Self-defense, the ignorant judge
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाखांडएांनीं पाठी पुरविला दुमाला । तेथें मी विठ्ठला काय बोलों ॥1॥
कांद्याचा खाणार चोजवी कस्तुरी । आपुलें भिकारी अर्थ नेणे ॥ध्रु.॥
न कळे तें मज पुसती छळूनी । लागतां चरणीं न सोडिती ॥2॥
तुझ्या पांयांविण दुजें नेणें कांहीं । तूं चि सर्वांठायीं एक मज ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे खीळ पडो त्यांच्या तोंडा । किती बोलों भांडां वादकांशीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The hypocrites have spread their influence behind my back. What shall I say about that, O Vitthal? One who eats onions presumes to judge musk; he does not recognize even his own poor worth. They harass me with questions about things I do not know, and once they grab my feet, they will not let go. I know nothing apart from Your feet; You alone are everything to me, everywhere. Says Tuka, let their mouths be sealed. How long shall I argue with these quarrelsome debaters?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The hypocrites have worked behind my back. What can I say to that, Vitthal? A man who eats onions sets himself up to judge musk; the beggar does not know his own worth. They badger me with questions about things I do not know, and once they seize my feet they will not let go. Apart from Your feet I know nothing; You alone are everything to me, everywhere. Tuka says: let their mouths be stopped. How long must I argue with these quarrelers?
What it means
Tukaram protests against critics who undermine him while pretending to piety. He exposes the absurdity with one image: a man whose taste runs to onions presumes to appraise musk, blind even to his own poverty. The same people corner him with learned questions he cannot answer and will not release him once they have hold. Against all this he names his one ground, that he knows nothing except Vitthal's feet and that God is his all, and he asks only to be left in peace rather than dragged endlessly into debate.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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