Kagga 300
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
giDadi nagutiruva hU prakRutisakhanige chendamaDadi muDidiruva hU yuvakanige chendaguDiyoLage koDuva hU daivabhaktanige chendabiDigAsu hUvaLage – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
Just like in this Universe, there is no absolute truth or lie, similarly, there is nothing like an absolute valuable or useless thought or object
The value of every thought, every person, every object is very contextual & changes with time, location & need
Mankutimma, take an example of a flower. A flower in full bloom in all its glory heartens the mind of a nature lover…to someone else, it is just another object – nothing more. Similarly the value of a garland is much higher to a romantic person when it adorns his beloved’s hair…the same garland is considered by a devotee to be of high value when he places it around the neck of his deity…to a flower seller, the same flower or garland is only a means for him to earn some money to lead his life – nothing more; nothing less. So you see, the same object is perceived differently by different people…understand & accept this fact.
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?