Kagga 256
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
parada mElkaNNiTTu dhareya tuchchavenuttatoredAyasangoLLe doreva falavEnu?suradhanuvigENiyiDahoraTu ninnangaLadakirihOva mareyuveya– MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
The grass is not always greener on the other side; in our quest for constant happiness; it just perceives to be so
Man by nature is constantly in search of happiness; mostly of the material kind. There is no end of his satisfaction…in order to satiate this unending hunger, he gets blindsided & doesn’t recognise beauty that exists within & around him. He admires the beauty of a rainbow while neglecting to recognise the same in a small flower that grows in his backyard.
Mankutimma, man perceives Heaven to be a place of infinite beauty & happiness. In your yearn to access this, you may tend to disregard these very emotions that are here in this Universe…how can you even dream of evolving when you are so biased? Learn to recognise your inner beauty & that around you without getting into the trap of yearning for something that is out of reach
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?
