Renunciation, swallow the ego
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
योग तप या चि नांवें । गिळत व्हावें अभिमानें ॥1॥
करणें तें हें चि करा । सत्यें बरा व्यापार ॥ध्रु.॥
तरि खंडे येरझार। निघे भार देहाचा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मानामान । हें बंधन नसावें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The true meaning of yoga and austerity is this: to swallow one's ego willingly. Practice this one thing, and let your dealings be rooted in truth. Then the cycle of coming and going will cease, and the burden of embodiment will be lifted. Says Tuka, let there be no attachment to honor or dishonor; that itself is bondage.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Yoga and austerity mean just this: to swallow your own pride. Do only this one thing, and let your dealings be true and good. Then the coming and going ends, and the body's burden falls away. Tuka says: honor and dishonor, do not let them bind you; that itself is the bondage.
What it means
Tukaram is redefining the great spiritual disciplines so they cannot be mistaken for outward feats. Real yoga and tapas, he says, are not postures or fasting but the willing swallowing of one's own ego, backed by honest and upright conduct. Do that single thing and the round of birth and death stops, and the weight of embodiment is lifted. He then names the subtle trap: caring about being honored or insulted is itself a chain, even for someone who has dropped grosser attachments. The teaching turns the listener inward, away from impressive practice and toward the quiet death of pride.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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