Kagga 145
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
mAyeyE sarasi; nirguNa sattvadindEnu?mAye biDe jagavetta? jIvakatheyetta?mEyavallada mahime chAyeyA brahmanadutAyavaLu nIm maguvu – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
Reality & illusion are two sides of the same coin…one cannot exist without the other…the illusion is nothing but a reflection of reality.
Maya or illusion is what makes life interesting on earth…it is what makes the unseen, pure Cosmic Essence to be sensed & experienced in a practical way…even if it is not the complete truth
If there was only the pure, sterile Truth that would be perceived by man, would the Universe be so interesting? Would there be the mesmerising story of life cycles here?
Mankutimma, just like good & bad are two sides of the same coin & one cannot be experienced without the other; similarly, one cannot hope to unearth the Real Truth without experiencing illusion. However, it is important that as you experience illusion, your senses are honed in such a way that you can find your way through it & eventually find the Real Truth for that is the true purpose of your life.
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?