Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
जन्मांतरिंचा परिट न्हावी । जात ठेवी त्यानें तें॥1॥
वाखर जैसा चरचरी । तोंड करी संव दणी ॥ध्रु.॥
पूर्व जन्म शिखासूत्र । मळ मूत्र अंतरीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे करिती निंदा । धुवटधंदा पुढिलांचा ॥3॥
नाम दुसी त्याचें नको दरषण । विष तें वचन वाटे मज ॥2॥
अमंगळ वाणी नाइकवे कानीं । निंदेची पोहोणी उठे तेथें॥ध्रु.॥
काय लभ्य त्याचिये वचनीं । कोणत्या पुराणीं दिली ग्वाही ॥2॥
काय आड लावूं त्याचिया तोंडासी । आतां या जिभेसी काय करूं ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे संत न मनिती त्यांस । घेऊं पाहे ग्रास यमदूत ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The washerman and barber from past lives carry their caste through births. The potter's wheel keeps turning and grinding, making the same rasping sound. Inherited from a former birth are the sacred thread and tuft, yet filth dwells within. Says Tuka, those who engage in slander practice the washerman's trade on others' dirty linen. One whose very name I detest, whose sight I do not wish for, whose words feel like poison to me. Such impure speech is unbearable to the ears; wherever it arises, a flood of slander follows. What good can come from his words? Which scripture has endorsed them? What barrier can be placed before such a mouth? What shall be done about that tongue? Says Tuka, the saints pay no heed to such people; the messengers of Yama are watching to seize them.
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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