Praise of the good soul, true wealth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मोकळें मन रसाळ वाणी । या चि गुणीं संपन्न ॥1॥
लक्ष्मी ते ऐशा नावें । भाग्यें ज्यावें तरि त्यांनीं ॥ध्रु.॥
नमन नम्रता अंगीं । नेघे रंगीं पालट ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याच्या नांवें । घेतां व्हावें संतोषी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
An open mind and a tongue full of rasa: one is rich in these very qualities alone. Let those who are fortunate live by such wealth, bearing the name of Lakshmi herself. Humility and gentleness dwell in the body; they never change their color. Says Tuka, at the very mention of such a person's name, one should feel contentment.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
An open mind and a tongue full of sweetness: be rich in these qualities alone. Let this be called wealth. Let the fortunate live by it. Humility and gentleness live in the body, and they never change their color. Tuka says: at the very mention of such a person's name, you should feel glad.
What it means
Tukaram is renaming what counts as wealth. He sets aside money and standing and points instead to an open heart, a kind tongue, humility, and gentleness, and he calls these the real riches, the true Lakshmi to live by. The mark of these qualities is that they do not change their color: they are not a performance you can switch off, but something steady in the person. He ends by saying that such a soul is so good that even hearing their name should make you happy.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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