Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
पालथे घागरी घातलें जीवन । न धरी च जाण तें ही त्याला ॥1॥
जन्मा येउनि तेणें पतन चि साधिलें । तमोगुणें व्यापिलें जया नरा।
जळो जळो हें त्याचें ज्यालेपण । कासया हे आलें संवसारा ॥ध्रु.॥
पाषाण जीवनीं असतां कल्पवरी । पाहातां अंतरीं कोरडा तो।
कुचर मुग नये चि पाका । पाहातां सारिखा होता तैसा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे असे उपाय सकळां । न चले या खळा प्रेत्न कांहीं ।
ह्मणऊनि संग न करितां भला । धरितां अबोला सर्व हित ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Pour water into an overturned pot and it will not hold a single drop; the same is true of such a person. Having taken birth, he has accomplished nothing but his own downfall, consumed by darkness and inertia. Cursed be such a life; why did he come into this world at all? A stone may sit in water for an age and still remain dry within. A hard, green lentil never softens no matter how long it is cooked; it stays exactly as it was. Says Tuka, there are remedies for everyone, but nothing works on the truly wicked. Therefore it is best not to keep their company; maintaining silence toward them is the highest wisdom.
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.
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