Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मढें झांकुनियां करिती पेरणी । कुणबियाचे वाणी लवलाहें ॥1॥
तयापरी करीं स्वहित आपुलें । जयासी फावलें नरदेह ॥ध्रु.॥
ओटीच्या परिस मुठीचें तें वाढे । यापरि कैवाडें स्वहिताचें ॥2॥
नाहीं काळसत्ता आपुलिये हातीं । जाणते हे गुंती उगविती ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे पाहें आपुली सूचना । करितो शाहाणा मृत्युलोकीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The farmer covers the corpse of a dead animal and ploughs right over it, quickly putting it to use as manure. In just that way, pursue your own spiritual good while this human body is available. What is sown by the fistful grows more than what is scattered by the handful; such is the leverage of working for one's own salvation. The power of Death is not in your own hands; the wise unravel this tangle while they can. Says Tuka, look to your own welfare. The shrewd one makes his preparations in this mortal world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
More in this theme →