The Moral Ideal

आहांच वाहांच आंत वरी दोन्ही । न लगा गडणी आम्हां तैशा ॥१॥

Inside and outside must be one and the same; do not come to us with duplicity. Where there is nothing to fear, why frigh…

सदा तळमळ । चित्ताचिये हळहळ ॥१॥

There is constant agitation and anguish in the heart of one whose speech wounds others. One should avoid even the sight …

पराविया नारी माउलीसमान । मानिलिया धन काय वेचे ॥१॥

If you regard another man's wife as your own mother, what does it cost you? If you refrain from slander and from covetin…

शुद्धबीजा पोटीं । फळें रसाळ गोमटीं ॥१॥

From a pure seed come fruits that are lush and sweet. Let the tongue speak nectar-like words, and let the body be spent …

चित्त समाधानें । तरी विष वाटे सोनें ॥१॥

When the mind is at peace, even poison turns to gold. Know this well, O good people, for the opposite is also true. When…

परिमळ म्हणूनी चोळूं नये फूल । खाऊं नये मूल आवडतें ॥१॥

One should not crush a flower merely to smell its fragrance, nor uproot a favorite plant just to eat its fruit. One shou…

दुर्जनासि करी साहे । तो ही दंड हे लाहे ॥१॥

He who tolerates a wicked person also shares in the punishment. The company of the dishonest is like the lanes of a brot…

योगाचें तें भाग्य क्षमा । आधीं दमा इंद्रियें ॥१॥

The fortune of yoga lies in forbearance; first subdue the senses. When God becomes your kinsman, all blessings come to y…

जेवितां ही घरी । नाक हागतिया परी ॥१॥

One who fouls the very house where he dines brings only disgrace upon himself. Should he not know what to keep and what …

हो का पुत्र पत्नी बंधु । त्यांचा तोडावा संबंधु ॥१॥

Be it son, wife, or brother, one must sever ties with those who are wicked. Once their treachery becomes clear, do not t…

दुर्जनाची गंधी विष्ठेचिया परी । देखोनियां दुरी व्हावें तया ॥१॥

The company of the wicked stinks like excrement; seeing them, keep your distance. Listen, good people: do not engage or …

शब्दा नाहीं धीर । ज्याची बुद्धि नाहीं स्थिर ॥१॥

One whose words have no steadiness and whose intellect is never still should be avoided. Do not sit in the company of th…

चोरें चोरातें करावा उपदेश । आपुला अभ्यास असेल तो ॥१॥

When a thief counsels a thief, he teaches only what he himself practices. If you follow in the footsteps of a harlot, yo…

शिंदळा साल्याचा नाहीं हा विश्वास । बाईल तो त्यास न विसंभे ॥१॥

A faithless, adulterous person cannot be trusted; even his own wife cannot rely upon him. One whose mind is always bent …

नका कांहीं मागें पुढें रे ठेवूं खरें च बोला । वंची वंचला तो चि रे येथें भोवंडा त…

Do not hold anything back, speak only the truth. Whoever cheats will himself be cheated; spin him around and let him fac…

उपदेश तो भलत्या हातीं । जाला चित्तीं धरावा ॥१॥

Accept instruction from any hand that offers it; hold it in your heart once it is given. One should not judge the vessel…

ब्रम्हनिष्ठ काडी । जरी जीवानांवें मोडी ॥१॥

If one established in Brahman breaks even a twig of a living being's life, he has committed the sin of killing his own g…

धर्म रक्षावया साठीं । करणें आटी आम्हांसि ॥१॥

We must make every effort to protect righteousness. One who abandons prescribed duties before attaining the state of inn…

दया तिचें नांव भूतांचें पाळण । अणीक निर्दळण कंटकांचें ॥१॥

Compassion means the nurturing of all beings and the destruction of those who cause harm. Sin is acting without consider…

अधमाची यारी । रंग पतंगाचे परी ॥१॥

Friendship with the base is like the color of a lac dye: it fades before the moment is over, and its value goes to waste…

मागें नेणपणें घडलें तें क्षमा । आतां देतों सीमा करूनियां ॥१॥

What was done in the past through ignorance, let it be forgiven. From now on, I set a firm boundary. Whoever has committ…

आणिकांच्या घातें । ज्यांचीं निवतील चित्तें ॥१॥

Those whose hearts find satisfaction in the harm done to others, know them as sinners, dwellers in hell, quick to anger.…

मन करा रे प्रसन्न । सर्व सिद्धीचें कारण । मोक्ष अथवा बंधन । सुख समाधान इच्छा ते …

Make the mind serene, for it is the cause of all attainment. Whether it be liberation or bondage, happiness or contentme…

करवितां व्रत अर्धे पुण्य लाभे । मोडवितां दोघे नरका जाती ॥१॥

By encouraging another's vow, you earn half the merit; by causing someone to break it, both go to hell. When the intenti…

बोलावें तें धर्मा मिळे । बरे डोळे उघडूनि ॥१॥

Speak that which adds to righteousness, with eyes wide open. Why eat filth that makes everyone spit in disgust? What els…

अमंगळ वाणी । नये ऐकों ते कानीं ॥१॥

Inauspicious speech should never be allowed to enter the ears. One who disparages the story of Hari will suffer the agon…

पतनासि जे नेती । तिचा खोटा स्नेह प्रीती ॥१॥

The affection of one who leads you to ruin is false love. Keep such a relationship to the bare minimum and restrain your…

स्त्रियांचा तो संग नको नारायणा । काष्ठा या पाषाणामृत्तिकेच्या ॥१॥

O Narayana, shun the company of women, who are but wood, stone, and clay. In their presence one forgets God, devotion be…

पराविया नारी रखुमाईसमान । हें गेलें नेमून ठायींचें चि ॥१॥

I regard another man's wife as I would Rakhumai herself; this has been my firm resolve from the very beginning. Go away,…

शांतीपरतें नाहीं सुख । येर अवघें ची दुःख ॥१॥

There is no happiness greater than peace; everything else is only suffering. Therefore hold fast to peace, and you will …

इतुलें करीं भलत्या परी । परद्रव्य परनारी । सांडुनि अभिलाष अंतरीं । वर्तें वेव्हा…

Do this much, by whatever means: abandon in your heart the craving for another's wealth and another's spouse. Live happi…

अनुतापें दोष । जाय न लगतां निमिष ॥1॥

Through genuine remorse, faults disappear in less than an instant. Then one rests in true peace, good from beginning to …

वाखर घेउनि आलें । त्यासी तरवारेणें हालें ॥1॥

One who comes with a plough should not be met with a sword. It is not fitting to humiliate someone and cast them aside. …

अवगुण तों कोणीं नाहीं प्रतििष्ठले । मागें होत आले शिष्टाचार ॥1॥

No one has ever dignified a fault. From the very beginning, this has been the way of the righteous. To announce only the…

जीवींचें जाणावें या नांवें आवडी । हेंकड तें ओढी अमंगळ ॥1॥

Loving attentiveness means knowing what is in another's heart. Stubbornness and willfulness are inauspicious. When the m…

कामातुर चवी सांडी । बरळ तोंडीं बरळे ॥1॥

One who is overcome with lust loses all taste and babbles senselessly. Whatever has taken hold of the body shows itself …

धिग जिणें त्याचा स्वामी हीन वर । मरण तें बर भलें मग ॥1॥

Cursed is the life of one whose master is degraded. Better then is death. Listen, O God, this is the accepted code. What…

उचित जाणावें मुख्य धर्म आधीं । चित्तशुद्ध बुद्धी ठायीं िस्थर ॥1॥

Know first and foremost that right conduct is the primary dharma: let the mind and intellect be pure and steady. Do not …

मागायाची नाहीं इच्छा । जो मी ऐसा संकोचों ॥1॥

I have no desire to beg. I restrain myself. I will not offer false praise while harboring selfish wishes. What comes by …

काळ सारावा चिंतनें । एकांतवासीं गंगास्नानें । देवाचें पूजन । प्रदक्षणा तुळसीच्या…

Spend your days in contemplation, bathing in the Ganga of solitude, worshipping God, circumambulating the tulsi. Eat mod…

विटाळ तो परद्रव्य परनारी । येथुनि जो दुरी तो सोंवळा ॥1॥

True pollution is coveting another's wealth or another's spouse. One who stays far from these is truly pure. Whether in …

वेशा नाहीं बोल अवगुण दूषीले । ऐशा बोला भले झणें क्षोभा ॥1॥

Do not fault the garment; the flaw lies in the wearer's character. Do not be offended by such plain speech. Everyone kno…

मोकळें मन रसाळ वाणी । या चि गुणीं संपन्न ॥1॥

An open heart and a sweet tongue: these are the true qualities of abundance. Let those who are fortunate live by such we…

कुळधर्म ज्ञान कुळधर्म साधन । कुळधर्में निधान हातीं चढे ॥1॥

Family duty is knowledge; family duty is spiritual practice. Through family duty, the treasure comes into one's hands. F…

पुण्य परउपकार पाप ते परपीडा । आणीक नाहीं जोडा दुजा यासी ॥1॥

Merit is helping others; sin is causing others pain. There is no greater principle than this. Truth is the only real dut…

न करावी स्तुति माझी संतजनीं । होइऩल या वचनीं अभिमान ॥1॥

O saints, do not praise me, for pride will arise from such words. Under the weight of pride, one cannot cross the river …

केलें पाप जेणें दिलें आन्मोदन । दोघांसी पतन सारिके चि ॥1॥

The one who commits a sin and the one who approves of it both fall equally. Poison mixed with butter makes the butter po…

देव होसी तरी आणिकांतें करिसी । संदेह येविशीं करणें न लगे ॥1॥

If you are godly, you will make others godly too. There is no doubt about this. If you are wicked, you will make others …

यथार्थ वाद सांडूनि उपचार । बोलती ते अघोर भोगितील ॥1॥

Those who abandon honest, straightforward speech in favor of smooth flattery shall suffer terrible consequences. When a …

काहे भूमि इतना भार राखे । दुभत धेनु नहिं दुध चाखे ॥1॥

Why does the earth bear so great a burden? The milch cow does not taste her own milk. The clouds rain and the trees bear…

एका पुरुषा दोघी नारी । पाप वसे त्याचे घरीं ॥1॥

Where a man has two wives, sin dwells in that house. One need not search for sin; it takes you wherever it lives. No fur…

संतापाशीं बहु असावें मर्यादा । फलकटाचा धंदा उर फोडी ॥1॥

One should observe great restraint in the company of saints. Idle chatter only brings a beating to one's own chest. A do…

पाववावें ठाया । ऐसें सवें बोलों तया ॥1॥

Speak only such words as would guide him to the right place. Let your actions match your intent, and let falsehood be ex…

लाहानपण दे गा देवा । मुंगी साखरेचा रवा ॥1॥

O God, grant me smallness. The ant carries away a grain of sugar. The great elephant Airavata, adorned with jewels, suff…

निंचपण बरवें देवा । न चले कोणाचा ही दावा ॥1॥

Humility is beautiful, O God. No one's claim can stand against it. Great floods carry away the trees, yet the tender ree…

अभिमानाची स्वामिनी शांति । महkव घेती सकळ ॥1॥

Shanti, the queen of pride's dominion, absorbs all greatness into herself. Even those who know the secret, if they fail …

भोजन तें पाशांतीचें । निंचें उंचें उसाळी ॥1॥

The meal of peace tosses the low high and the high low, like the play of a fountain. This is the heart's true concern fo…

आर्तभूतांप्रति । उत्तम योजाव्या त्या शिH ॥1॥

One's best powers should be directed toward the welfare of suffering beings. The highest fruit and contentment are found…

लटिकें तें रुचे । साच कोणां ही न पचे ॥1॥

Falsehood is relished easily, but truth is hard for anyone to digest. Such is the character of the arrogant; they will l…

क्षणक्षणां सांभािळतों । साक्षी होतों आपुला ॥1॥

Moment by moment I guard myself, becoming my own witness. I must not allow any break in my devotion to his feet; I have …

वाढलियां मान न मनावी नििश्चती । भूतांचिये प्रीती भूतपण ॥1॥

When honor increases, one should not take it for granted. Love for beings should grow from genuine kinship with them. Th…

आशा ते करविते बुद्धीचा लोप । संदेह तें पाप कैसें नव्हे ॥1॥

Desire is the agent that destroys discernment. Is doubt not a sin? One should examine oneself carefully; a cheerful, cle…

सोसें वाढे दोष । जाला न पालटे कस ॥1॥

Through endurance, faults only grow stronger; the tested character does not change. But this is true: the right words, w…

खरें बोले तरी । फुकासाठीं जोडे हरी ॥1॥

If one speaks the truth, Hari is gained for free. Such costless remedies exist, yet people abandon them and waste their …

दया क्षमा शांति । तेथें देवाची वसति ॥1॥

Where compassion, forgiveness, and peace abide, there God dwells. He runs to such a home and stays there, having found h…

आशा तृष्णा माया अपमानाचें बीज । नासिलिया पूज्य होइऩजेतें ॥1॥

Desire, greed, and maya are the seeds of dishonor. Only by destroying them does one become truly worthy of reverence. Th…

या चि नांवें दोष । राहे अंतरीं कििल्मष ॥1॥

What is called sin is merely the impurity that lingers within. Merit and sin dwell in the mind; pure and noble thoughts …

नये पाहों मुख मात्रागमन्याचें । तैसें अभHाचें गुरुपुत्रा ॥1॥

One should not look upon the face of an adulterous person, nor, for a guru's son, upon that of a non-devotee. Therefore …

नम्र जाला भूतां । तेणें कोंडिलें अनंता ॥1॥

He who became humble before all beings has captured the Infinite. This is the true mark of valor: he has drawn Shri Rang…

ब्रह्मचारी धर्म घोकावें अक्षर । आश्रमीं विचार षटकर्में ॥1॥

The celibate student's dharma is to study the sacred syllables. The householder's duty lies in the sixfold rites of his …

अग्नीमाजी पडे धातु । लीन होउनि राहे अतु । होय शुद्ध न पवे घातु । पटतंतुप्रमाण ॥1…

When metal enters fire, it becomes one with the flame, remaining pure and unharmed, like thread within cloth. All outwar…

जेणें नाहीं केलें आपुलें स्वहित । पुढिलांचा घात इच्छीतसे ॥1॥

He who has not worked for his own true welfare yet wishes harm upon others only adds fresh faults to his accumulated kar…

नाहीं सुगंधाची लागती लावणी । लावावी ते मनीं शुद्ध होतां ॥1॥

Fragrance does not need to be applied; it arises naturally when the mind becomes pure. The measure of a good person is i…

असत्य वचन होतां सर्व जोडी । जरी लग्नघडी परउपकार ॥1॥

Even if a lie brings all kinds of gain, even if it serves another's good in the wedding-moment, it will lead to downfall…

परद्रव्यपरनारीचा अभिळास । तेथूनि हारास सर्वभाग्या ॥1॥

Craving another's wealth or another's spouse is the beginning of ruin for all one's fortune. Hour by hour, day by day, m…

दुधाचे घागरी मद्याचा हा बुंद । पडिलिया शुद्ध नव्हे मग ॥1॥

If a single drop of liquor falls into a pot of milk, the whole pot is spoiled beyond recovery. Likewise, do not listen f…

सांगावें तें बरें असतें हें पोटीं । दुःख देते खोटी बुिद्ध मग ॥1॥

What should be said must be said while it is still in the heart. A dishonest mind only produces suffering later. One mus…

सुखें न मनी अवगुण । दुःख भोगी त्याचें कोण ॥1॥

If one happily ignores wrongdoing, who else will bear the resulting suffering? Why can you not see this plain truth? Clo…

आह्मी न देखों अवगुणां । पापी पवित्र शाहाणा ॥1॥

I do not see faults in anyone, whether sinner, saint, or scholar. All forms are yours, O God, and I bow to them with dev…

हित व्हावें तरी दंभ दुरी ठेवा । चित्त शुद्ध सेवा देवाची हे ॥1॥

If you desire your own welfare, keep pride at a distance and let your service to God be offered with a pure heart. Sing …

अति जालें उत्तम वेश्येचें लावण्य । परि ते सवासीण न ह्मणावी ॥1॥

A courtesan may possess supreme beauty, yet she is never called a virtuous wife. What is proper and what is not, each ha…

असो खळ ऐसे फार । आह्मां त्यांचे उपकार ॥1॥

Let there be as many wicked people as there are; we owe them a debt of gratitude. They scrub away our sins like washerme…

नसावें ओशाळ । मग मानिती सकळ ॥1॥

One should never have cause for embarrassment; then all will show respect. Wherever such a person goes, he is honored, a…

अनघडसिद्धाच्या शब्देंकरून रामेश्वरभटाच्या शरीरीं दाह जाला तो ज्यानें शमला तो अभं…

When the mind is pure, enemies become friends, tigers do not devour and serpents do not bite. Poison turns to nectar, ha…

पतिव्रते आनंद मनीं । सिंदळ खोंचे व्यभिचारवचनीं ॥1॥

A faithful wife finds joy in her own heart; a harlot flinches at a word about faithfulness. Let falsehood burn and catch…

सज्जन तो शब्द सत्य जो मानी । छळी दुर्जन आणिकांसी ॥1॥

A noble person honors the truth of his word; a wicked one harasses others. The same quality appears in both, yet it retu…

ज्याचे गांवीं केला वास । त्यासी नसावें उदास॥1॥

One who dwells in another's village should not be indifferent to the host. Only then does one enjoy what has been earned…

कासया गुणदोष पाहों आणिकांचे । मज काय त्यांचें उणें असे ॥1॥

Why should I examine the faults and merits of others? What do I lack because of them? Why should I scrutinize the sins a…

दुष्ट भूषण सज्जनाचें । अलभ्यलाभ पुण्य त्याचें॥1॥

The wicked person is actually an ornament to the good; his existence is a rare opportunity for the virtuous to earn meri…

पूर्वजांसी नकाऩ । जाणें तें आइका ॥1॥

Know this: slandering others and carrying tales with relish sends one's ancestors to hell. Such gossip accumulates sins …

न कळतां कोणीं मोडियेलें व्रत । तया प्रायिश्चत्त चाले कांहीं ॥1॥

If someone breaks a vow unknowingly, some form of expiation is still possible. But for those who transgress knowingly, t…

क्षुधेलिया अन्न । द्यावें पात्र न विचारून ॥1॥

To the hungry, give food without examining the vessel. The essence of dharma lies within; it must be shown in the right …

चाकरीवांचून । खाणें अनुचित वेतन ॥1॥

To eat wages without rendering service is improper. The master will dismiss such a one and honor the work that is truly …

स्वामिकाज गुरुभिH । पितृवचन सेवा पति ॥1॥

Service to one's master, devotion to the guru, obedience to a father's word, and a wife's faithful service to her husban…

ऊंस वाढवितां वाढली गोडी । गुळ साकर हे त्याची परवडी ॥1॥

As sugarcane grows, its sweetness increases; jaggery and sugar are its natural yield. Practice truthful action, O friend…

हें चि याच्या ऐसें मागावें दान । वंदूनि चरण नारायणा ॥1॥

One should ask for gifts like these, bowing at the feet of Narayana: courage, generosity, purity, and freedom from jealo…

हागिल्याचे सिंके वोणवा चि राहे । अपशकुन पाहे वेडगळ ॥1॥

One who recoils at the smell of dung sees ill omens everywhere; the foolish look for bad signs in everything. Those who …

डोऑयामध्यें जैसें कणु । अणु तें हि न समाये ॥1॥

Just as a tiny speck in the eye, even the smallest particle, cannot be tolerated, so too keep the mind pure for your own…

निर्वैर व्हावें सर्वभूतांसवें । साधन बरवें हें चि एक॥1॥

Be free of enmity toward all beings. This alone is the best of spiritual practices. Only then will Narayana accept you. …

वचन तें नाहीं तोडीत शरीरा । भेदत अंतरा वज्रा- ऐसें ॥1॥

Words do not cut the body, yet they pierce the inner being like a thunderbolt. Nothing else should be endured for any re…