Urgency, use the human body
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.
In Plain Words
The farmer covers the dead carcass with earth and ploughs straight over it, quickly turning it to use, just as a cultivator does. In the same way, work for your own true good while you have this human body. What is sown by the fistful grows more than what is scattered by the handful; such is the leverage of working for your own salvation. The power of Death is not in your hands; the wise untangle this knot while they still can. Tuka says: look to your own counsel. The shrewd man makes his preparation here in the land of the dying.
What it means
Tukaram presses the shortness and uncertainty of life into urgency. The farmer who buries a carcass and ploughs it into manure shows the lesson: even what seems waste can be put to use now, so put this human birth to use while you have it. His sowing image says effort placed wisely yields far more than effort thrown about carelessly, so concentrated work toward salvation pays back many times over. The hard fact behind it all is that death is not under your control; you cannot choose your hour. So the wise untangle the knot of worldly attachment while they still can, making their preparation here, in this passing mortal world, before the chance is gone.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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