The Story of Purushottama Deva and Padmavathy

Part-I

Long back, the kingdom of Kalinga was ruled by Kings of Gajapati Dynasty. Purushottama Deva was a Prince of the dynasty, a just righteous popular Prince. 

Once he set out on a tour of his kingdom. The kingdom of Kalinga shared its border on the south-side with the Kingdom of Kanchi. Enchanted by the beauty of the forests, Purushottama Deva strayed into the forests near the border. As it happened, the princess of Kanchi had also camped in the forest at the same time and Purushottama Deva was wandering alone close to that area. The alarmed guards of the princess caught him and tried to imprison him. The king laughed at their audacity and stupidity. In no time he over powered all of them single handed and tied them up. As he learnt the reason for their attack, he became curious about the princess and walked towards her camp.

From a distance the princess saw the King and at once fell in love. Purushottama Deva introduced himself to the princess in the great royal tradition. He then apologized for tying the guards but admonished them for being rude. The princess though was enamored by the charm, majesty, manners and valour of the king.  She was eager to go back to her parents and tell them about him.

At the palace, the princess sang paeans of the King of Kalinga to her father. In the great royal tradition, the Kanchi king thought it was not appropriate to let him go without being a guest of Kanchi. He immediately sent royal invitations to him. Purushottama deva was mighty pleased to visit Kanchi and be a guest. He greatly praised the princess and made no secret of his appreciation for her. The Princess herself specially supervised his stay and was by his side at all times. Purushottam deva was treated with all pleasures, events and experiences that a royal guest deserved.

However this could not last long. Purushottama Deva's father passed away and he had to return hurriedly. The princess and the Kanchi king bid him good bye with a heavy heart. Soon after he reached Puri Purushottama Deva was coronated the King of Kalinga. Once the ceremonies were completed and normal life set in, Purushottama deva began to miss Padmavathy, the Kanchi princess. Many miles away Padmavathy was in the same state. 

After some days, Padmavathy's friends and companions decided to report the matter to the queen. The Queen was in no surprise at all. She herself wanted to discuss this with the King. It was now the turn of the King to be overjoyed. He was happy that his daughter had set her eyes on the best person of the times. He at once ordered his minister to visit Kalinga and make this royal proposal. At Kalinga, the Old and wise Chief Minister of the Kingdom received the proposal on behalf of the King and was delighted that the kingdom was being blessed with the Kanchi Princess as the Queen. He asked the Kanchi ministers to stay back for the Ratha Yatra of Puri, meet the King and then return to Kanchi. Next morning, the Kanchi ministers were presented with a special place in the Royal Gallery.

The Rath Yatra had a special tradition. It had to start with a symbolic cleaning of the space around the Rath, which was to be performed by none other than the King himself. Purushottama Deva was at this act with ultimate devotion. However the Kanchi ministers felt slighted that the king was performing the act of sweeping. They wondered if the Kanchi king would be ready to give his daughter to a king who performed the act of sweeping even if it were for the Lord himself. A tragedy was about to start.

Soon the messenger Minister reached Kanchi. With anguish and disappointment he narrated the incident and insisted that it would not be in the good of the princess to marry a king who sweeps chariots. The aghast king ordered a withdrawal of the proposal. A message was sent to Puri. The alarmed chief minister of Kalinga immediately set out to Kanchi to prevail upon the king about the symbolic nature of the tradition. He explained that it only meant that the Lord is supreme and the king is devoted to the Lord. Nothing could move the Kanchi king.

The disappointed minister returned to Puri. He now had no other option but to submit the matter to Purushottam Deva. The King was furious and decided to settle the insult through a battle and immediately set out for it. But fate was not on his side. On the night of the battle there was fire in his army camp destroying food and material. The next morning Purushottama Deva and his army suffered a humiliating defeat and returned to Puri. This insult only further hardened his resolve for another battle and an eventual victory.

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Part-2

At Puri, Purushottama Deva first went into the Jagannath temple and performed a penance for many days seeking the Lord's help in defeating Kanchi King.  However, at Kanchi, the King had totally different plans. He planned to conduct a Swayamvara so that Padmavathy could get married and forget the Sweeper King. He gave special instructions to his minister that all kings must be invited except the Sweeper King. Sooner than later Purushottam Deva learnt it and felt further humiliated. How could he bear this humiliation he wondered.  At Kanchi, Padmavathy was distraught that she was suffering a double tragedy. She now had to marry somebody while she had given her heart to Purushottam Deva. She kept praying to the lord to help her in avoiding this deceipt.

At last, Purushottama Deva's penance began to bear fruit. One night lord Vishnu appeared in his dream. He assured the king that he was on his side.  Encouraged by the dream the king ordered his troops to once again march to Kanchi. There was good omens to encourage the King. As they were proceeding next day  an old lady intercepted him. "Oh king two young men passed by and ate curds that I gave them. In return they gave me this ring and asked me to show it to you and you would pay for curds instead." The King looked at the ring and stood shell shocked. It was the ring of the very Lord himself. It immediately occured to him that the young men were none other than Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra themselves. Since they were en route to Kanchi the king was supremely confident that they were on his side. He handsomely rewarded the old lady, with an entire village and named it after her as Manikpatna.

The invigorated army moved to Kanchi with the now fully positive King. In a few days they attacked the high walls of Kanchi fort.  The attack was so thorough that the city fell soon. Soon the Kalinga army surrounded the very palace of Kanchi. The doors of the palace were force opened. However, Purushottam Deva strictly instructed that the Royal members were not to be insulted. In some time the Kanchi King was produced before Purushottam Deva. The Kalinga King lost no time. He had thought through his actions. He announced that the Kanchi King would be freed at once much to the shock and disappointment of his chiefs. But what followed was a bigger shock. He announced that the princess Padmavathy would be married off to a Sweeper as revenge. The Kalinga chieftains and Kanchi royal fraternity were equally in dismay. The state of Padmavathy could not be even understood. She simply could not believe this was unfolding. But the Kalinga king simply drove back to Puri victorious with the princess as his captive to be married off to a sweeper.

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Part-3

Puri was in great jubilation and eagerly waiting for the king to return. The King though was very serious with his mission. As soon as he reached he called his minister and reminded him that at the earliest he should find a Sweeper for Padmavathy. The minister was stunned with the king 's resolve, seriousness and urgency.  He lamented at his fate for having to do an extremely bitter task. On the other hand, Padmavathy was not only struggling to come to terms with the new reality but also heart broken. She could not believe that she was in this great city of the person whom she loved but not with status she had imagined. Instead she was now disgraced waiting to be further humiliated at the hands of the very same person who she loved. She seriously thought of consuming poison in her ring and die. 

After a few days, once again the minister met king and tried to prevail upon him to change his decision but the king seemed to be only further resolute. Deep within Purushottama Deva was suffering too. He knew he loved her still. He was deeply pained to get her married to a sweeper. Yet he felt compelled to honor his own words uttered at a time of great anger. One day he saw Padmavathy on the terrace on the moonlight.  He was as enchanted by her beauty as always. At once, he thought she must be married off at the earliest and the very next morning gave orders to the minister to find a Sweeper immediately. The minister was hesitating. The King decided to set a timeline and gave a month to the minister to accomplish the task.

The minister, though, struck a beautiful plan.

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Part-4

Days passed and Nothing happened. But it was the Ratha Yatra time at Puri once again. The King was immersed in his devotion. Large crowds from across many kingdoms thronged Puri for a glimpsy darshan of Lord Jagannath.

The Rathas were prepared with all rituals and fanfare. All sections of the society the priests musicians dancers artisans came with their troups and traditional methods of participation.

On the day of the Yatra the King arrived at the scene accompanied by the royal guards. However, Padmavathy was left alone at her royal apartment. The minister went to her and told her that today would be the day of her marriage and she must get ready to go. The enormity of the cruel fate struck her all at once and again. The minister sought forgiveness that he was fated to lead her into her new world. The princess though was ready with the poison of the ring. She told her maids to dress and make her up as beautiful as it can get. In her mind she was stepping into the world of death.

At the centre of the town, in front of the temple, the Grand Rath for Jagannath was ready. The King came down from the elephant and walked towards the Rath. He picked the broom with great devotion as per tradition. He walked gently, respectfully towards the Rath bowed to the Lord, waved at the people and began to sweep the area around the Rath.

At that moment, the minister went to Padmavathy and said "Here is your sweeper princess. Get ready to garland him". For a moment the princess was confused but as she gathered herself she understood and was overjoyed. The minister then went near the King and called him out with a loud noise so that all could hear.

"Oh King, Please stop for a moment". Purushottama Deva was perplexed. "I hereby give my daughter to you in marriage". And he brought Padmavathy to the centre. "What joke is this Minister" shouted the King. "My lord she is supposed to marry a sweeper. What better a sweeper than the Kalinga king himself?". The King understood. He greatly appreciated that the minister smartly waited for the right moment. Entire Puri knew that Padmavathy was the lady for their King and the king himself would be happy.

Their marriage was performed in front of Lord Jagannath. The King thanked the Lord for rescuing him and leading him in the right path. He ruled the Kingdom for many years with Padmavathy as his queen.

The Old Man and the River

That morning, the old man was on the top of the hill again. Day after day, month after month and year after year he was there in the morning. He never missed a day. Such a thought never occurred to him. It was a small hill, overlooking a bend in the river, throwing open its long stretch on either side of the bend, from eternity to eternity. Yet he felt its  presence right next to him. There he sat, gazing at the bend, as he did every day. Every drop of the river water passing through bend met his eye. There he sat waiting for the sun to rise, graze the water and fill his eye, until something told him it was enough. But, it was enough for only a day, drawing him from the depth of his sleep next morning. Just as he needed to gaze at the river bend, it needed his gaze.

Today, though, was not going to be another day. The old man felt the unusual as he climbed up the hill. The flow of the river was not intense but  not gentle either. He felt an inviting pattern in the flow of the river. The wind was way too gentle. As usual, he climbed up the hill. But the sunlight today seem to create a different form on the river. The old man could not stay there for long. He ended his traditional gaze early and climbed down the hill. He sat close to the water stream on the bank looking into the river. But this time he forgot about the graze of the sunlight. Instead, he was listening to the flow of the river. The pattern of the flow slowly became deeper, eventually became music, filling the old man's ears, body and mind,  holding him  still in its enchant. 

He did not know how long he sat there. He woke up only when he found himself enveloped by a heavenly voice. "Old man, who are you"? The Divinity in the voice was compelling. He opened his eyes to see a goddess like lady. "Why do you come to see me, day after day, year after year". The old man was taken aback. He had never asked this question to himself. Recovering after a while, he stood up. "What did you say? Am I coming here to see you?". The lady smiled. "Yes, old man. I am the goddess river". The old man was now in disbelief. He had never ascribed any purpose to his daily visit to the hill and the river gaze, much less an appearance of the river goddess herself. There was absolute silence everywhere around except the music of the flowing pattern of the river, He noticed that the music was now more pronounced after the appearance of the lady. The old man mustered enough courage and looked into her eyes. He saw the same smile in her eyes as the pleasant flow of the river he saw everyday. Her face had the same energy and peace that he everyday felt gazing at the river. Yes, the same moving peace.

Collecting his senses, he asked the goddess "What can I do for you, Oh Mother?". The river goddess could not help a big smile. She asked "I thought I was the one asking a question. Tell me - why do you come here to see me everyday". The old man now spoke with a readiness that surprised him. "Mother, when lord sun grazes you and touches my eyes on your bend I feel my ancestors and my future generations". Saying so he became silent. He had found the answer to the question - why he climbed up the hill to see the river day after day. Just that he had never asked this question to himself. A simple question by the goddess river found him the answer. He asked "Why is that so mother? Why do I feel my ancestors and my future generations in you? I have seen none of them. I was an abandoned child - I have not seen my parents."

The goddess river gently lowered her eyes. Her smile gave way to thoughtfulness. She looked at the old man and wondered if he was the person she was looking for all the while. Her gentle gaze encouraged him sit at her feet. The goddess gently moved her hands on his head and said "There is somebody else who can help you find the answer". Saying so that goddess stopped. The old man immediately stood up. "Who that is, Oh Mother. I am eager to know the truth behind". The goddess was now convinced. She said "Its the Mother Earth. She is the one who holds me and shows me to enjoy my flow."

The old man did not wait for the goddess to go away. At once, he went up the hill and found a place where his eyes could hold the vast stretch of land and fill its still in his heart. At last he felt a hand on his shoulders with a shelter that he felt for the first time. With tears in his eyes, he turned around and at once fell at her feet. He was now determined in his quest but also had a question in addition. "Why is all this happening?". Goddess Earth sat along. "I am just here to guide you. You will find your answer but you have to go further. There is somebody else who knows this better. Go and meet the Lord Mountain. It is he who guides the river to flow through me".

At once he set upon his journey with firm steps, face looking ahead, eyes looking far and high, and heart filled with certainty. He kept walking ahead until he reached the foot of the Mountain. There he he set his gaze on the tip of the mountain.  Many days went by. Eventually, the Mountain could not remain unmoved by the gaze. The Old man's gaze was disturbed by the slow movement at the tip of the mountain. Different parts of the mountain began to move and slowly formed the eyes, eye brows, nose and the mouth of the Mountain Lord. A deep loud voice came from the depth of the earth and the sky. His gaze went deep inside the old man's eyes. "Why do you want an answer to this question".

"I do not know" said the old man, he was not thinking much. "I just know this much that I am slowly being filled with this question. After sometime I may become the question myself". The Mountain Lord dismantled his stiffness. He realized that the old man was the right person and almost there. "I can only tell you half the answer. When I touch the Clouds it showers as rain on Earth and flows as a river. The Cloud knows a bigger secret". No sooner had the Mountain paused than the old man vanished.

The old man started climbing up the mountain. At the top his gaze set on the sky waiting for the Rain Cloud to appear. The monsoon arrived. The Rain Clouds now could not hide from the Old Man. The Rain Cloud slowly formed itself in front of him and a drop woke up the gazing old man. The Rain Cloud was looking at him with a frown. "What do you want? You should not disturb us like this. We have a lot of work." The old man by now knew that his question was more important than everything else. "I want an answer to my question. Why am I seeing what I see in the river".

The Rain Cloud looked at him sternly. But the old man would have none of it. After a long time, the Rain Cloud relaxed and said "you see what you see because I am there in the river". The old man was not taking any more puzzles. "If you are there in the river why should I see my ancestors and my future generations".

The Rain Cloud said "You see those ancestors who gazed at the river in the same bend. You see your future generations who will do the same. The river holds your gaze and carries you along. They reach the ocean and come to me".

The Old man was not satisfied. "Why does the river hold my gaze?". The Rain Cloud smiled. "Because of me". "I am the mother pregnant of rain. I am the father showering rain on earth. What I receive as mother, I give away as father. My children bring to me everybody who can find this in me".

At once the Sun shone behind and the Old man saw light. He came back and continued his daily gaze of the river. He never told this secret but taught his children and grand children the same practice until his death.

ನದಿಯ ಹರಿವು

ನಿನ್ನ ತಿಳಿವಿನ ಹರಿವು
ನನ್ನ ಎದೆಯೊಳಗಿಳಿದು
ಮನದಿ ಮೂಡಿದ ನೋಡು
ಉದಯ ಸೂರ್ಯ

ನಿನ್ನೊಂದೊಂದು  ಬಿಂದು
ಕಿರಣ ಕಿರಣವ ಹೀರಿ
ನಯನದುಂಬಿದೆ ನೋಡು
ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯ ಬೆಳಕು

ನಿನ್ನ ಕರದಲಿಪಿಡಿದು
ರವಿಯ  ವಂದಿಸೆ ನೋಡು
ಹೃದಯದುಂಬಿದೆ ಧನ್ಯ
ದೈವ  ಕೃಪೆಯು

ನಿನ್ನೊಳಗೆ ನೆನೆಯುತ್ತ
ಕಳೆದೆ ನಿನ್ನೆಯ ಕರ್ಮ
ಜೀವದುಂಬಿದೆ ನೋಡು
ಪಡೆದ ಪುಣ್ಯ

ನಿನ್ನೊಂದೊಂದು ತಿರುವು
ಚಿತ್ತವನು ಬಿಗಿಯುತ್ತ
ಒಳಗಣ್ಣ ತೆರೆಸಿದೆ
ಋತದ ಚಲನೆ

ನಿನ್ನ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ
ಜಗವೆಲ್ಲ ಹರಿದಿದೆ
ಬಿಂದು ಬಿಂದುವಿನಲ್ಲು
ಆ ಕಾಲಗರ್ಭ

ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕಿಡಿ

ಎದೆಯಾಂತರಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿರುವ ಭಾವ
ನವಿರು ನಲುಮೆಗೆ   ಲಹರಿಯಾಯಿತು  

ನೆನಪಿನಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುದುಗಿಬಿದ್ದ ಕನಸು
ಒಂದು ಉಸಿರಿಗೆ ಚಿಗುರಿ ಮೊಳಗಿತು  

ಮನದಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿಮಸುಕಾದ ಕಿಡಿ
ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ತಪಕೆ ಜಗವ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿತು

ಭುವಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದ ಆ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಬೀಜ
ಇಷ್ಟು ನೀರಿಗೆ ಹೆಮ್ಮರವೇ ಆಯಿತು

ಭಾವ ಬೀಜ ತಪವಗೈಯಲು
ಮನದ ಕನಸು ವಿಶ್ವವಾಯಿತು

ಜಯಶೀಲ ದೊಡ್ಡಪ್ಪ

ಹೃದಯಕಾದ ಗಾಯ ಮನ ಕುಗ್ಗಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ

ಹೃದಯವೇ ಹಿಗ್ಗಿ ಮಹಾಮನೆಯಾಯ್ತು

ಯಾರು ಬೇಕಾದರೂ ಯಾವಾಗಲಾದರೂ

ಒಳಬಂದು ಹೋಗಬಹುದು ಮತ್ತೆ ಬರುವುದಕೆ

ಒಳಬಂದವರಿಗಿರಲಿ ಇಣುಕಿದವರಿಗೂ

ಜೀವಾಮೃತ ಸಿಂಚನ ಸತತ ಸೆಳೆತ ನಿರಂತರ

ತಾಯ ಹೃದಯ ಬಯಸುವ ಮಗುವಿನಂತೆ

ಯಾತ್ರೆಯ ದಣಿವಾರಿಸುವ ತಂಗುದಾಣದಂತೆ

ಕುಣಿನಲಿದು ಆಟವಾಡುವ ಮೈದಾನದಂತೆ

ಎಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮವರಿಲ್ಲಿ ಇಡಿವರುಷದ ಜಾತ್ರೆಯಂತೆ

ಗುರುಗಳ ಮಹಿಮೆ ಜಯವಿತ್ತು ಶೀಲವಿತ್ತು

ಯಾವಕಾರಣದ ಹಂಗಿಲ್ಲದ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿತ್ತು

ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗೂ ಮಗುವಿಗೂ ಅಂತರವಿಲ್ಲ

ಹಿರಣ್ಯಗರ್ಭದಂತರಾಳದ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮುಗುಳ್ನಗು

ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಅದರ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶವಾದರೆ ಅದರಿಂದ

ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಿಲ್ಲ ಅದರ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯಿಲ್ಲ

ನಿಮಗೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಬೇಕು ಎಲ್ಲ ಬರಬೇಕು

ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಾಗಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ

ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವರೇ ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಧರ್ಮವಿದೆ

ಇದೇ ನಿಮ್ಮ ತಾನ ಇದೇ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಧ್ಯಾನ

ಆಮನೆಯೀಗ ಬರಿ ಜಯನಗರವಲ್ಲ

ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಮೂಡಿರುವ ದೇವಮಂದಿರ

ಆಮನೆಗೆ ಸಾವಿರ ಕರುಳಬಳ್ಳಿ

ಜೀವಾಮೃತದಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ಮನ ಜನ ಸಾಗರ

ಆಮನೆಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾತೃ ನೀವೆ ಸರಿ

ನೀವಾ ಮನೆಯೇ ಆಗಿ ನೀವೆ ಮಂದಿರ

ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

ಋಷಿ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನ ಗಂಗಾವತರನಾ

ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೊಳಲಿನ ಯಮುನಾ ಗಾಯನಾ

ರಾಮಧರ್ಮಮನ ಸರಯೂ ಚೇತನಾ

ಕುಣಿಕುಣಿವ ನರ್ಮದೆಯ ಕೀರ್ತನಾ

ತಾಂಡವದ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಪುತ್ರ ನರ್ತನಾ

ಜೀವ ದಾಹ ತೀರುವ ತುಂಗಾ ಪಾನಾ

ಹರಿದಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲ ಪೊರೆವ ಕಾವೇರಿಯ ಭಾವನಾ

ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಲಯಗಳ ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ನಯನಾ

ಎಷ್ಟು ಬತ್ತಿಸಿದರೂ ಒಣಗಲಿಲ್ಲ

ಹುಡುಕಿದಷ್ಟೂ ಮೂಲ ಸುಲಭವಲ್ಲ

ಬಚ್ಚಲ ನೀರು ಹರಿಸಿದರೂ

ಮೂಲಸೆಲೆ ಸ್ಫಟಿಕ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಿದೆಯಲ್ಲ

ದಿಕ್ಕು ಬದಲಿಸಿದಷ್ಟೂ

ಮತ್ತದೇ ದಿಕ್ಕು ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ವೇಗ

ಕಿರುದೊರೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಂಚಿದರೋ

ಹರಿದಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲ ಮಹಾಪಾತ್ರ ಆವೇಗ

ವಿಷಸುರಿದಷ್ಟೂ ದೈವಕೃಪೆ ಮಹಾಮಳೆ

ಹರಿವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಂಜುಂಡ ಈ ಮಹಾನದಿ

ಚೆಲ್ಲಿದ ರಕ್ತವೆಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಹರಿವಿನಲ್ಲೊ

ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಬೀಳಿನಲ್ಲೊ ಕಳೆದು ಶುದ್ಧಿ

ಕಣ್ಕಟ್ಟು ಮಾಯೆ ಇವಳ ಎಷ್ಟು ಮುಚ್ಚುವುದು

ಹರಿವಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಇವಳಿರವು ಹೃದಯಕಾಣುವುದು

ಅಡ್ಡಗೋಡೆ ಸ್ಫೋಟಕ ಏನೆಷ್ಟು ಸಿಡಿವುದು

ಅದೊಂದು ಸೆಲೆ ಗುಪ್ತಗಾಮಿನಿ ಹರಿಯುತಿಹುದು

ವಿಷ್ಣು ಮಾವ

ನಿಮಿಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬದಲಿಸಿದಿರಲ್ಲ

ಕ್ಷಣವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಜಗಮೊಗಚಿತಲ್ಲ

ಹಾಗೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಹಾಗೆ

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದರ ಹಂಗಿಲ್ಲವೆನ್ನುವ ಹಾಗೆ

ಇದ್ಯಾವುದೂ ನಿಮ್ಮದಲ್ಲವೆನ್ನುವಂತೆ

ಜೀವೋಲ್ಲಂಘನ ಮಾಡಿದಿರಲ್ಲ

ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ನಡೆದೇಬಿಟ್ಟಿರಲ್ಲ

ಏನಿತ್ತು ಅಷ್ಟವಸರ

ಭೂಮಿಯ ಮೇಲಿನ್ನು ಧರ್ಮ ನೆಲೆಯಾಗಿಲ್ಲ

ನಾವಿನ್ನೂ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯಲು ಕಲಿತೇ ಇಲ್ಲ

ಅಂಥ ಅಣ್ಣ ಇನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಾರು

ಗೌರಿ ಪೂಜೆಗೆ ಸೀರೆ ತಪ್ಪುವುದುಂಟೆ

ನಾಗರಪಂಚಮಿಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆಯಾದರೂ ಭೇಟಿ

ವರ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬರಬೇಕು

ದಿಕ್ಕು ತೋಚದಾಗ ವಿಷ್ಣುನ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಕೇಳು

ನಡೆನಡೆಗೂ ದಾರಿ ತೋರಿದ ಧ್ರುವನಕ್ಷತ್ರ

ದಣಿವಾದಾಗ ಭೀಮಸವಾರಿ

ಜಗತ್ತಗೆ ವಸುಧೈವ ಕುಟುಂಬಕಂ

ನೀವು ಇದ್ದಿರಲ್ಲ

ಅದೇ ಒಳಗೊಂದು ಧೈರ್ಯವಿತ್ತು

ಎಲ್ಲ ಸರಿಯಿದೆ, ಸರಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ

ಎನ್ನುವ ಭರವಸೆಯಿತ್ತು

ದೂರದವರು ಹತ್ತಿರವಾದರು

ಸಂತೆ ಸಮುದಾಯವಾಯ್ತು

ಅರಳಿಮರದ ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ ಕಟ್ಟೆಯ

ಕೆಳಗೆ ನೆರಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಲಗಿದೆವು

ಮರಕೋತಿಯಾಡಿದೆವು

ಎಲೆದೂರಿ ಬಂದ ಸೂರ್ಯಕಿರಣದಲ್ಲಿ

ಬೆಳೆದು ದೊಡ್ಡವರಾದ ಜನರೆಷ್ಟೊ

ಬಂದು ಹೋದವರೆಷ್ಟೊ ಲೆಕ್ಕವಿಟ್ಟವರಾರು

ಹೆಸರಿಟ್ಟಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಅನ್ವರ್ಥವಾದಿರಿ

ವಿಷ್ಣು ಎಂದದಕ್ಕೆ ಪೊರೆದ ರಾಮನಾದಿರಿ

ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಬದುಕಿ ಆದಿರಿ ದಾರಿದೀಪ

ನೀವೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನವಿದ್ದರೂ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಬೇಕಿತ್ತು

ಮಾತುಮಾತಿಗೂ ನಿಮ್ಮದೇ ನೆನಪು

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