Self-examination, costume versus pure heart
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणिकां उपदेशूं नेणें नाचों आपण । मुंढा वांयां मारगेली वांयां हांसे जन ॥१॥
तैसा नव्हे चाळा आवरीं मन डोळा । पुढिलांच्या कळा कवतुक जाणोनी ॥ध्रु.॥
बाहिरल्या वेषें आंत जसें तसें । झाकलें तों बरें पोट भरे तेणें मिसें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे केला तरी करीं शुद्ध भाव । नाहीं तरी जासी वांयां हा ना तोसा ठाव ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I do not know how to preach to others; I simply dance for myself. The shaven-headed one may wander in vain, and the people may laugh in vain. But this is no idle amusement; restrain your mind and eyes. Observe the tricks of those ahead and understand them for what they are. Beneath the outer costume, the inside remains as it is; so long as it is covered, all is well, and the belly gets filled under that pretense. Says Tuka, if you have taken up this role, then hold a pure intent within. Otherwise you go to waste, belonging neither here nor there.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I do not know how to preach to others; I just dance for myself. The shaven-headed one may wander for nothing, and people may laugh for nothing. But this is no idle game. Hold your mind and eyes in check. Watch the tricks of those ahead of you, and understand them for what they are. Under the outward costume, the inside stays as it is. As long as it is covered, all looks fine, and the belly gets filled by that pretense. Tuka says: if you have taken up this role, then keep a pure heart within. If not, you go to waste, belonging neither here nor there.
What it means
Tukaram turns the warning inward, onto the very life of the wandering devotee. He admits he is no preacher; he simply dances, and he knows the role can be faked, a shaved head and a costume that fills the belly while the inside stays unchanged. So he tells himself and his hearers to restrain mind and eye and to see clearly through the tricks of those who go through the motions. The danger is not the outward form but a hidden hollowness, which is hidden only as long as it is covered. The plain test he names at the end is decisive: take up the role with a pure heart, or you end up belonging nowhere, neither in the world nor in God.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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