Vemana - 15

వేమన పద్యం

విత్తముగలవాని వీపు పుండైనను
వసుధలోన చాల వార్తకెక్కు
పేదవాని యింట బెండ్లయిన నెరుగరు
విశ్వదాభిరామ వినుర వేమ


Vittamu galavAni vIpu pundainanu
vasudhalOna cAla vArtakekku
pEdavAni inTa benDlaina nerugaru
viswadAbhirAma vinura vEma

విత్తముగలవాని = of the rich man
వీపు = back
పుండైనను = even if there is boil (Ulcer)
వసుధలోన = in the world
చాల = lot
వార్తకెక్కు= will be a news
పేదవాని = in the poor man’s
యింట = house
పెండ్లయినను = even if there is a marriage
ఎరుగరు = no one knows
విశ్వదాభిరామ వినుర వేమ

(Click on the image to see it bigger)

(This painting is made by my good friend Chandra for the book of Vemana verse published by

Sri Pavani Seva Samiti)

So, this page three culture is after all not very new.

Vemana says that even if there is an ulcer on the back of a rich man, it will get into a lot of news. It means, it creates a lot of publicity perhaps.

At the same time, even if there is a marriage taking place in a poor man’s family, not many would come to know!

It is natural!

We have seen about the marriage of Aishwarya Rai with the Bachchan boy!
Everyone in the country knows that she is a Manglik! Whatever that means!
Do you know what I am and who I am?
Interestingly I don’t expect you to know who I am!
Whereas there are a lot of people who ask “Don’t you know who I am?”
We are all expected to know that he or she is a so and so and we are also expected to know what they like and what they dislike also!

Vemana was wary of such people right at that time only.
If money was making the world what it is at that time, now a days, money is the world.
Success is measured by the fatness of your purse.
Intellectuals are not even acknowledged, let alone being respected.
Rich man drives this world.

I have subscribed to one News Weekly.
They decided that I should also be reading another magazine by name “People.”
They gave it me free of cost or something that sounds like that.
This magazine is about great people, read rich for great!
Girls with skimpy clothes all over!
And the prices of those half clothes are fabulously high!
I pity them and ask why they don’t buy clothes that can cover their bodies?
I stopped reading the magazine.
Alas! I cannot make my daughter not read it!
Only once in a while they spare a page for a poor person and the writing smacks of doing a favor to that person!

Indian culture said that if a king dies it is like a star is dead.
But, if a poet dies they said, a new star is born!

Rich man wants sympathy about the ulcer on his back.
He wants people to pray for his speedy recovery!
A poor man would be happy if the marriage in his family passes of peacefully and without pomp!
What use telling everyone? Those who should know should know!!

Let us enjoy the words of wisdom!!
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