Social criticism, the borrowed airs
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
देखीचा दिमाख शिकोनियां दावी । हिया ऐसी केवीं गारगोटी ॥1॥
मर्यादा ते जाण अरे अभागिया । देवाच्या ऐसिया सकळ मूतिन ॥ध्रु.॥
काय पडिलेंसी लटिक्याचे भरी । वोंवाळुनि थोरी परती सांडीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे पुढें दिसतसे घात । करितों फजित ह्मणउनी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He copies the outward manner of another and puts it on display. But his inner being is hard as a pebble. Know your limits, O unfortunate one. All these are forms that are like God himself. Why have you fallen into the snare of falsehood? You have flaunted this air of greatness; now set it aside. Says Tuka, I see ruin ahead. That is why I will bring you to public disgrace.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He learns another man's manner and puts it on show, but inside he is hard as a pebble. Know your place, you unfortunate one: all these forms are forms of God himself. Why have you fallen for what is false? You have flaunted this air of greatness; now throw it away. Tuka says: I see ruin ahead for you, and that is why I am putting you to public shame.
What it means
Tukaram is attacking the borrowing of a holy man's outward style by someone whose heart stays stony and unchanged. He calls the man to know his true measure and to remember that every creature is a form of God, so the airs of superiority are an offense as well as a fraud. The pretender has trapped himself in falsehood and paraded a false greatness that he is now told to drop. Tuka says plainly that he exposes the man in public because he foresees the disaster that this pretense leads to. The disgrace is a hard mercy aimed at the pattern of pretense, meant to wake the man before his ruin arrives.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
More in this theme →