The musk deer, worth unrecognized
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मृगाचिये अंगीं कस्तुरीचा वास । असे ज्याचा त्यास नसे ठाव ॥1॥
भाग्यवंत घेती वेचूनियां मोलें । भारवाही मेले वाहतां ओझें ॥ध्रु.॥
चंद्रामृतें तृिप्तपारणें चकोरा । भ्रमरासी चारा सुगंधाचा ॥2॥
अधिकारी येथें घेती हातवटी । परीक्षावंता दृष्टी रत्न जैसें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे काय अंधिळया हातीं । दिले जैसें मोतीं वांयां जाय ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The musk deer carries the fragrance of musk in its own body, yet it does not know where the scent resides. The fortunate purchase it at great price, while the beast of burden dies carrying the load. The moon's nectar satisfies the chakor bird; the bee feeds on fragrance alone. Only those with the right capacity grasp the skill, just as a jeweler recognizes a gem. Says Tuka, what use is it to place a pearl in the hand of a blind man? It only goes to waste.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The musk deer carries the scent of musk in its own body, yet it does not know where the scent lives. The fortunate buy it at a high price; the pack animal dies carrying its load. The moon's nectar fills the chakor bird; the bee feeds on fragrance alone. Those with the right capacity take up the skill, the way a jeweler knows a gem at sight. Tuka says: what use is a pearl placed in a blind man's hand? It only goes to waste.
What it means
Tukaram is saying that the treasure can be carried and still be missed. The deer holds musk in its own body but does not know it, just as a soul can hold God within and never sense it. Worth answers only to capacity: the fortunate pay any price for the scent, while the beast of burden dies under a load it cannot value, and only the jeweler's eye knows the gem. The point turns back on the listener, not against the deer or the blind man: the Name and the Self are here, near as your own body, but they reach only the one ready to receive them. To stay unready is to be the hand that lets the pearl fall.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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