Moral ideal, conduct over costume
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
वेशा नाहीं बोल अवगुण दूषीले । ऐशा बोला भले झणें क्षोभा ॥1॥
कोण नेणे अन्न जीवाचें जीवन । विषमेळवण विष होय ॥ध्रु.॥
सोनें शुद्ध नेणे कोण हा विचार । डांकें हीनवर केलें त्यासी ॥2॥
याती शुद्ध परि अधम लक्षण । वांयां गेलें तेणें सोंगें ही तें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे शूर तो चि पावे मान । आणीक मंडण भार वाही ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
These words do not fault the garment; they fault the character within. Do not be offended by such plain speech. Everyone knows that food is the life of the jiva, but when poison is mixed in, it becomes deadly. Everyone knows gold is pure; alloying it with base metal debases it. The birth may be pure but the conduct is low; even that pretence is wasted. Says Tuka, only the truly brave one earns respect. Others merely carry the burden of adornment.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
These words do not blame the robe. They blame the bad character within. Do not take offense at such plain speech. Everyone knows food is the life of the body; but mix poison in, and it turns deadly. Everyone knows gold is pure; alloy it with base metal, and it is debased. The birth may be pure, but the conduct low, and even that disguise is wasted. Tuka says: only the truly brave one earns honor. The rest just carry the weight of their ornaments.
What it means
Tukaram makes clear he is not attacking the outward sign, the holy garb or the high birth, but the rotten character it can hide. Just as nourishing food becomes poison once poison is stirred in, and pure gold loses its worth once alloyed, a pure pedigree is wasted when the conduct beneath it is low; the costume cannot redeem it. Real honor is earned by the genuinely brave and true person, not by the trappings. Everyone else is merely lugging around decoration that proves nothing. The plain speech is offered as correction, not insult, and asks each listener to check the inside, not the dress.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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