Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
उद्यांचें आजि च मरण । आणोनि ह्मणे हरि भोHा ॥1॥
नाहीं कांहीं पडों येत तुटी । जाणें तो आहे सेवटीं ।
लाभ विचारोनि पोटीं। होइप सेवटीं जागृत ॥ध्रु.॥
आहे ते उरे कटा । लावुनि चळ आपुला फाटा ।
पुरे हें न पुरे सेवटा । तरण्या बळकटा सदा वास॥2॥
ह्मणोनि मोडावा कांटाळा । अविद्यात्मक कोंवळा ।
होतील प्रबळा । आशा तृष्णा माया ॥3॥
क्षण या देहाच्या अंतीं। जड होउनि राहेल माती ।
परदेश ते परवर होती । चिळसविती नाकडोळे ॥4॥
जंव या नाहीं पातल्या विपित्त । आयुष्य भविष्य आहे हातीं ।
लाभ विचारोनि गुंती । तुका ह्मणे अंतीं सर्व पिसुनें॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Bring the thought of tomorrow's death into today and say that Hari is the one who sustains. There is no loss in this. Since the end is certain, consider the profit wisely and stay alert at the last hour. What you have, keep it; cut off the trailing tendrils of attachment. It will not suffice in the end, so hold firmly to the strong vessel of faith. Therefore, cast off the weariness of the ignorant, tender self. Desire, craving, and illusion will grow powerful if allowed. At the moment of the body's end, it will lie as inert clay. Those who were near will become strangers, covering nose and eyes in revulsion. While calamity has not yet struck, while the breath of life is still in your hands, weigh the gain and invest wisely. Says Tuka, in the end, everything is madness.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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