Tukaram, Poem 1191

If you have any doubts when you utter his name, you do not know his nature. Listen while I tell you of him with absolute faith; eat joyfully what you have in your houses. One may carry the basket, the rosary and the marks of his sect, yet he is an impostor who deceives mankind. He extends his hand, for he has not renounced all; he shows people a stone and worships wealth himself. He soils his body with ashes and idly boasts himself the strongest man alive. He suffers desire to lay hands on his neck to bind him. It comes and swallows him up. What comfort is there in ashes, in lying face downwards with uplifted legs? Such an one brings pain and grief on himself; he falls into hell, yet in his folly he will not run away from it. He has learnt to vociferate loud cries, and collect a crowd of women and children. He fouls his body and demands small coins; but all his efforts are wasted. To show people that he is the strongest man alive he stands up and takes a plank and breaks it, he rubs his knees and elbows and pretends he has hurt himself. They wear themselves out by these worthless tricks; they shave their heads for a pretence; unholy deceit lurks in their hearts; they pollute their bodies and gain nothing by it. Do not play any tricks with this dust and noise; take the fragrant powder of civet and sandal. You will enjoy the sweet odour along with others; grandeur that is paid for is a worse disgrace. By tricks like these men have brought pain on themselves, without winning either wisdom or power. They are smitten on their backs; their faces are darkened by shame, yet their tongue waters for lustful pleasures. Listen to what I Tuka tell you: break away from these tricks; learn none of them. Come, let us eat first to fill our hungry stomachs; when we are satisfied, we will think of outward graces.