Social Criticism

महारासि सिवे । कोपे ब्राम्हण तो नव्हे ॥१॥

A Brahmin who rages at the touch of a Mahar is no Brahmin at all. For that, no atonement exists, not even giving up the …

वृत्ति भूमि राज्य द्रव्य उपार्जिती । जाणा त्या निश्चितीं देव नाहीं ॥१॥

Those who earn livelihood, land, kingdom, and wealth through religion, know for certain that God is not with them. A hir…

बाईल सवासिण आई । आपण पितरांचे ठायीं ॥१॥

His wife, once a woman of auspicious fortune, becomes a widow; his mother joins the ancestors; he himself heads for hell…

दानें कांपे हात । नाव तेविशीं मात ॥१॥

His hand trembles from giving, yet he boasts on that very subject. In holy gatherings he speaks loose words; asafoetida …

भोरप्यानें सोंग पालटिलें वरी । ध्यान धरी मत्स्या जैसें ॥१॥

The charlatan changes his outward form while keeping his dhyana fixed on the fish. He wears tilak, rosaries, insignia, a…

माया ब्रम्ह ऐसें म्हणती धर्मठक । आपणासरिसे लोक नागविले ॥१॥

Those religious impostors who say "Maya is Brahman" have led others astray along with themselves. Wallowing in sensual p…

व्याल्याविण करी शोभनतांतडी । चार ते गधडी करीतसे ॥१॥

Without having delivered, the she-donkey rushes through the naming ceremony. Why all this fuss, looking at what others d…

देखोनि पुराणिकांची दाढी । रडे स्फुंदे नाक ओढी ॥१॥

Seeing the preacher's beard, she weeps and sobs and wipes her nose. Her devotion seems genuine to onlookers, yet her inn…

अतिवादी नव्हे शुद्ध या बीजाचा । ओळखा जातीचा अंत्यज तो ॥१॥

He is no pure seed, that loud-mouth; know him as outcaste in spirit. The Vedas, the scriptures, the words of the wise, h…

कांहीं नित्यनेमाविण । अन्न खाय तो श्वान ॥ वांयां मनुष्यपण । भार वाहे तो वृषभ ॥१॥

One who eats without any daily discipline, he is a dog. One who wastes his humanness carrying burdens for nothing, he is…

कन्या गो करी कथेचा विकरा । चांडाळ तो खरा तया नांवें ॥१॥

One who sells daughters, cows, and sacred stories. He is the true chandala, that is his name. Virtue and vice are the on…

घरीं रांडा पोरें मरती उपवासीं । सांगे लोकांपासीं थोरपण ॥१॥

His wife and children starve at home, yet he boasts of his greatness before the public. If someone were taken to his ho…

चुंबळीचा करी चुंबळीशीं संग । अंगीं वसे रंग क्रियाहीन ॥१॥

A man of worthless company keeps the company of the worthless; though devoid of practice, he wears the color of piety on…

काखे कडासन आड पडे । खडबड खडबडे हुसकलें ॥१॥

With a seat-cloth tucked under his arm, he stumbles and makes a commotion. The shameless disgrace cries out, help, help…

कुटुंबाचा केला त्याग । नाहीं राग जंव गेला ॥१॥

If one has renounced family but not renounced anger, that devotion is filthy and will not save one from hell. If one ha…

तारतिम वरी तोंडा च पुरतें । अंतरा हें येतें अंतरीचें ॥१॥

Everything appears in proper order and the words sound correct, but what lies within eventually rises to the surface. H…

आणिकांच्या कापिती माना । निष्ठ‍पणा पार नाहीं ॥१॥

They sever the heads of others and know no limit to their cruelty. These wretches borrow sins on credit only to suffer …

हातीं होन दावी बेना । करिती लेंकीच्या धारणा ॥१॥

They hold gold coins in hand and bargain for a bride, making settlements over the daughter's future. Such are the ways …

साळंकृत कन्यादान । करितां पृथ्वीसमान ॥१॥

Giving away a well-adorned daughter in marriage is considered equal to giving away the earth itself. But this does not …

ब्रम्हहत्या मारिल्या गाई । आणीक काई पाप केलें ॥१॥

Even if one has killed a Brahmin or slaughtered cows, even if one has committed every other sin, listen now to the infam…

याचा कोणी करी पक्ष । तो ही त्याशी समतुल्य ॥१॥

Whoever takes the side of such a person is equal to him in guilt. For nothing, he earns a share of suffering, and his a…

जेणें मुखें स्तवी । तें चि निंदे पाठीं लावी ॥१॥

The same mouth that praises to one's face turns around and slanders behind one's back. Such is the breed of the base; t…

आमचे गोसावी अयाचितवृत्ती । करवी शिष्याहातीं उपदेश ॥१॥

Our so-called masters live on unsolicited charity and have their disciples do the teaching on their behalf. A boat made…

भजन घाली भोगावरी । अकर्तव्य मनीं धरी ॥१॥

One who uses devotion merely for worldly enjoyment, harboring improper desires in the mind: shame on such saintliness. …

आसुरी स्वभाव निर्दय अंतर । मानसीं निष्ठ‍ अतिवादी ॥१॥

A demonic temperament is merciless at heart, obstinate in mind, given to excessive argument. Caste and lineage count for…

आचरणा ठाव । नाहीं अंगीं स्वता भाव ॥१॥

He has no practice of virtue, no genuine devotion within himself. He finds faults in others and contrives their downfall…

ते करिती तिची विटंबना । अवघ्या प्रसद्धि जना । एक न मारितां शाहाणा । तो जाणा सुख …

Those who humiliate the mother of the two sons bring disgrace upon themselves before the whole world; without correcting…

आहा रे भाई । तयावरी माझी ब्रीदावळी । भ्रष्ट ये कळी क्रियाहीन ॥१॥

Now hear my proclamation against the corrupt ones without practice of this dark age. Spit upon the face of such a person…

नीट पाट करूनि थाट । दावीतसे तोरा । आपणाकडे पाहो कोणी । निघाली बाजारा ॥१॥

She dresses herself neatly and parades with airs, hoping someone will notice her as she heads to the marketplace. But th…

करिसी तें देवा करीं माझें सुखें । परी मी त्यासी मुखें न म्हणें संत ॥१॥

O God, do whatever pleases you with me, but I will never call those people saints who have become slaves to wealth, stat…

म्हणविती ऐसे आइकतों संत । न देखीजे होत डोळां कोणीं ॥१॥

I hear people call themselves saints, yet none can be seen with one's own eyes. Who would place trust in such people? Tr…

अतिवाद लावी । एक बोट सोंग दावी ॥१॥

One puts on excessive airs and makes a show of pointing a finger. He is a costumed actor, not a true Vaishnava but a syc…

पोटाचे ते नट पाहों नये छंद । विषयांचे भेद विषयरूप ॥१॥

Performers who act for their belly are not worth watching; their art is shaped by the senses and leads back to the sense…

भुंकती तीं द्यावीं भुंकों । आपण त्यांचें नये शिकों ॥१॥

Let those who bark keep barking; one should never learn their ways. The faithful must never take the words of the wicked…

द्रव्य असतां धर्म न करी । नागविला राजद्वारीं ॥१॥

A man who has wealth but gives nothing to charity ends up stripped bare at the king's court. When his mother gave birth …

मुखें बोले ब्रम्हज्ञान । मनीं धनअभिमान ॥१॥

He speaks of the knowledge of Brahman with his mouth, but his mind is swollen with the pride of wealth. What happiness c…

बोली मैंदाची बरवी असे । वाटे अंतरीं घालावे फांसे ॥1॥

The words of the deceiver sound pleasant, but his intention is to slip a noose around your neck. On the surface he appea…

सेंदरीं हें देवी दैवतें । कोण तीं पुजी भुतेंकेतें । आपुल्या पोटा जीं रडतें । माग…

These vermilion-smeared village deities and spirits, who worships them? They themselves cry for their own bellies and be…

संत मागे पाणी नेदी एक चूळ । दासीस आंघोळ ठेवी पाणी ॥1॥

When a saint asks for water, this man will not give even a sip. But for his mistress he stores water for her bath. Seei…

आशाबद्ध वHा । धाक श्रोतयाच्या चित्ता ॥1॥

A speaker bound by worldly expectations instills only fear in the hearts of listeners. Such devotion goes to waste, for …

वरि बोला रस । कथी Yाान माजी फोस ॥1॥

Outwardly his speech drips with nectar, but inwardly his knowledge is hollow and empty. He talks of the touchstone's pow…

डोइऩ वाढवूनि केश । भूतें आणिती अंगास ॥1॥

Those who grow long matted hair and invite spirits into their bodies are not true saints. The mark of the Self is not fo…

आधीं च आळशी । वरी गुरूचा उपदेशी ॥1॥

He was lazy to begin with, and on top of that he received a guru's teaching about the formless. Now what barrier of righ…

टिळा टोपी माळा देवाचें गवाळें । वागवी वोंगळ पोटासाटीं ॥1॥

He wears the tilak, the cap, the garland, all the paraphernalia of God, but carries it all as a filthy pretense just to …

टंवकारूनि दृष्टी लावुनियां रंग । दावी झगमग डोऑयांपुढें ॥1॥

He fixes his gaze and creates a dazzling display, showing flashing lights before the eyes. They tell the disciple, "You …

शाH गधडा जये देशीं । तेथें राशी पापाच्या ॥1॥

In the land where a Shakta donkey holds sway, heaps of sin abound. He proclaims the merit of his practice while the sens…

राजा प्रजा द्वाड देश । शाक्त वास करिती तो ॥1॥

Where the king, the people, and the land are corrupt, that is where the Shakta cult makes its home. Unrighteousness grow…

ऐसें कलियुगाच्या मुळें । जालें धर्माचें वाटोळें ॥1॥

In this Kali Yuga, righteousness has been utterly destroyed. Abandoning the name of Rama, the brahmins chant impure form…

अवघ्या पापें घडला एक । उपासक शक्तीचा ॥1॥

All sins are gathered in one: the worshiper of Shakti. O my Panduranga, let not his pollution touch my body. He is stee…

वारितां बळें धरितां हातीं । जुलुमें जाती नरकामधीं ॥1॥

Even when they are warned and restrained by force, they push their way stubbornly into hell. Like those given over to vi…

शाक्तांची शूकरी माय । विष्ठा खाय बिदीची ॥1॥

The mother-goddess of the Shaktas is a sow that eats filth from the streets. Her followers have fallen into her habits a…

हरिहर सांडूनि देव । धरिती भाव क्षुल्लकीं ॥1॥

Abandoning Hari and Shiva, they fix their devotion on petty spirits. Hear of the degradation of such devotees. They han…

कांद्यासाठी जालें Yाान । तेणें जन नाडिलें ॥1॥

For the sake of an onion, this so-called knowledge arose, and by it the people were misled. Listen: lust and anger seeth…

कलियुगीं कवित्व करिती पाषांड । कुशळ हे भांड बहु जाले ॥1॥

In this Kali Yuga, poets compose works of hypocrisy. These skilled buffoons have multiplied greatly. Their minds are se…

नावडे तरि कां येतील हे भांड । घेउनियां तोंड काळें येथें ॥1॥

If they do not like it, why do these quarrelsome ones come here with darkened faces? In their company, all sweetness is …

उचित न कळे इंिद्रयाचे ओढी । मुखें बडबडी शिकलें तें ॥1॥

He does not know what is proper, pulled along by the senses. His mouth merely repeats what it has been taught. He himse…

देखीचा दिमाख शिकोनियां दावी । हि†या ऐसी केवीं गारगोटी ॥1॥

He copies the outward manner of another and puts it on display. But his inner being is hard as a pebble. Know your limi…

मागें संतीं होतें जें जें सांगितलें । तें येऊं लागलें अनुभवा ॥1॥

What the saints had warned of long ago is now coming to pass in our experience. People have become corrupt in conduct. …

गाढवाचें तानें । पालटलें क्षणक्षणें ॥1॥

The braying of a donkey shifts and changes moment to moment. Such are the qualities of the base: the mind is never of o…

गाढवाचे अंगीं चंदनाची उटी । राख तया तेणें केलीसे भेटी ॥1॥

If you rub sandalwood paste on a donkey, it rolls in the ashes at once. The inborn nature of a creature does not change…

नेणे सुनें चोर पाहुणा मागता । देखून भलता भुंकतसे ॥1॥

A dog cannot tell a thief from a guest or a supplicant. Seeing anyone at all, it barks. No training takes hold in such …

विचार नाहीं नर खर तो तैसा । वाहे ज्ञान पाठी भार लगड तैसा ॥1॥

A man without discernment is no better than a donkey, carrying the load of knowledge on his back like dead weight. One …

कलिधर्म मागें सांगितले संतीं । आचार सांडिती द्विजलोक ॥1॥

The saints foretold the ways of the Kali age: the twice-born abandon righteous conduct. That very thing is now plain in…

साधक जाले कळी । गुरुगुडीची लांब नळी ॥1॥

The seekers of this age have become like the long pipe of a smoking vessel. Their practice is intoxication, cannabis, a…

ब्राह्मण तो नव्हे ऐसी ज्यासी बुिद्ध । पाहा श्रुतीमधीं विचारूनि ॥1॥

He is no true Brahmin who holds such notions. Look into the scriptures and consider carefully. One who does not love th…

ब्राह्मण तो याती अंतेज असतां । मानावा तत्वता निश्चयेसी ॥1॥

Even if one is born an outcaste by caste, he should be considered a true Brahmin in spirit and in truth. If he sincerel…

एक करिती गुरु गुरु । भोंवता भारु शिष्यांचा ॥1॥

Some go about proclaiming themselves guru upon guru, with a crowd of disciples surrounding them. They walk on two feet …

ऐसे कुळीं पुत्र होती । बुडविती पूर्वजा ॥1॥

Such are the sons born in certain families: they drown their own ancestors. Tale-bearing, theft, and quarreling have be…

गांठोळीस धन भाकावी करुणा । दावूनि सज्जना कींव पीडी ॥1॥

The miser begs for mercy while hoarding wealth knotted tight, and by displaying pity to good people, he torments them. …

मोल देऊनियां सांटवावे दोष । नटाचे ते वेश पाहोनियां ॥1॥

People pay to see the actor's costumes and store up his vices along with the viewing. But when devotees sing Hari's nam…

उष्टएा पत्रावळी करूनियां गोळा । दाखविती कळा कवित्वाची ॥1॥

They gather leftover leaf-plates and with them display their so-called poetic art. Such transgressors will be cooked in…

आवडीच्या मतें करिती भजन । भोग नारायणें ह्मणती केला ॥1॥

They worship according to their own inclination and claim that Narayana has ordained their indulgence. They say everyth…

ह्मणतां हरिदास कां रे नाहीं लाज । दीनास महाराज ह्मणसी हीना ॥1॥

Why are you not ashamed to call yourself a haridasa? You call yourself a great lord of the poor while being lowly yourse…

घरोघरीं अवघें जालें ब्रह्मYाान । परि मेळवण बहु माजी ॥1॥

In every household, Brahman-knowledge has supposedly dawned, yet all one finds is adulteration in their mix. If anyone …

पुण्यविकरा तें मातेचें गमन । भाडी ऐसें धन विटाळ तो ॥1॥

Selling merit is like trafficking one's own mother. Such wealth earned by hire is a defilement. He who is greedy for se…

कुचराचे श्रवण । गुणदोषांवरि मन ॥1॥

The crooked one's hearing is base; his mind dwells on the faults and virtues of others. Though present at the sacred ka…

गंगा न देखे विटाळ । तें चि रांजणीं ही जळ ॥1॥

The Ganga does not see pollution; it is the same water whether in the river or in a pot. The small and the great cannot…

काय हएाचें घ्यावें । नित्य नित्य कोणें गावें ॥1॥

What can be gained from such people? Who should sing daily for them? They have turned the telling of Hari into a trade,…

मानामान किती । तुझ्या क्षुल्लका संपत्ती ॥1॥

How much honor do you claim from your petty wealth? Go and impress the gullible; let those who like such things be char…

अभH ब्राह्मण जळो त्याचें तोंड । काय त्यासी रांड प्रसवली ॥1॥

Let the face of a devotionless Brahmin be burned! What whore gave birth to him? Blessed is the Vaishnava, even if born …

मातेचीं जो थानें फाडी । तया जोडी कोण ते ॥1॥

He who tears at his own mother's breasts: who can restore him? He who slanders the Vedas is a chandal, fallen and ritua…

वेश वंदाया पुरते । कोण ब्राह्मण निरुते ॥1॥

Who truly deserves the name Brahmin, beyond the outward form that earns a greeting? Tell me this. I wish to lay the que…

कवेश्वरांचा तो आह्मांसी विटाळ । प्रसाद वोंगळ चिवडिती ॥1॥

We are disgusted by the so-called master poets. They chew over God's grace and spit it out as refuse. Blind and outward…

निंदा स्तुती करवी पोट । सोंग दाखवी बोभाट ॥1॥

The belly alone drives one to slander and to praise. All outward display and loud protestations are for show. Matted ha…

कोरडएा गोठी चटक्या बोल । शिकल्या सांगे नाहीं ओल ॥1॥

Dry lectures, clever quips, and learned recitations, all delivered without a drop of genuine feeling. They do not truly…

पशु ऐसे होती Yाानी । चर्वणीं या विषयांचे ॥1॥

Even the learned become like beasts, chewing the cud of sense pleasures. They heap greed upon greed, stirring agitation…

शिष्यांची जो नेघे सेवा । मानी देवासारिखें ॥1॥

The guru who does not demand service from his disciples and treats them as he would treat God: his teaching bears fruit.…

जीव तो चि देव भोजन ते भिH । मरण तेचि मुिH पापांडएाची ॥1॥

These people say the jiva is God, eating is devotion, and death is liberation from sin. By pampering the body they have…

कानीं धरी बोल बहुतांचीं मतें । चाट त्यापरतें आणीक नाहीं ॥1॥

He who lends his ears to every opinion and follows many doctrines is the worst kind of fool. He may win the honor of th…

घरोघरीं बहु जाले कवि । नेणे प्रसादाची चवी ॥1॥

In every household, many poets have appeared, but none of them know the taste of God's true grace. The wretch craves or…

कथा करोनिया द्रव्य घेती देती । तयां अधोगति नरकवास ॥1॥

Those who perform kirtan for money and take payment for it will descend to the lower regions and dwell in hell. They sh…

नाइकावे कानीं तयाचे ते बोल । भHीविण फोल Yाान सांगे ॥1॥

Do not listen to the words of one who speaks of knowledge without devotion. He who praises non-duality without the spir…

वेदविहित तुह्मी आइका हो कर्में । बोलतों तीं वर्में संतांपुढे ॥1॥

Listen, O people, to the rites ordained by the Vedas. I speak these truths before the saints. The four castes arose fro…

कथा करोनियां मोल ज्यापें घेती । ते ही दोघे जाती नरकामध्यें ॥1॥

Those who perform kirtan for a price, and those who pay for it, both go to hell. Fill yourselves with Brahman, fill you…

आशाबद्ध वHा । भय श्रोतयाच्या चित्ता ॥1॥

The speaker is bound by his own greed, and the listener's chitta trembles with fear. The performer does not know what h…

तक्र शिष्या मान । दुग्धा ह्मणे नारायण ॥1॥

He gives buttermilk to his disciples and calls the milk an offering to Narayana. Such are the tattered rags of his so-c…

सांगों जाणती शकुन । भूत भविष्य वर्तमान ॥1॥

Those who claim to read omens and know the past, present, and future: I am wearied by them and cannot bear to look upon …

Yाानियांचे घरीं चोजवितां देव । तेथें अहंभाव पाठी लागे ॥1॥

In the homes of the learned, when God is sought, the sense of I-ness follows right behind. Therefore I have abandoned a…

परस्त्रीतें ह्मणतां माता । चित्त लाजवितें चित्ता ॥1॥

One speaks of another man's wife as 'mother,' yet the chitta shames itself before the chitta. What is the use of mouthin…

जळों त्याचें तोंड । ऐसी कां ते व्याली रांड ॥1॥

Cursed be that face; why did his mother bring forth such a one? His brows are always knotted in a frown; anger smolders …