Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं पाइतन भूपतीशीं दावा । धिग त्या कर्तव्या आगी लागो ॥1॥
मुंगियांच्या मुखा गजाचा आहार । न साहावे भार जाय जीवें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आधीं करावा विचार । शूरपणें तीर मोकलावा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should not challenge a king without having earned that right; may fire consume such reckless ambition. An ant cannot take the food of an elephant; the weight of it would cost its life. Says Tuka, first deliberate carefully, and only then release the arrow with true aim.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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