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.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
More in this theme →