Teaching, do not burn the boat
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अधिकार तैसा दावियेले मार्ग । चालतां हें मग कळों येतें ॥१॥
जाळूं नये नाव पावलेनि पार । मागील आधार बहुतांचा ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे रोग वैदाचे अंगीं । नाहीं करी जगीं उपकार ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The path is shown according to one's capacity; its truth becomes clear only when one walks it. One should not burn the boat after reaching the far shore, for it serves as a support for the many still crossing. Says Tuka, when the physician himself carries the disease, he does no good to the world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The path is shown to each one according to his capacity. As you walk it, the truth of it becomes clear. Do not burn the boat once you have reached the far shore. Many behind you still lean on it to cross. Tuka says: when the disease lives in the physician's own body, he does the world no good.
What it means
Tukaram is speaking about how a teacher should carry his learning. A path is given to each seeker only as far as he can hold it, and only walking it makes its truth plain. So even after you cross, do not destroy the means that carried you: others are still crossing, and the boat is their support. The last line names the test for any guide: a healer who is himself sick can heal no one, so the teacher must first be free of the very thing he treats.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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