Abhanga 4081
The verse
तांबगी हें नाणें न चले खर्या मोलें । जरी हिंडविलें देशोदेशीं ॥१॥
करणीचें कांहीं न मने सज्जना । यावें लागे मना वृद्धांचिया ॥ध्रु.॥
हिरयासारिका दिसे शिरगोळा । पारखी ते डोळां न पाहाती ॥२॥
देऊनियां भिंग कामाविलें मोतीं । पारखिया हातीं घेतां नये ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे काय नटोनियां व्यर्थ । आपुलें हें चित्त आपणा ग्वाही ॥४॥
Literal translation
Copper-doesn't-pass-at-real-price-roaming-country. Fakes-don't-please-sajjana — vrddha-mana-must-accept. Shirgōḷā-like-hīrā — pārakhī-doesn't-look. Bhinga-over-flawed-mōtī — pārakhī-won't-touch. Tukā: naṭōnīyā-vyartha — own-chitta-witness.
What it means
A 4-verse authenticity-by-test text. A copper coin doesn't pass at the real price, even if you take it country-to-country. Mere doing doesn't please the gentleman; it must come to the elder's mind (be acceptable to experienced judgment). A worthless pebble may look like a diamond — but the expert appraiser doesn't even look at it. Even putting a glass-cover over a flawed pearl — the expert won't take it. What's the use of vain posturing? — your own chitta is your witness. Pair with 3088 (Kāmadhēnu-recognized-only-by-knower).
For someone today
Tukārām: fakes-don't-pass-with-the-expert — your-own-chitta-is-your-witness — no-use-posturing.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's fakes-don't-pass-with-pārakhī; own-chitta-is-witness canonical
- Pair with 3791 (Kāmadhēnu-as-cow)