Kagga 278
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
AnegAr iruvegAr kAgegAr kappegArkANisuvarannavanu? hasivavara guruvumAnavanumantudarashiShyanavana rasanenAnAvayavagaLali – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
Hunger or desire is the root cause of the progress of man & every other being in this Universe – whether in a positive direction or negative
Whether man experiences these desires & learns from them or whether he tries to curb them thereby not learning anything in the process, determines whether he evolves as a better human or not
Mankutimma, these desires are an integral part of every being here…they are innate…no one teaches an elephant, an ant, a crow, a frog to hunt for food…hunger forces them to hone these senses, these skills. Similarly in every man, there are various hungers, various desires which drive the progress or evolution of man…if you learn to harness these desires by experiencing & learning, you will be a better person. If you try to suppress these or run away from these, then not only will your growth be stunted; but these dormant desires will wake up unexpectedly & cause chaos
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?