Today's Beautiful Gem: `puSpavilApamu or The Blossoms' wail' by
Jandhyala Papayya Sastri (karuNas'rI), translated by me. (Part I)

"cEtulAranga ninnu pUjintsukoraku kODi kUyanganE mElukonTi nEnu
gangalO munigi dhouta valkalamu gaTTi pUlu konitEran arigiti puSpavaniki

"O Lord, as soon as the cock crew in the morning, I woke up, and performing
ablutions in the Ganga and wearing white garments, I went to the garden to
pick flowers for your worship.

"nEn oka pUlamokka kaDa nilci civAluna komma vanci gO-
rAneDunantalOna virulanniyu zAliga nOLLu vippi mA
prANamu tItuvA yantsu bAvurumannavi kRngipOti nA
mAnasamandedO taLukumannadi puSpavilApakAvyamai

"Standing beside a plant, I bent a branch and started to pluck the flowers.
In great anguish, the buds opened their mouths and uttered: `Are you
going to take our lives?' I instantly withdrew and in my mind flashed
thoughts that finally took the form of the blossoms' wail.

"talli yoDilOna talirAku talpamandu ADukonu mammulanu buTTalandu cidimi
ammukonduve mokshavittammu koraku hRdayamE lEni nI pUjalendukOyi

"We play on the bed of verdant leaves in our mother's laps. Now you want
to gather us in your baskets to sell in exchange for (the money of)
moksha (soul's liberation). Of what use is worship without a heart?

"gAlini gauravintumu sugandhamu pUsi samAs'rayintsu bhRn-
gAlaku vindu cEsedamu kammani tEnelu mimubOntla nE-
trAlaku hAyigUrtumu svatantrula mammula svArthabuddhitO
tALumu trumpabOkumu talliki biDDAku vEru sEturE

"We are free; with soft scent we greet the wind; we feast the bees that
gather around us with honey; we offer joy to the eyes of people like you.
Tarry a little; don't sever us with your selfish motives. Will anyone
separate the child from the mother?

"AtmasukhammukOsamai anyula gontulu kOsi teccu puN-
yAtmuDA nIku mokshametulabbunu netturu cEti pUja vis'-
vAtmuDu svIkarintsunE carAcaravarti prabhuNDu mA pavit-
rAtmalan andukODe naDamantrapu nI tagulATam ETikin"

"For your own welfare, you wish to cut the throats of others; what an
honourable man you are and are you sure to obtain moksha in this way?
Will the Lord of the Universe accept the worship offered with a bloody
hand? Won't the Lord of all accept our sacred souls without your
unwanted mediation?"

Om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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