Experience, meaning over rote
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अथॉविण पाठांतर कासया करावें । व्यर्थ चि मरावें घोकूनियां ॥1॥
घोकूनियां काय वेगीं अर्थ पाहे । अर्थरूप राहे होऊनियां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ज्याला अथाअ आहे भेटी । नाहीं तरी गोष्टी बोलों नका ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why memorize texts without understanding their meaning? One only dies in vain by rote learning. Instead of just memorizing, quickly seek the meaning. Become the meaning itself. Says Tuka, one who has met the essence may speak. Otherwise, do not even talk about it.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why memorize a text without its meaning? You only die in vain by reciting by rote. Instead of mere repetition, quickly look for the meaning. Stay in it, become the meaning itself. Tuka says: one who has met the meaning may speak; otherwise, do not even talk about it.
What it means
Tukaram cuts at hollow learning, the kind that chants the words and never reaches what they say. To memorize a scripture without grasping its sense is to spend a life in vain. The real instruction is to go past repetition into the meaning, and then further still, to live it until you yourself become what the words point to. The closing line sets the right to speak by that test: only one who has actually met the meaning may talk about it; the rest should keep silent rather than recite what they have not understood.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
More in this theme →