I had the chance to review the book of Vachanas in Telugu translation.
They have conducted a workshop for the purpose.
I will reserve my comments on the quality of translation for now.
The quality of the original thoughts is something unparelleled.
This type of work is not found in other languages if I am right.
There are vachanas in Telugu.
They are more descriptive and devotional than philosophical.
I would like to sudy more of Kannada works.
Sarvagna is another Kannada Seer worth reading.
why are their works not available in English and other languages?
Or are they?
Akka Maha Devi Vachana
ಕೋಲ ತುದಿಯ ಕೋಡಗದಂತೆ
ನೇಣ ತುದಿಯ ಬೊಂಬೆಯಂತೆ
ಆಡಿದೆನಯ್ಯ ನೀನಾಡಿಸಿದಂತೆನಾ
ನುಡಿದೆನಯ್ಯ ನೀ ನುಡಿಸಿದಂತೆ
ನಾನಿದ್ದೇನಯ್ಯ ನೀನಿರಿಸಿದಂತೆ
ಜಗದ ಯಂತ್ರವಾಹಕ ಚೆನ್ನಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ
ಸಾಕೆಂಬನ್ನಕ
(Original Kannada Vachana by Akka)
గడకర్ర చివర కోతిలా,
దారం చివర బొమ్మలా
ఆడుతున్నానయ్యా నీవాడించినట్టు,
నే మాట్లాడుతున్నానయ్యా, నువ్వు మాట్లాడించినట్టు,
నేను ఉన్నానయ్యా నువు ఉంచినట్టు
జగద్యంత్ర చోదకుడా చెన్న మల్లికార్జునా
నువ్వు చాలు అనే వరకు
(Translation by Siva Reddy and Balaji)
Like the monkey at the tip of the pole
Like the puppet at the end of the string
I am dancing as you make me do
I am speaking as you make me do
I continue to exist as you make me do
Oh, the one who drives the machine called the universe
Chenna Mallikarjuna!
Till you ask me to stop!
(English by yours sincerely)
