Back to Contents PRONUNCIATION TABLE aa long A as in ant, bat, cat. c as in chalk, chat (without aspirate). The sound of k has been avoided. d` Retroflex 'd' as in dog, donkey, door. ee long e, as in bake, care, dare, fare. ii long i, as in beat, cheat, deal, eel, feel, heal. l` heavy l. n` heavy n. oo Long o, as in goat, coat, note. s` as in sack, salary. t` retroflex t, as in tap, ten, tin, ton, tune. uu long u as in school, pool, tool. Every effort has been made to maintain the phonetic spelling. Back to Contents" INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Who is Vemana? Vemana is one of the Greatest of the Telugu Poets. == Lived in 17th Century. (Born 1662 according to CP Brown). === Cuddapah District, A.P., India. ==== Wrote about 4000 verses of social value. ==== Simple, straight forward language. Telugu is a language spoken by 100 million people. in Andhra Pradesh, India.
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Back to ContentsPRONUNCIATION TABLE
aa long A as in ant, bat, cat.c as in chalk, chat (without aspirate). The sound of k has been avoided. d` Retroflex 'd' as in dog, donkey, door.ee long e, as in bake, care, dare, fare.ii long i, as in beat, cheat, deal, eel, feel, heal.l` heavy l.n` heavy n.oo Long o, as in goat, coat, note. s` as in sack, salary.t` retroflex t, as in tap, ten, tin, ton, tune.uu long u as in school, pool, tool.Every effort has been made to maintain the phonetic spelling.
Back to Contents"INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Who is Vemana?
Vemana is one of the Greatest of the Telugu Poets. == Lived in 17th Century. (Born 1662 according to CP Brown).=== Cuddapah District, A.P., India. ==== Wrote about 4000 verses of social value. ==== Simple, straight forward language. Telugu is a language spoken by 100 million people.in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Back to ContentsCHARITY, GENEROSITY
Some duds tire out supplicants by deferring charity and ultimately give a pittance.
Such persons, they may be reborn as worms surviving on mud.
Those fools who believe that whatever they earn is their own on this earth, must realise that they will get at the end, whatever they give as charity to others. (Wealth is ephemeral and lasts only upto the point of death.)
See: People accumulate money without using for themselves and giving charity to others. Their idea is to bestow it to their sons. Often at the time of death, they forget to tell their children where the money was hidden. Such money will reach outsiders.
Charity, adherence to ethics, compassion, truth, humility and obedience, courage, valour, generosity are all the characteristics of a king, which join in him as the king.
Charity failed:Without thinking of capacity and direction, a person made a promise of charity. After creating hopes, he made people to approach again and again. He used to fix dates and times. Ultimately, in a few minutes, he lost his life.(Moral: A stingy person can never give charity.)
.. COMPOSURE . A person can gauge the true philosophy and spirit of life if he can understand that cunning and knavity are the roots of all insults. A person who thus enlightens himself with this knowledge becomes a person of COMPOSURE. Kalusham ella teliya Tala vampu laku muulam Araya tatvam ellan Aatman put`t`u Telisin amduku mari Dhiirud`u kaa vale Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! CONVERSATION A drunken person must control himself, particularly in conversations. A person who does not know the context and timing is not a connoisseur. Kaipu miiru veel`a kad`aku ceeraga raadu anuvu tappi maat`al aad`a raadu samayam eruganatad`u sarasumd`u kaad`ayaa? Vis`wadaabhi raama vinura Veema. Choice and Discretion are important. How a male buffalo is inferior to a bullock? A person should study in depth before arriving at conclusions. How do people call an unskilled person a soldier or a hero? Eddu kanna dunna eelaagu takkuva? Vivaram erigi cood`u vrutti amdu neerpu leeni vaani nera yoodhud` amdur aa? Vis`wadaabhi raama vinura Veema. FISHY BEHAVIOUR AND FISHY SMELL Big fish devour small fish. The big fish have more obnoxious smell. Same way, people who harm others and enrich themselves, their lives become obnoxious. At the end, the fisherman kills all the fish big or small. okari noorukot`t`i okaru bhakshimcina vaani nooru mitti varusa kot`t`u ceepa pimd`u pedda ceepalu campunu ceepa lanni janud`u campu veema.
Back to ContentsINTELLIGENT, INTELLECTUAL, LEARNED
If a person understands the essence of life, his mind gets never disturbed. When a person understands God, his intellect brightens. When the sunlight arises, darkness cannot subsist!
jiiva bhaavam eruga ced`ad ennat`i ki madi daivamu nu eruga Tanaru buddhi teejam udaya m amda Timirambu niluvadu Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
Fragility of hearts and minds If a piece of iron is broken, the pieces can be fused by welding in a furnace. Broken hearts cannot be refixed.
inumu virige neeni inu maaru mummaaru kaaci atuka neercu kammariid`u manasu virige neeni mari amt`a neercunaa? Vis`wadaabhi raama vinura Veema.inumu = iron; virige neeni = if broken; inu maaru = twice; mummaaru = trice; kaaci = by heating up; atuka neercu = will learn to weld; kammariid`u = blacksmith; manasu = mind, heart; amt`a = to fix; neercunaa = Will he learn? (Can he do?)
What is deliverance? The mind should be stable. like a lamp undisturbed by wind;== sea when tranquil without great waves. It is unaroused and unperturbed.
A person can attain deliverance if he can stay unmoved and unperturbed by the travails of this life. Similes used: 1. Beyond the atmosphere, the sky has vacuum where even air does not exist. 2. Deep seas will be calm.
When a person becomes aware and intelligent, his mind and senses do not vascillate. His intellect links itself to compassion and God. When darkness sees the Sun, does it remain there?
Who becomes really emancipated? When abused by others, he does not bother or retort. He does not look around. He remains unconcerned as though he is not the person who was abused.
Nature of deliverance, emancipation and liberation: Iron becomes gold when comes into contact with touch stone. Camphor naturally inflammable. Deliverance for man is like a flower getting sweet scent.
Won't those who, holding firing in palms, curse the Supreme God get condemned? Won't they know the AGITATION and the TROUBLE suffered by Daksha while performing his sacrifice?
God is a friend: If we say He does not exist, he does not exist. If we say that He is not, then He is not. If we say that he is friend, immediately he becomes a friend.
God may think differently! Covetousness, lust, ostentation are faults. If we consider carefully, all our things may go wrong. Man proposes, God disposes.
God has all the forms. He is infinite. He is present in all. He is omniscient. In everything, he is emotion free. Such unmaligned state is the supreme state of “Brahmam”.
Sakala akaarud` anamtud`uSakala atmulamdu sarva Saakshi yu taaneeSakalamu na Nirvikaarumd`Akalamka sthini brahmam agunu ra Veema!
Temples obstruct deliverance and self realisation. The temples have every ornamentation: domes and towers, bathing pond, temple cars for parading the idols, gardens. When we try to touch the God, they hinder.
Goopuramulu, chut`t`u kooneerlu teeruluyaakuvamulu, gud`ulu alara gaanudeevara namt`a poota diga bat`t`u kone naayaVis`vadaabhi raama vinura Veema
BACK TO CONTENTSFOOLS, HYPOCRITES AND KNAVES
Sinners hypocritically appear to be pious. But, even if others do not know, the God knows the truth.
komda = hill; guaha = cave; guha lan = in caves; unna = even if resides; koovela = temple; amdu = in; memd'u gaanu = heavily, excessively; boodi = sacred ash; metti = apply; dusht`a buddhu = knave persons; maanunaa? = Does he cease?
The poet compares a knave with a virtuous person. The knave paints an untruth as truth. He boasts and indulges in empty talk. He is devoid of devotion. He indulges in deceitful talk. How can he be equal to a virtuous person?
Hypocrites: not entitled to deliverance; Those who engaged themselves in external praying and worship, having failed to shed their cunning, dishonesty and hypocrisy ended in darkness and ignorance.
Knaves and gentlemen: recognitionIn this age of evil, greatness is attributed to rascality. Virtuousness becomes abominable. People live without humility and sincerity.
KNAVE – HONOUR AND CURRENCYIf king allows, the words of a rascal rule the kingdom. Won't fake coins circulate as genuine coins, if bankers and treasurers permit them?
KNAVE INCORRIGIBILITYDoes not a pot of country liquor ooze obnoxious smell, even if it is adorned jewels?A wicked person occupying position of power does not forget his rascalities.
kallu kumd`ak enni ghana bhooshan`amu lid`d`a amdulooni kampu cimdul id`ade? tulava padavi konna toli gun`ameemagu? Vis`wadaabhi raama vinura Veema.
KNAVE as a KINGThe lion tailed monkeys may bring a monkey, make it wear new clothes and treat it as a king. It is like a cursed, deprived and unlucky man approaching a rogue for work.
kondamuccu (n) = The liontailed monkey. Macacus silenus. Have a black mouth.krotta = new; put`t`amu clothes; kat`t`i = having made to wear; ella = all; kolicina atlu = like worshipping (here treating like a king).
UNRELIABILITY OF SERVING KINGSIn exchange for 10,000 coins we do not make friendship with a cobra. Likewise, we should not believe the kings.
Death:One’s own spirit grieves, when soninlaw dies.Rues when a son dies.When a virtuous person dies the whole earth feels as if the Era itself has come to an end.
Allu vaani mriti kin Aatma cimtimcunuTanayu mriti kin Taane tallad`illuPun`ya purushu mriti kin bhuumiloo janulakuYugamu krumgin attul Umd`u Veema!
Life is ephemeral:He who believes that life is everlasting and permanent and maraudes flamboyantly is a damn fool. Every creature is a sheep in the abettoire of the God of Death.
bratuku nitya manucu vadurudu vaga miiravirra viigu vaad`u verri vaad`u
Death is invincible.Any number of rebirths, any number of bodies cannot stop impending death.All the knowledge and education which does not help us to conquer death is futile and useless. We cannot get deliverance through fraudulent means.
Greed for money not due: That person and his son who covet for legacies of others will be under an illusion. They will never get. Can an unfortunate person get fortunes?
Raani dhanamu naku nu Taanu nu kod`uku nuVaamcha pad`ut`e kaani Vat`t`I bhramaluBhaagya hiinu naku nu Phalamu labhimcu naa?Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
An unfortunate person who comes into possession of a touchstone (stone which when touched converts cheap metal to gold), cannot hold it on. He loses.Do the hailstones which we get with the rain will ever last long?
Money is the base for this world. Money is the root for all ethical codes. Character is the foundation for riches. Mind is the root for deliverance and divinity.
dhanamee muulamu jagati ki dhanamee muulamu sakala dharmambu lakun gonamee muulamu sirulaku manamee muulambu mukti mahimaku Veemaa!
Moneyed husband, moneyless husband: Wives receive earning husbands with great respect. They laugh at an earningless husbands, as if he were a living corpse.(Note: Almost same verse can be found in Sumati Satakam.)
Son: a befitting son.A pennyless father can get a worthy son. Such son gets ample money, helps others using it in the right path and then leaves this world.
.. EDUCATION True education: In this earthy, people learn all arts, sciences and skills. They lament that they are unable to learn the art of reviving from death. They do not know the ultimate injury of such an art. Sakala vidyal arasi Cacci bratuku vidya Okat`i neeramu anucun Urvi janulu Kat`a kat`a pad`uduru Kad`a haani teliyaru Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! Education minimises difficulties. Persons with skills like goldsmithy, will not fall in difficulties to fend oneself. In the same way, a person who understands the true spirit of this world, will have nothing to worry! Heema kaara vidyan erigina vaar ella vetala pad`ani yat`lu vidya ceeta tatvam erugu venuka tanaku cimta eelaraa Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! PRACTICE . Practice helps accomplishment of tasks. When repeatedly sung, a tune becomes perfect. When repeatedly eaten, neam fruits become sweet (psychologically). Anagan anaga raagam Atis`ayillucun umd`u Tinaga tinaga veemu Tiiyan umd`u Saadhanamunan panulu Samakuuru dhara loona Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! …. …. …. …. PRIDE …. …. …. …. Pride of a rich person: An unethical person develops pride with money. He accumulates wealth. Without reaping any benefits, at the end he dies. Dharma kamt`a
kumd`u Dhanamu cee garvimci Sakala sampada lanu Caala porasi Kad`a ku taanu meelu Kaanaka ced` i poovu Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
Back to Contents
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
People are born out of coition. They languish in the copulation. They never object to it. Whereever people are born, they should suffer there only.
Sex with wife of one’s own teacher:A person who plans harm to ethical duties, enters a bad path. He loses his way. A disciple who craves for coition with his preceptor’s wife gets totally condemned.
The landlord does not pay wage until he estimates and satisfies himself about the work turned out as agreed. A paramour does not give even a single Rupee until his lust is fully satisfied. Now the poet calls a teacher who does not help in getting deliverance, as a "son of monkeys". talapu talaci kuuli taga seeyaka ivvad`u olapu tiiraka ivvad okka ruuka muktin iini guruvu muccula kod`uku raa Vis`vadhaabhi raama vinura Veema! Ignoramuses exist plenty. Difficult to trace a wise person. Nature deludes the ignorant from understanding the afterdeath scenario. agnulaina jiivul adhikam umduru kaani praagnun okani cuud`a raadu talapa prakruti maaya ceeta paramu teliyaga leeru Vis`vadaabhi raama vinura Veema! Worldlybound persons classify knowledgeable persons as mad. Bound, they cannot shed their nature. Even if a mad person searches for nature, he cannot trace it. Gnaana vamtu cuuci sarikarma baddhulu verri amdru; prakruti vid`uva leeru; verrik avani praruti vedakina kalugu raa Vis`avada abhi raama vinura Veema! Some do not know the distinctions and philosophies of somebody being greater and somebody being ordinary. Infatuated, they kneel and pray. Who is a person to receive prayers? Who is the praying person? takkuv ekkuval anu tatvamulu teliyaka mrokku ceesu komdru moohamu nanu mrokku koned`u vaad`u mrokked`i vaad` evaru raa
Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! A pot with a frail bottom is obnoxious. An ascetic without a strong body is abominable. Such recluse is like a head shaven widow. (During the days of Veemana, Brahmin widows used to get their heads tonsured, so that they do not look attractive to men). ad`ugu gat`t`i leeni aa kumd`a adi roota od`alu gat`t`i leeni yoogi roota terava mumd`a moope terag aayen ayyayyoo Vis`vadaabhi raama Vinura Veema! What does a dog know about the God S`iva! What does a fox know about fasting? What does a stupid know about the path of deliverance? kukka eemi erugu guru limga deevuni nakka eemi erugu okka poddu muurkhud` eem erugu mookshampu troova nu Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema! Ascetics fall a prey to the loving postures of women. They become a subject of infamy. A cat feels comfortable when it gets a bird. satula valapu cuuci yatulu mohimturu looka nimdak ella loonu kaanu pit`t`a dorikin apud`u pilli ki kus`alam au Vis`avada abhi raama Vinura Veema! If he is not His, he can never be He. The one who is present in him is He. The one who saw Him is the really accomplished ascetic. vaani kaani vaad`u vaad`u kaanee kaad`u vaani looni vaad`u vaad`u summu vaani kanna vaad`u vaad`y taa yoogi raa Vis`vada abhi raama vinura Veema Without a Creator this Universe cannot exist. He created this vivid composition. A Universe without a Creator is rare. Vis`va karma leeka vis`vambu leedu raa vis`va karma ceese vividha racana vis`va karma leeni vis`vambu arudu raa Vis`vada abhi raama vinura Veema! Vis`va karma = Creator; vis`va = world; karma = act; leeka = without; vis`vambu, or vis`vamu = Universe; leedu = does not exist; raa = a suffix while calling close friends in informal contexts; ceese = did; vividha = varied; different types of; racana = composition; arudu = rare. The spirit of God is omnipresent in this Universe. Without knowing this, people search for it everywhere. The spirit within one's own self is true in whom? Vis`vam amdu aatma velayut`an erugaka veere umd`un anucu vedukan eela tanadu loona aatma evari amdu nijamu Vis`vada abhi raama vinura Veema! The poet considers the fate of a cunning person who cooks meat for himself secretly and eats. When he is relieved of his flesh, how does he speak? (He does not speak!) maamsamunu tanaku nu maat`u gaa ceesuka maamsamu tinun at`t`i maaya jiivi, mamsamu vid`up aina maat`al eet`i ki aad`u raa Vis`vada abhi raama vinura Veema! . TRUTH .. Truth and Awareness coexist. When truth manifests in a person, awareness and knowledge also manifest in him. Where awareness and knowledge manifest, Truth joins. If both awareness and truth balance one another in a person, he becomes a Brahmin. (Implied: A person by birth is not a Brahmin. He must have awareness and truth flourishing in him.) Satyam amari yumd`a gnaanam Amari yumd`u Gnaanam amari yumd`a, Satyam umd`u Gnaana satyamulu nu samam aina dvijud` agu Vis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
Back to ContentsChapter 10MISCELLANEOUS
When cooking goes astray, the recipe becomes poisonous. When looked at, it becomes obnoxious. Food eaten in such obnoxicity may endanger life.
Ethics and foresight needed:People do not shed haste and flamboyance,Do not use foresight,Do now know reviving techniques when fall,They have become formidable by forceInstead of by Ethics and righteousness.These earthly people are foolish.
Kingdom:If the king is a money, the minister and the clown will be hogs. Captains will be like birds.The army will be like birds. Elephants will be horses.Rats will be cats.
Connoisseur and prudent person:An intelligent courtier must play as per the king’s expectations and words.He should not feel flattered and and dance in delight.
If he displays excess zeal, he will be equal to a planet.He gets nothing from that behaviour.
Village officials:If village head is strong, the village accountant will be strong. And vice versa. The happiness of the village head is the happiness of village Accountant.
Kaapu balmiy unna Karan`aanik adi balmiKaran`amu balim ella kaapu balimiKaapu samtasambu Karan`amu SamtooshamArasi cuud`a lokam amdu Veema!
King: If a king fails to protect his subjects to the best of his ability, what is the use of his rule? His body?
Cee konucu nu tanaku Ceeri Saagin amtalooCed`ina prajala raksha Seeyak unnaTanadu Saagut`eemi Tana tanuv adi eemiVis1vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
A person who gives push and life lin life is a peerless donor.A person who steals is a traitor.A person who shows livelihood and support is a grand benefactorA person who spoils a livelihood is a beast.
Guilt and sins ditch man:A person who misbehaves incestuously, forgetting customs, relationships, courtesies, is destined for harm. Even if it may now show its immediate impact, the sinner will drown himself in old age.
Vaavi vartanalunu Varusalu maryaadaTappi nad`acen eeni Tagulu Kiid`uVadalad apud`u taakun Adi tappinan tudiMusali muppun aina munugu Veema!
Perils:Excess jocose with a knave, wife of another person, sinner – are the root causes of death.
Imgalambu tood`an Ilan alpu tood`anuParuni aali tood`a Patitu tood`aSarasam aad`ut ella Caavu ku muulambuVis`vada abhi raama Vinura veema!
Benefits from others’ actions:
Meditated, knowledgeable, emancipated persons plant a tree of benevolence and deliverance. Can’t one take the fruits of the trees?
Self effort:The true experience and philosophy is : understanding oneself.On this earth, nobody else can teach.If a person remains without realising oneself, then nobody else can do it.
Dearth of good persons:On this earth, in spite of the best search, there are no good persons. There is dearth of gold, but no shortage of cheap metals.
Food excesses:Excess food kills people. They suffer when the body abstains from food. That food which does not kill or cause pain, will it not be adequate?
Deliverance: prerequisites:Unless a person sheds desires and greed, he cannot free himself from bondage.Unless he becomes free, he cannot be a sage.Unless he becomes a sage, the temptations do not cease.
Aas`al ud`uga kaani Paas`a muktud`u kaad`uMuktud` aina kaani Muni yu kaad`uMuniyun aina kaani Mohambul ud`ugavuVis`vada abhi raama Vinura Veema!
Temptations:A king who wants to kill a person, gives him power. An enemy who wants to cause danger, makes friendship first. A snake intending to byte, it will hide itself.
Traitor should always be punished:If there is some foulness in a sugar cane, we cannot eat it until we remove it. How can there be a traitor in the palace?
NAILS AND AXLES OF THIS BODYThis body has five joints: two shoulders, two thighs and one neck, total five. We must visit places while these five axles work. Even if one nail drops, the chariot of this body comes to a halt.
Body: NO USE OF FASTINGWhen we fast, the body uses its inner fluids and fats to survive. The poet considers these as body impurities. Hence a fasting person feeds on his own impurities. Thus, a person who abstains from food and consumes impurities, how does he get deliverance?
Every day humans wash their bodies with water and explore all parts. They give it good food. They adorn it with good clothes. On this earth, for the sake of this body, humans what travails do the people undertake?