Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
काय एकां जालें तें कां नाहीं ठावें । काय हें सांगावें काय ह्मुण ॥1॥
देखतील डोळां ऐकती कानीं । बोलिलें पुराणीं तें ही ठावें ॥ध्रु.॥
काय हें शरीर साच कीं जाणार । सकळ विचार जाणती हा ॥2॥
कां हें कळों नये आपुलें आपणा । बाळत्व तारुण्य वृद्धदशा ॥3॥
कां हें आवडलें िप्रयापुत्रधन । काय कामा कोण कोणा आलें ॥4॥
कां हें जन्म वांयां घातलें उत्तम । कां हे रामराम न ह्मणती ॥5॥
काय भुली यांसी पडली जाणतां । देखती मरतां आणिकांसी ॥6॥
काय करिती हे बांधलिया काळें । तुका ह्मणे बळें वज्रपाशीं ॥7॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What happened to some is well known. Why must it be told again? They see it with their eyes, they hear it with their ears, and what the Puranas say is also known to them. They know full well that this body is not permanent and that all things are subject to change. Why then does their own condition not become clear to them, as childhood turns to youth and youth to old age? Why are they so enamored of wife, children, and wealth? Who among them has ever been of lasting use to anyone? Why is this precious human birth being wasted? Why do they not chant Rama, Rama? What spell of forgetfulness has overtaken them, even as they watch others dying before their eyes? Says Tuka, what will they do when they are bound by Time in chains of adamant?
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
More in this theme →Continue exploring