Exhortation, teach by fitness
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भूतीं भगवंत । हा तों जाणतों संकेत ॥1॥
भारी मोकलितों वाण । ज्याचा त्यासी कळे गुण ॥ध्रु.॥
करावा उपदेश। निवडोनि तरि दोष ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे वाटे । चुकतां आडरानें कांटे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I know the principle that God dwells in all beings. I release my goods freely; let each one recognize the quality for himself. Instruction should be given after discerning the readiness of the student; otherwise it becomes harmful. Says Tuka, those who stray from the path will find only thorns on the byroads.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
God dwells in all beings: this is the sign I know. I let my goods go freely; let each one find for himself what they are worth. Instruction should be given only after weighing the fault, the unreadiness, in the hearer; else it does harm. Tuka says: those who miss the road find only thorns on the wild byways.
What it means
Tukaram holds together two truths about teaching. He starts from the principle that God lives in every being, so he offers his teaching openly and lets each person discover its worth for himself. Yet he warns that instruction must be fitted to the hearer; given to one not ready for it, weighed first for what would harm him, the same words can do damage instead of good. The closing image makes the stakes plain: a seeker who strays from the proper path does not wander free but lands among thorns in the trackless wild.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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