The teacher's compassion, I cannot watch them drown
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उपकारासाटीं बोलों हे उपाय । येणेंविण काय आह्मां चाड ॥1॥
बुडतां हे जन न देखवे डोळां । येतो कळवळा ह्मणउनि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझे देखतिल डोळे । भोग देते वेळे येईल कळों ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It is for the sake of helping others that I speak these remedies. Beyond this, I have no other concern. I cannot bear to watch people drowning before my eyes. Compassion rises within me. Says Tuka, my eyes see clearly. When the time of bhoga comes, the truth of these words will become known.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It is for the sake of helping others that I speak these remedies. Beyond this, I have no other concern. I cannot bear to watch people drowning before my eyes. Compassion rises in me. Tuka says: my eyes see clearly. When the time of reaping comes, the truth of these words will be known.
What it means
Tukaram explains why he speaks at all: not for his own gain, but to help others, because he cannot stand by while people drown in the world. The remedies he offers are pressed out of compassion, not from any wish to be heard. He claims his sight is clear, that he sees what others do not. The stakes are deferred to the time of bhoga, the reckoning when each soul reaps what it has sown: only then, he says, will the truth of his warnings be proved. It is the stance of one who speaks unwelcome words now so they may be vindicated later.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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