Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोडियाचें गोरेपण । तैसें अहंकारीYाान ॥1॥
त्यासि अंतरीं रिझे कोण । जवळी जातां चिळसवाण ॥ध्रु.॥
प्रेतदेह गौरविलें। तैसें विटंबवाणें जालें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे खाणें विष्ठा । तैशा देहबुिद्धचेष्टा॥3॥
पाया जाला नारू । तेथें बांधला कापूरु ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The fairness of a leper is only skin-deep; just so is the knowledge of the egotist. Who in their chitta is pleased with him? Coming close, one feels only revulsion. Adorning a corpse does not lend it dignity; it only becomes more grotesque. Says Tuka, eating filth is what the body-bound intellect amounts to.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
More in this theme →