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Mankuthimmana Kagga is a Kannada poem. This translation is my tribute to a great work. |
Witness the drama on the universal stage With countless actors acting countless roles Without a script, or a beginning, or an end Within the viewers, the actors – Mankuthimma In the crowded city, in search of an honest man In broad daylight he went, lighted lantern in hand In disgust of the public, in a dustbin he dwelt Intellectual Diogenes – Mankuthimma Have a smile on the face, but never let it be heard Have good in your speech, but never ignore justice Have moderation in thought, in desire, in pleasure Have excess in nothing – Mankuthimma Belly filled with hunger, mind filled with desire Bearings and hinges are these, in the structure of creation Building up every empire, pulling down the planets, Bending and warping you – Mankuthimma Somehow or other life’s tale will come to a close Some day or other this existence will see its end Some veil of oblivion will completely obscure all Some reason to rejoice, this! – Mankuthimma Who first saw in the raw foodstuff the cooked? Who first envisioned the written character? Who now can even name these benefactors of man? What, then, of your vanity? – Mankuthimma No drums beat to announce the sprouting of the seed No trumpets blare to proclaim the ripening of the fruit No clamor when sun or moon radiates life-giving light No murmur then, from you! – Mankuthimma Did you avert deafness by wearing diamond earrings? Don’t you court a potbelly when you stuff yourself with rich food? Destitute and wealthy are equal in the last analysis Death is the leveler – Mankuthimma Let what’s to come, come, fret not about it today Let the event arrive, then there’s time enough to fret Leave it to the Master to look after the future Live each day in itself – Mankuthimma Surrender to the secret of life, to its essence Surrender to the effort to make life a flower Surrender to the sober serenity of the inner soul Surrender to the World-soul – Mankuthimma |