Translation of Kula kula kula vennatiharu (Kannada) by Kanakadasa

[student-rasika]

Hi all,

I am looking for a translation of this song composed by Kanaka Dasa (16th century composer/saint):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTuhywgLgIw

ಕುಲ ಕುಲ ಕುಲವೆನ್ನುತಿಹರು ||pa||

ಕುಲವ್ಯಾವುದು ಸತ್ಯಸುಖವುಳ್ಳ ಜನರಿಗೆ ||a.pa||

ಕೆಸರೊಳು ತಾವರೆ ಪುಟ್ಟಲು ಅದ ತಂದುಬಿಸಜನಾಭನಿಗರ್ಪಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲವೆ
ಹಸುವಿನ ಮಾಂಸದೊಳುತ್ಪತ್ತಿ ಕ್ಷೀರವವಸುಧೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಭೂಸುರರುಣಲಿಲ್ಲವೆ||||

ಮೃಗಗಳ ಮೈಯಲಿ ಪುಟ್ಟಿದ ಕತ್ತುರಿಯತೆಗೆದು ಪೂಸುವರು ದ್ವಿಜರೆಲ್ಲರು
ಬಗೆಯಿಂದ ನಾರಾಯಣನ್ಯಾವ ಕುಲ ಅಗಜವಲ್ಲಭನ್ಯಾತರ ಕುಲದವನು ||2||

ಆತ್ಮ ಯಾವ ಕುಲ ಜೀವ ಯಾವ ಕುಲತತ್ತ್ವೇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳ ಕುಲ ಪೇಳಿರಯ್ಯ|
ಆತ್ಮಾಂತರಾತ್ಮ ನೆಲೆಯಾದಿಕೇಶವನುಆತನೊಲಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾತರ ಕುಲವಯ್ಯ ||3||

Kula kula kulavennutiharu || pa ||

Kulavyavudu satyasukavulla janarige || a.pa ||

Kesarolu tavare puttalu ada tandu bisajanaba nigarpisalillave
Hasuvina mamnsadolutpatti kshiravu vasudheyolage busurarunnalillave || 1 ||

Mrugagala maiyalli puttida kasturiya tegedu pusuvaru busurarellaru
Bageyinda narayananyava kuladava agajavallabanyatara kuladavanu || 2 ||

Atma yava kula jiva yava kula tattvendriyagala kula pelirayya
Atmamtaratma neleyadikesava Atanolida mele yatara kulavayya || 3 ||

Thanks!

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Some transliteration changes::

kula kula kulavennutiharu || pa ||

kulavyAvudu satyasukhavuLLa janarige || a.pa ||

kesaroLu tAvare puTTalu ada tandu bisajanAbha nigarpisalillavE
hasuvina mAmsadoLutpatti kshIravu vasudheyoLage bhUsuraruNNalillavE || 1 ||

mrugagala maiyalli puTTida kastUriya tegedu pUsuvaru bhUsurarellaru
bageyinda nArAyaNanAva kuladava agajavallabhanyAtara kuladavanu || 2 ||

Atma yAva kula jIva yAva kula tattvEndriyagaLa kula peLirayya
AtmAmtarAtma neleyAdikEshava Atanolida mEle yAtara kulavayya || 3 ||

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Here is the translation::




They {people] talk about caste, community,tribe,
To which community do the people belong, who experience the true
happiness {p}
********

Was'nt the lotus blooming in the pond of water [and slush] brought

to worship the lotus navelled lord vishNu?

On this earth,was'nt the milk produced in the innards of the cow

consumed by the brahmins?[c1]

*******

Was'nt the musk produced in the body of the musk deer applied by the twice

born{brahmins}?

to think about it, to which community does Lord nArAyaNa belong?

To which caste does{shiva} consort of the daughter of the mountains belong?{c2}

********

tell me the caste of The Soul,The Vital Breath The Truth,The senses.To which community do they belong?
nelyAdikEShava is The Soul within The Soul.when He shelters {us} what does ommunity,caste got to do?{c3]

***********

[rshankar]

Smt. Savitri - thank for that very deeply philosophical composition! Beautiful.

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rshankar ji,

You are right.

Thought provoking and meaningful.

Thank you.

Regards

[student-rasika]

Thank you so much for the translation! I sincerely appreciate it. What a beautiful message -- relevant even today.

[student-rasika]

After some research, I also came across this translation, cited by Prof. William Jackson in his book "Vijayanagara Voices: Exploring South Indian History and Hindu Literature":

What does it mean to be 'of high birth';
What does it mean to be 'of low birth'
When we consider a good man's true worth?
(This stanza above doesn't seem to be a translation of the pallavi or anupallavi, but the following stanzas make sense.)

The lotus is born from pond-bed muck
but we offer it to God in worship;
milk is secreted inside a cow's udder
but the highest caste drinks it ... What does it mean to be 'high born' ... ?

Musk is effluvia oozing from deers' pores
but the high-born smear it on their pure bodies.
To what caste does Narayana belong, tell me?
To what caste does Lord Shiva belong? What does it mean to be 'high born' ... ?

To what caste does the soul belong?
To what caste do life and love belong?
To what caste do the five senses belong?
If a soul is united with Kaginele Keshava
What does it mean to be 'of high birth' ... or 'low birth' ... ?

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Thank you for the quick response

The translation you have quoted seems to be from a different version of the same song.

Kaginele Adikeshava or neleyadi keshava is the ankita of Sri Kanakadasru.

Thank you