Exhortation, the mirage
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मृगजळ दिसे साचपणा ऐसें । खोटियाचें पिसें ऊर फोडी ॥१॥
जाणोन कां करा आपुलाले घात । विचारा रे हित लवलाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥
संचित सांगातीं बोळवणें सवें । आचरलें द्यावें फळ तेणें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे शेखी श्मशान तोंवरी । संबंध गोवरी अंगीं सवें ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A mirage appears as genuineness itself; the mania of the false breaks its own heart in pursuit. Knowing all this, why do you still destroy yourself? Think about your welfare right now, without delay. Only stored merit accompanies you as escort; your conduct alone gives its fruit. Says Tuka, in the end the procession goes only as far as the cremation ground, and the consequences of your deeds cling to you like measles erupting on the skin.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A mirage looks exactly like real water, and the deluded man bursts his own heart chasing it. Knowing all this, why do you keep destroying yourself? Think about your real welfare now, without losing a moment. Only your stored-up merit goes with you as escort, and only what you actually did bears fruit. Tuka says: in the end the procession carries you no further than the cremation ground, while the results of your deeds cling to you like measles breaking out on the skin.
What it means
Tukaram presses the urgency of waking up. The world's goods are a mirage that looks like water and breaks the heart of whoever runs after it. He asks the listener to stop the self-destruction and reckon, right now, what truly profits the soul. Two sober facts frame the choice: at death only one's accumulated merit and deeds travel on, and the funeral procession itself goes only as far as the burning-ground. What you cannot leave behind is the fruit of your actions, which clings like an eruption on the skin. So choose your deeds while there is still time.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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