलें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Many scholars know the scriptures well, yet the mind has not come under control. For want of patience even for a single moment, Raghuvira slips away. A measure of gold mixed with even a speck of impurity is ruined when inspected. Those who are truly pledged to Hari are very rare. To them alone does the imperishable Lord show His grace. Says Tuka, what use is idle talk? Until the mind is firmly grasped, nothing avails.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There are many who know the scriptures well, yet the mind has not come into their hands. They cannot hold steady even for a single moment, and by that the Raghuvira slips away. A measure of gold, mixed with even a speck of impurity, is found ruined when it is tested. Those truly pledged to Hari are very few. To them alone the imperishable Lord gives his grace. Tuka says: what use is talk that only stirs up dust? Until the mind itself is in your grasp, nothing holds.
What it means
Tukaram is warning that scriptural learning is worthless without a mastered mind. Many scholars know the texts, he says, yet have no control over their own attention, and the moment they cannot hold steady, God slips out of reach. His image of gold makes the standard exact: even a tiny impurity ruins the whole measure when it is assayed, so partial devotion does not pass. He observes that the truly committed are rare and that grace is given to them alone, then turns the warning on idle discussion itself. The self-examination he points to is plain: stop talking and ask whether you actually hold your own mind, because nothing else counts until you do.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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