Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
मणि पडिला दाढेसी मकरतोंडीं । सुखें हस्तें चि काढवेल प्रौढीं ॥1॥
परि मूर्खाचें चित्त बोधवेना । दुधें कूर्मीच्या पाळवेल सेना ॥ध्रु.॥
सकळ पृथ्वी हिंडतां कदाचित । ससीसिंगाची प्राप्त होय तेथें ॥2॥
अतिप्रयत्नें गािळतां वाळुवेतें । दिव्य तेलाची प्राप्त होय तेथें ॥3॥
अतिक्रोधें खवळला फणी पाही । धरूं येतो मस्तकीं पुष्पप्रायी ॥4॥
पहा ब्रह्मानंदें चि एकीं हेळा । महापातकी तो तुका मुH केला ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A jewel caught in the jaws of a crocodile could still be removed with a steady, daring hand. But the mind of a fool simply cannot be enlightened. An army of turtles could be nourished with milk, if one tried hard enough. If you scoured the whole earth, you might somehow find a hare's horn. If you pressed sand hard enough, you might extract rare oil. Even a furious serpent could be subdued and have a flower placed upon its head. Says Tuka, by the bliss of Brahman alone has this great sinner been effortlessly set free.
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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