Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
काय ढोरापुढें घालूनि मिष्टान्न । खरा विलेपन चंदनाचें ॥1॥
नको नको देवा खळाची संगति । रस ज्या पंगती नाहीं कथे ॥ध्रु.॥
काय सेज बाज माकडा विलास । अळंकारा नास करुनी टाकी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे काय पाजूनि नवनीत । सर्पा विष थीत अमृताचें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why set fine delicacies before a donkey or smear sandalwood paste on an ass? God, spare me the company of the wicked, for they have no taste for the nectar of sacred stories. What use is a luxurious bed to a monkey? It will only destroy the ornaments. Says Tuka, even if you feed a serpent butter and cream, its venom remains the same.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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