Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
अग्नीमाजी पडे धातु । लीन होउनि राहे अतु । होय शुद्ध न पवे घातु । पटतंतुप्रमाण ॥1॥
बाहएरंगाचें कारण । मिथ्या अवघें चि भाषण । गर्व ताठा हें अYाान । मरण सवें वाहातसे ॥ध्रु.॥
पुरें मातलिया नदी । लव्हा नांदे जीवनसंधी । वृक्ष उन्मळोनि भेदी । परि तो कधीं भंगेना ॥2॥
हस्ती परदळ तें भंगी । तया पायीं न मरे मुंगी । कोण जाय संगी । पाणोवाणी तयेच्या ॥3॥
पिटितां घणें वरि सैरा । तया पोटीं राहे हिरा । तैशा काय तगती गारा । तया थोरा होऊनि ॥4॥
लीन दीन हें चि सार । भव उतरावया पार। बुडे माथां भार । तुका ह्मणें वाहोनि ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When metal enters fire, it becomes one with the flame, remaining pure and unharmed, like thread within cloth. All outward display is false talk. Pride and arrogance are ignorance, carrying death along with them. When a flood swells, the mightiest trees are uprooted, but the tender reed survives by bending. The elephant shatters the enemy's army, yet the ant at its feet remains unharmed. Who can match the ant's gentle ways? When struck by a hammer repeatedly, the diamond within the rock endures, while stones of that same size would shatter. Says Tuka, humility and meekness are the true essence for crossing the ocean of existence. Those who carry burdens upon their heads will drown.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
The Moral Ideal
Purity, sincerity, truthfulness, humility, peacefulness, and service.
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