ಹಸಿವಾದರೆ ಊರೊಳಗೆ ಭಿಕ್ಷಾನ್ನಂಗಳುಂಟು
ತೃಷೆಯಾದರೆ ಕೆರೆ ಬಾವಿ ಹಳ್ಳಂಗಳುಂಟು
ಶಯನಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾಳುದೇಗುಲವುಂಟು
ಚೆನ್ನಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನಯ್ಯ ಆತ್ಮಸಂಗಾತಕ್ಕೆ ನೀನೆನಗುಂಟು.
akka mahAdeviyavara vachana
hasivAdare UroLage bhikShAnnaMgaLuMTu
tRuSheyAdare kere bAvi haLLaMgaLuMTu
shayanakke hALudEgulavuMTu
cennamallikArjunayya AtmasaMgAtakke nInenaguMTu.
Meaning:
If hungry, there is food in the town to beg for.
If thirsty, there are lakes, wells and streams.
For sleeping, there is discarded buildings.
Oh Lord chennamallikArjuna, as the company
for the soul You are there.
Notes:
1. How many people postpone their happiness making
it conditional "only when so and so situation prevails,
I would be happy." ! Even those who have not fulfilled
their basic needs like food and shelter can be happy
for sure, if they know to enjoy the bliss our Lord showers !
2. c.f. "As robe I have a loin cloth,
To sleep the outside verandah is there,
To eat there are the dry leaves,
To drink there is enough water,
As the company the name of Lord riding the bull is there.
Who worries about whether the north pole goes up
or the south pole goes down for the moon.
- paTTinattAr"