Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
साकरेच्या गोण्या बैलाचिये पाठी । तयासी सेवटीं करबाडें ॥1॥
मालाचे पैं पेटे वाहाताती उंटें । तयालागीं कांटे भक्षावया ॥ध्रु.॥
वाउगा हा धंदा आशा वाढविती । बांधोनियां देती यमा हातीं ॥2॥
ज्यासी असे लाभ तो चि जाणे गोडी । येर तीं बापुडीं सिणलीं वांयां ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे शहाणा होइप रे गव्हारा । चोयासीचा फेरा फिरों नको ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Sacks of sugar are loaded upon a bull's back, yet the bull receives only the sting of the prod. Camels carry chests of merchandise, yet they eat only thorns. Such is the futile toil of those who increase their own desires; they are tied up and handed over to Yama. Only the one who earns the profit knows its sweetness; the rest, poor creatures, have labored in vain. Says Tuka, become wise, O fool. Do not go round and round the cycle of eighty-four hundred thousand births.
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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