Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
कालवूनि विष । केला अमृताचा नास ॥1॥
ऐशा अभाग्याच्या बुिद्ध । सत्य लोपी नाहीं शुिद्ध ॥ध्रु.॥
नाक कापुनि लावी सोनें । कोण अळंकार तेणें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बावी । मोडूनि मदार बांधावी ॥3॥
कण भुसाच्या आधारें । परि तें निवडितां बरें ॥
काय घोंगालि पाधाणी । ताकामध्यें घाटी लोणी ॥ध्रु.॥
सुइणीपुढें चेंटा । काय लपविसी चाटा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे Yाान । दिमाकाची भनभन ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Mixing poison into nectar destroys its value. Such is the intellect of the unfortunate, suppressing truth without awareness. Cutting off the nose and replacing it with gold; what kind of adornment is that? Says Tuka, one who demolishes a well to build a tomb. The grain depends on the chaff, yet when you sift, they separate. How does one churn butter from buttermilk without a churning rod? You cannot hide your tricks before a midwife. Says Tuka, such knowledge is nothing but the buzzing of arrogance.
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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