Self-examination, the test of the pure heart
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
चंदनाच्या वासें धरितील नाक । नावडे कनक न घडे हें ॥1॥
साकरेसी गोडी सारिखी सकळां । थोरां मोटएां बाळां धाकुटियां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझें चित्त शुद्ध होतें । तरि का निंदितें जन मज ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If someone covers their nose at the fragrance of sandalwood, that does not make the sandalwood less than gold. This simply cannot be. The sweetness of sugar is the same for all: for the great, the old, the young, and the small. Says Tuka, if my chitta were pure, then why do people criticize me?
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If someone holds his nose at the smell of sandalwood, that does not make the sandalwood worth less than gold. It simply cannot be. The sweetness of sugar is the same for everyone: for the great and the small, the old and the young. Tuka says: if my heart were truly pure, then why would people criticize me?
What it means
Tukaram offers two images of things whose worth does not depend on how they are received. Sandalwood stays precious even if one person turns away from its scent, and sugar tastes equally sweet to everyone, great or small, old or young, because real goodness is constant and impartial. Then he turns the test on himself rather than on his critics: if his own heart were genuinely pure, would people still be finding fault with him? Instead of resenting the criticism, he treats it as a mirror, asking whether the fault may lie in him. The abhanga makes the blame an occasion for honest self-examination, not for defense.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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