Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
डिवेना डसेना बुझेना निर्मळ । परि अमंगळ स्वीकारीना॥1॥
परंतु गर्धब अपवित्र जाणा । पर्वकाळीं दाना देऊं नये ॥ध्रु.॥
डिवी लात्री बुजे बहु नेदी दुध । मुखीं नाहीं शुद्ध विष्ठा खाय ॥2॥
परंतु ते गाय पवित्र हो जाणा । पर्वकाळीं दाना देऊजेते॥3॥
ब्राह्मणें ब्राह्मणा सद्गू करावा । परि न करावा शूद्रादिक ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे देवें सांगितली सोय । ह्मणोनि त्याचे पाय धरिले जीवें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A donkey does not kick, does not bite, and is docile and clean, yet it is considered impure and should not be given as a gift on holy occasions. A cow kicks, charges, is stubborn, and does not give milk easily. Its mouth is not clean; it eats anything. Yet the cow is considered sacred and fit to be given as a gift on holy days. A brahmin should accept as Sadguru only a brahmin, not one of lower caste. Says Tuka, this is the path God has prescribed; therefore I have held fast to His feet with all my life.
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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