Metaphor, the gem on the wrong neck
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
रडे अळंकार दैन्याचिये कांती । उतमा विपित्तसंग घडे ॥1॥
एकाविण एक अशोभ दातारा । कृपेच्या सागरा पांडुरंगा ॥ध्रु.॥
रांधूं नेणे तया पुढील आइतें । केलें तें सोइतें वांयां जाय ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे चिंतामणि शेळी गळा । पावे अवकळा ह्मणउनी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
An ornament weeps when placed upon a body degraded by misery. When the noble one encounters adversity, this is what happens. One without the other is unbecoming, O giver, O ocean of compassion, O Panduranga. One who does not know how to cook wastes even what is already prepared and set before him; what was carefully arranged goes to waste. Says Tuka, when a wish-fulfilling gem is tied around the neck of a goat, it meets with disgrace.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
An ornament weeps when it is worn on a body wasted by misery. When a noble thing meets bad fortune, this is what happens. One without the other looks wrong, O giver, O ocean of mercy, Panduranga. A man who cannot cook spoils even the food set ready before him; what was carefully prepared goes to waste. Tuka says: a wish-granting gem tied at a goat's neck is brought to disgrace.
What it means
Tukaram is saying that a good thing put in the wrong place is shamed, not honored. A fine ornament looks pitiable on a body broken by want; the worthy and the unfit do not belong together. He turns to Panduranga, the ocean of compassion, as the giver who alone joins the worthy gift to a worthy keeper. The point lands in two homely pictures: the man who cannot cook ruins even a meal already prepared for him, and the priceless wish-fulfilling jewel is degraded when it hangs on a goat. So examine whether you are fit to hold what you have been given, lest the treasure be wasted on you.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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