Kagga 189
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
paripariya rUpakAntigaLa kaNNagisuvaparipariya falamadhuragaLa rasaneguNipaparipariya kanTharavagaLa kivige sOkisuvaguru sRuSHTi rasikatege – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
The Creator has designed the Universe in such a way that all beings here have to evolve in order to survive & progress; else they become obsolete & eventually extinct
The key behavior trait required for continuos evolution is learning – learning with humility.
Even though man is the most advanced of all living beings here, he will find opportunities to learn everywhere around him, irrespective of how advanced or primitive that being is perceived to be.
Mankutimma, it is very important for you to learn with humility – accepting the fact that the other being has excelled in some aspect during the course of its evolution & that you, despite being man, the most advanced species, are still inferior to the other in that aspect. Nature is a classic example for this. Everywhere you look around you, there are innumerable signs of excellence from which you should learn. The different creations of nature – flora & fauna – the colors they have, the adaptability they have, their defence mechanism to survive. The music generated by them, the sweet fruits & juices that abound here…all are opportunities to learn & grow – with humility being the key word here.
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?