Kagga 302
D. V. Gundappa · 1887–1975 · from the Kannada original
Transliteration
hottu kaNakaNadi maNNanu geddaliruvegaLumettuteDebiDade duDidAgisida gUDuhuttavAguvudu viShasarpakke; mAnavanayatnagaLa katheyiShTe – MANKUTIMMA
Interpretation
The Creator has designed His Universe in such a way that the ongoings here constantly test the intelligence & spirits of the people here.
Everything that happens here is not necessarily fair & everything that in the end is fair may not have been achieved using fair means…such is the way of life here
Mankutimma, ants are one of the hardest working creatures found in the Universe. They work incessantly & as a team…as a result of their hard labor, an ant-hill is formed. In an ideal situation, they should now reap the rewards of their labour. What really happens is a snake comes in & encroaches upon their ant-hill. Is this fair? Certainly not…then why is this happening. It seems to be His way of testing the people here & reminding them time and again that you need to work smart and not just work hard. For, if you only work hard, someone else may enjoy the results of all your hard work.
Did this poetry & its translation speak to you?