Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
जन्मा येऊन उदार जाला । उद्धार केला वंशाचा । मेळवूनि धन मेळवी माती । सदा विपत्ती भोगीतसे ॥1॥
नाम घेतां न मिळे अन्न । नव्हे कारण देखिलिया । धर्म करितां ऐके कानीं । बांधे निजोनि डोकियासी ॥ध्रु.॥
घरा व्याही पाहुणा आला । ह्मणे त्याला बरें नाहीं । तुमचे गावीं वैद्य आहे । बैसोनि काय प्रयोजन ॥2॥
उजवूं किती होतिल पोरें । मरतां बरें ह्मणे यांसी । ह्मणऊनि देवा नवस करी । दावी घरींहुनि बोनें ॥3॥
पर्वकाळीं भट घरासी आला । बोंब घाला ह्मणे पोरां । तुमचा उणा होइऩल वांटा । काळ पिठासी आला ॥4॥
दाढी करितां अडका गेला । घरांत आला बाइलेपें । ह्मणे आतां उगवीं मोडी । डोइऩ बोडीं आपुली ॥5॥
तीर्थ स्वप्नीं नेणें गंगा । पूजन लिंगा गांविंचिया । आडकुनि दार बैसे दारीं। आल्या घर ह्मणे ओस ॥6॥
तुका ह्मणे ऐसे आहेत गा हरी। या ही तारीं जीवांसी । माझ्या भय वाटे चित्तीं । नरका जाती ह्मणोनि ॥7॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The man who was born and called himself generous has only redeemed his family name in word; in truth he hoards wealth like dirt and suffers endless misfortune. When it is time to chant the name, he says there is no food to be had; he sees no reason in devotion. When he hears talk of charity, he ties up his head and pretends to be asleep. When a guest or in-law arrives at his door, he says he is unwell and suggests they visit the physician in their own village. He asks how many more children there will be to feed and prays to God they would simply die, even making vows from his house to that end. When the priest comes at the holy season, he tells the children to scream that the beggar is taking their share. When a coin is spent on a shave, he runs home to his wife demanding she shave her own head to save the cost. He knows neither pilgrimage in waking nor the Ganga in dream, nor worship of the village shrine; he bolts his door and tells every caller the house is empty. Says Tuka, such men do exist, O Hari; deliver even them, for it grieves my heart to think they are headed for hell.
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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