Metaphor, be what you are
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गव्हांच्या घुगया । नाचण्यांच्या पुया । बया त्या चि बया । पाधाणी त्या पाधाणी ॥1॥
काय थोरपण । वांयां जाळावा तो शीण । कारणापें भिन्न । निवडे तें निराळें ॥ध्रु.॥
रुचि वोजेपाशी । गरज ते जैशीतैशी । करूं नका नाशी । खावें खाणें जालें तें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मोठा । काय करावा तो ताटा । नाहीं वीण निटा । पाविजेत मारग ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wheat makes wheat cakes, and millet makes millet bread. The staples remain staples and the side dishes remain side dishes. What is the use of pretending to a greatness that only wastes effort? What differs from the ordinary stands apart on its own. The real taste lies with the substance; the need is what it is. Do not destroy what is; eat the food that has been prepared. Says Tuka, what use is a big platter if one cannot find the straightforward path?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Wheat makes wheat dumplings; millet makes millet bread. A staple stays a staple; a side dish stays a side dish. What good is pretending to greatness? It only burns up effort for nothing. What truly differs stands apart on its own. The taste lies with the real substance; the need is whatever it is. Do not throw it away; eat the food that has been cooked. Tuka says: what use is a great platter if you cannot find the plain, straight road?
What it means
Tukaram is using kitchen plainness to puncture pretense. Wheat yields wheat cakes and millet yields millet bread; each thing is what it is, staple or side dish, and putting on airs of being more only wastes your effort. Real worth shows itself without being claimed. So he says: stop straining after a borrowed greatness, take the food actually cooked in front of you, do not waste it. The closing line is the lesson: a grand platter is worthless if you have lost the simple, direct path, and the straight road matters more than any show.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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