Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
अनुभवावांचून सोंग संपादणें । नव्हे हें करणें स्वहिताचें॥1॥
तैसा नको भुलों बाहिरल्या रंगें । हित तें चि वेगें करूनि घेइप ॥ध्रु.॥
बहुरूपी रूपें नटला नारायण । सोंग संपादून जैसा तैसा ॥2॥
पाषाणाचें नाव ठेविलें देव । आणिका तारी भाव परि तो तैसा ॥3॥
कनक झाड ह्म वंदिलें माथां । परिं तें अर्था न मिळे माजी ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याचा भाव तारी त्यास । अहंभावीं नास तो चि पावे ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Putting on a show without real inner experience is not the path to one's own good. Do not be deceived by outward appearances; pursue your true welfare quickly. Narayana Himself plays many roles in many forms, yet after the performance He is exactly as He always was. A stone is called God, and through others' faith it can save them, yet the stone remains the same. One may bow one's head to a tree made of gold, yet one cannot extract real wealth from it. Says Tuka, it is one's own devotion that saves; the one puffed up with ego meets only with ruin.
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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