Moral ideal, do not glorify the fault
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
अवगुण तों कोणीं नाहीं प्रतििष्ठले । मागें होत आले शिष्टाचार ॥1॥
दुर्बळाच्या नांवें पिटावा डांगोरा । हा तों नव्हे बरा सत्यवाद ॥ध्रु.॥
मद्य आणि मधु एकरासी नांवें । तरि कां तें खावें आधारें त्या ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझा उिच्छष्ट प्रसाद । निवडी भेदाभेद वृिष्टन्यायें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
No one has ever dignified a fault. From the very beginning, this has been the established conduct of the wise. To announce only the name of the weak is not truthful speech. Liquor and honey may share a common name, but should one consume liquor on that basis? Says Tuka, my leftover food becomes sacred offering. Let the distinction between unity and difference be made fairly, like rain that falls equally upon all.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
No one has ever given a fault a place of honor. From of old this has been the conduct of the wise. To beat the drum only against the name of the weak is not honest speech. Liquor and honey may go by one common name, but should you drink the liquor on that account? Tuka says: my leftover food becomes a holy offering. Let unity and difference be told apart fairly, like rain that falls the same on all.
What it means
Tukaram defends honest discernment against both flattery and cheap attack. He insists no wise tradition has ever dignified a real fault, and equally that loudly shaming only the weak while sparing the powerful is not truthful speech. His example: two things sharing a single name, like an intoxicant and honey, are not therefore the same, so you must not swallow the harmful one just because the word is shared. He asks that the line between true sameness and real difference be drawn fairly and impartially, the way rain falls alike on everyone, the call is to clear sight, not to contempt.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
More in this theme →