ನೆಲವೊಂದೆ, ಹೊಲ ಗದ್ದೆ ತೋಟ ಮರಳೆರೆ ಬೇರೆ |
ಜಲವೊಂದೆ, ಸಿಹಿಯುಪ್ಪು ಜವುಗೂಟೆ ಬೇರೆ ||
ಕುಲವೊಂದರೊಳೆ ಸೋದರವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗುಣ ಬೇರೆ |
ಹಲವುಮೊಂದುಂ ಸಾಜ - ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
nelavonde, hola gadde tOTa maraLere bEre |
jalavonde, sihiyuppu javagUTe bEre ||
kulavondaroLe sOdaravyaktiguNa bere |
halavumondum saaja - mankutimma ||
Land is one; plough field, wet land, garden, sand, black soil - different
Water is one; sweetness, saltness, dampness, fountains - different
Though from the same clan, blood brother's behavior is different
Natural to have oneness and differences - Mankutimma.
ಜಲವೊಂದೆ, ಸಿಹಿಯುಪ್ಪು ಜವುಗೂಟೆ ಬೇರೆ ||
ಕುಲವೊಂದರೊಳೆ ಸೋದರವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗುಣ ಬೇರೆ |
ಹಲವುಮೊಂದುಂ ಸಾಜ - ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
nelavonde, hola gadde tOTa maraLere bEre |
jalavonde, sihiyuppu javagUTe bEre ||
kulavondaroLe sOdaravyaktiguNa bere |
halavumondum saaja - mankutimma ||
Land is one; plough field, wet land, garden, sand, black soil - different
Water is one; sweetness, saltness, dampness, fountains - different
Though from the same clan, blood brother's behavior is different
Natural to have oneness and differences - Mankutimma.
Translator's thoughts: Is the poet suggesting that we look beyond the superficial differences into the oneness of humanity that pervades every soul?? In a world increasingly being fragmented with narrow advocacies of differences, maybe we all need to look at the big picture of the commonalities we share.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the oneness and beauty in differences, I am reminded of a mesmerizing Persian ghazal of Ghalib
ReplyDelete"Sar az hijab-e-ta’yyun agar berun aayad
Cheh jalwaha keh b’har kish mitawan kardan"
(If man were to unveil the self-limiting veil that covers
his eyes, what glorious revelations he will see in every faith.)