Kagga 175
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original

Transliteration
kAnKSHegaLa bOdhisuva bandhusakharupakArayaKSHikaru myAkbetnigesagidupadEshautsAhaviddEnu? vAtsalyaviddEnu?aKSHi nirmalavEno? – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
While the Creator has made man the most advanced species in the Universe, He has also implanted in man certain behavioral traits that pose major challenges & blindsides him
One such trait is ambition or aspiration…man constantly aspires to achieve things that will give him pleasure, satisfaction, happiness
Often these aspirations are fuelled by the words of our friends & relatives…while in some instances, these could well be good advice; in many cases, such guidance could very well be misplaced
Mankutimma, be very discerning in recognising whether the advices you get are the right ones…recognise whether the mindset of the advisor is clear & bereft of any prejudices on their part. Understand carefully whether someone is giving you a genuine advice or just using you to fulfill their end goal. If you don’t do that, you may well end up like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who listened to ill-intended advices & met his downfall.
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?
