Warning, the trickster in the bazaar
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नजर करे सो ही जिंके बाबा दुरथी तमासा देख । लकडी फांसा लेकर बैठा आगले ठकण भेख ॥१॥
काहे भुला एक देखत आंखो मार तडांगो बाजार ॥ध्रु.॥
दमरी चमरी जो नर भुला । सोत आघो हि लत खाये ॥२॥
नहि बुलावत किसे बाबा आप हि मत जाये । कहे तुका उस असाके संग फिरफिर गोदे खाये ॥३॥
दरवेस -अभंग १
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The one who watches wins; from a distance, my friend, watch the spectacle. The trickster sits with his staff and snare, his disguise set to deceive those who come near. Why are you dazzled? Open your eyes and see the blows raining down in this marketplace. The fool who is lured by a penny will get kicked even by his own kind. Do not go uninvited, my friend, and do not call anyone who has not been summoned. Says Tuka, whoever keeps company with such a one gets kicked again and again.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The one who watches wins. From a distance, friend, watch the show. The trickster sits with his stick and his snare, his disguise set to fool whoever comes near. Why are you dazzled? Open your eyes and see the blows falling in this marketplace. The fool who is tempted by a penny gets kicked even by his own kind. Do not go where you were not called, friend, and do not summon anyone who was not asked. Tuka says: whoever keeps company with such a one gets kicked again and again.
What it means
This is a marketplace parable about the spiritual con man and the greed that walks into his trap. Tukaram tells you to keep your distance and simply watch: the trickster has dressed himself up and laid his snare for whoever draws near. The one who is dazzled and lured by a small gain gets battered, even by people of his own sort. The lesson is to stay where you belong and not go chasing or being chased; keep company with the deceiver and you will be kicked over and over.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
More in this theme →