pachai maamalai pol mene

Showing posts with label humour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humour. Show all posts

Friday, March 20, 2020

കാക്കേ കാക്കേ കൂടെവിടെ



"oh lady crow, of comely crow, show me your nest..
is your cute little one snoozing there,?
wont the sweet child be hungry and crying for food?"

The boy asked t he mother crow.. "


All the while he was munching a cookie..

Give me the cookie, wont you, my little friend..?
murmured the crow..

No, no, I will not..shouted the boy.

"You wretched hag of a crow, you cheated me.. ' cried the boy as the crow soared up snatching off the cookie ..

There is a Malayalam Nursery rhyme,, I just translated it as above.

കാക്കേ കാക്കേ കൂടെവിടെ
കൂട്ടിനകത്തൊരു കുഞ്ഞുണ്ടോ
കുഞ്ഞിനു തീറ്റ കൊടുക്കാഞ്ഞാല്‍
കുഞ്ഞു കിടന്നു കരഞ്ഞീടും
കുഞ്ഞേ കുഞ്ഞേ നീ തരുമോ
നീന്നുടെ കയ്യിലെ നെയ്യപ്പം
ഇല്ല തരില്ലാ നെയ്യപ്പം
അയ്യോ കാക്കേ പറ്റിച്ചോ

A verbatim translation would have been:-

Crow, Crow, where is your nest
is there your small child inside the nest
will not the baby cry if you do not give it any food?

Boy, Boy, will you give me the Ghee Cookie you are holding in you hands/
No, I will not give you that Ghee Cookie
You Crow, you cheated me..

Both what I gave at the beginning and what I give above are translations..

But which is better..?
It all depends on the reader..
Narration is a fine art... a sublime art,

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Floored dreams..

Floored dreams..
-----------
The story of the penniless brahmachari or the young initiate, who got a gift of an earthen pot filled with rice flour comes to mind..
Extremely overjoyed on receiving the rare gift, the boy was walking along the street all filled with dreams for the future..
He planned to sell the flour for a profit and purchase some merchandise which he further planned to sell for good profits..
And with these profits he would build a house, and plant vegetables and cereals too..
He would sell whatever was left after consumption and make good money..
When he becomes affluent he would marry..
And in good time he imagined having a child too..
And in his imagination he saw the child playing and being naughty too, and his wife being negligent once in a while about the child..
The child would cry after stumbling on something and in anger, he would beat his wife..
With these thoughts in mind he just beat with his palm the earthen pot with flour, delicately balanced in his head and presto.. the pot fell on the road, broke and all the contents were spilled ..
The brahmachari's dreams were also shattered and laid waste..
We all appear to dwell in such dreamy territories most of the time..

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Finally the tiger came



Finally the tiger came..

He was a little boy..
He was also a liar and a sensationalist.
He lived in a village adjacent to a jungle where lived man-eating puli..
All the villagers went for work and the boy was work-less. There must have been no school..
By noon, he became bored and shouted.." puli has come.. puli has come." പുലി വന്നേ . പുലി വന്നേ "
The alarmed villagers all rushed to the boy..They were fooled as there was no puli.. The boy repeated this prank almost every noon..
Gradually the number of villagers responding to the alarm dwindled..
Finally a day dawned and there came the noon, and for a change, the puli (the tiger) also came on a visit to the village and the first person to greet him was the boy...
"Just sufficient for my lunch" thought the puli..
and the boy shouted in genuine alarm about the arrival of the puli,
but the villagers thought that it was the usual prank of the boy, the liar and the sensationalist..
But now the moment of truth had come..
No time for lies or hyperbole.. Only lunchtime for the puli.the tiger.
The puli jumped upon the boy and had a hearty meal..
And nothing was left for the supper.

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Musings 22

I am recounting a funny story about Ramayana.. Seetha Swayamvaram
The marriage of Sita with Rama was on..after Rama broke the Sivadhanus.
But Ravana was always a suitor for Sita, so being a very crafty actor, he disguised himself as Rama and was moving around in the Palace of Janaka..
At the same time, Soorpanakha, his sister, was eager to marry Rama and so she disguised herself as Sita and was doing the rounds in Mithila too..
Ravana saw this fake Sita and made advances to her..
Thinking that it was real Rama, she also encouraged the fake Rama.. they willingly eloped.. and the fake Rama that is Ravana took the fake Sita that is Soorpanakha to the Pushpaka vimanam, concealed somewhere in a bush..
Realization dawned or Soorpanakha, and she cried.
. Neenkalaa, Annaaa...?.
நீங்களா அண்ணா ?
Was it you my brother...?
This story is quoted by many.. and enjoyed by all as a parody..
No offence to anyone or anything intended..

Friday, August 21, 2015

Man and his monkey..



Man and his monkey..


A man and his monkey were walking along a village road, the man carrying a stick in addition.. 
The man saw a round discarded can lying waste at the centre of the road..
He just brandished the stick ,cricketer-style and hit the can, and it flew a long way, although not for a sixer. 
The monkey was watching with interest.. 
They were walking on. 
The man left the monkey and the stick too in the middle of the road and walked to the side to ease himself.. 
There was a potter's house where mud pots were being made, burned in the oven and stacked in a big row one pot upon the other.. 
The monkey remembered his master's earlier flourish with a round can and thought of using the round mud pots too in a similar fashion..

He rightly presumed that the time was ripe for the cricketing contact between the pots and the stick and choosing the pot in the lowest row as his ball, and put the presumption into action..

The result is history..

Broken pots, 
the vanishing monkey, 
the bolting master of the monkey,
the shouting potter 
and finally the stick lying silently on the roadside like a mute witness, 

and of course 

the broken heart of the potter
A good lesson to support swacchatha activists..
No one should leave trash in the middle of the road.. 
And none should retire to the roadside to ease himself..
Especially when he has monkey for his company..

Friday, June 05, 2015

Tiger for Lunch....an Indian Tale



Tiger for Lunch....an Indian Tale

A lady, it is alleged, quarreled with her husband, and was proceeding to her father's house with her two children in tandem..

The travel from one village to another involved negotiation of a route involving a fairly dense forest, which, as in all tales is infested with ferocious animals like lions and tigers and cronies like jackals..

Though quarrelsome, the lady must have been very observant and shrewd.. 
As she was entering the forest area, she saw a fairly big tiger coming their way..
And she realized to her trepidation that she could not avoid a personal interview with the tiger, and the encounter would result in her becoming the lunch for the animal. 
She was not prepared for that.. 
She thought out a plan.. 
Putting a false but almost convincingly brave face, she started a conversation with her children, all the time pretending that she had noticed nothing amiss..

"Children, I have been travelling in these jungles quite often, and I have always found that food for us is never scarce.. We get very fat and huge tigers in large numbers, and we can always stave away our hunger by eating at least a couple of tigers at anytime.. Here a plenty of them are at hand."

While talking so, she was also putting an ogling, toothy face (perhaps the memory of her husband helped in that), and the confident tone in which she declared the menu for her lunch and her appearance must have had their impact on the tiger and he really believed that if he was around, he would be eaten up by this lady sooner or later..

He thought that running away making as little noise as possible was the best way of escape, and was very quick in that swift movement..
On his bolting path, he met a jackal.. The latter enquired about the reason for the very fast and frightened retreat of the tiger, and was informed of the appearance of the lady tiger-eater..

The jackal laughed his head off, and replied." A human lady eating a tiger? Impossible.. True, she may eat her husband, but she cannot do that with you"

The tiger was not convinced..Then the jackal offered to clear up the issue by visiting the lady in person, and asked to tiger to keep company with him..The tiger was terribly afraid..
But after some management talk, it was decided that the jackal would tie himself atop the tiger, and they would face the lady together..

So the two animals marched towards the lady and her children, the jackal tied and seated atop the tiger..

The lady saw the two approaching, even from a distance.. 
Resourcefulness did not take leave of her.

.She shouted aloud.." You lazy and cunning Jackal.. You could manage to bring only a single puny tiger for my food? Don't you remember that I wanted at least three big tigers, and we had even talked about the price.. 
Now I will have to be satisfied with one small tiger .. It is really bad.. I shall make you the pickle for my lunch as I eat thing wretched tiger."

Hearing this, the tiger was terrified beyond all levels, and turned back and ran, ever forgetting that his friend was atop.. He ran helter skelter and was oblivious to the agonized cries of the jackal, which was tied fast on the tiger..

The tiger hit a low lying tree in his path, and that broke the skull of the fox who left for the abode of death...

No one knows, the lady would have eaten the tiger too, if she had to.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Honesty



Honesty is something like a homeopathic pill.. Coated with or mixed with sugar, it can be quite a winner..

Two astrologers were examining the horoscope of the yuvaraja ( heir apparent) of kingdom.. in the presence of the powerful and ferocious king.. Both could see that the prince's longevity was under threat.. and could foresee that he would pre-decease his father..

The first astrologer was candid and confessed the fact without mincing words.. And the sword of the king moved like a lighting and the severed head of the astrologer touched the ground with a thud and rolled over.


The second astrologer also saw the same thing in the charts of the prince, but he also saw the head of his professional colleague rolling over the carpet like a football.

He made his prediction.." Your majesty, I read from the position of the starts that your Royal Highness will have a very long life.. And I have the happy tiding to submit that His Majesty will have the great fortune to anoint his grandson as the Yuvaraja.."

His Majesty was pleased beyond all limits, and the astrologer was flooded with presents.

For once, the King did not realize that his grandson would become the heir apparent only if his son left before the king himself..

Therefore it is evident that sugar-coating works wonders..

But I do not know about diabetics..

I am a diabetic and I have started hating sugar and sugar-coating too..

Friday, December 19, 2014

man and his monkey




A man and his monkey were walking along a village road, the man carrying a stick in addition.. 
The man saw a round waste can lying waste at the centre of the road..

He just brandished the stick cricketer-style and hit the can, and it flew a long way, if not for a sixer. 
The monkey was watching with interest.. 
They were walking on. 
The man left the monkey and the stick too in the middle of the road and walked to the side to ease himself.. 
There was a potter's house where mud pots were being made, burned in the oven and stacked in a big row one pot upon the other.. 
The monkey remembered his master's earlier flourish with a round can and though of the round mud pots too.. He rightly presumed that the time was ripe for the cricketing contact between the pots and the stick and choosing the pot in the lowest row as his ball, and put the presumption into action..
The result is history..


Broken pots, the vanishing monkey, the bolting owner of the pot, the shouting potter and finally the stick lying silently on the roadside, and of course the broken heart of the potter

A good lesson to support swacchatha activists.. No one should leave trash in the middle of the road.. And none should retire to the roadside to ease himself..

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Onnum Kaanaathe

Onnum Kaanaathe

While reading about the ingenuity of the pattars (the Tamilspeaking brahmins settled in Kerala a few centuries ago), I am reminded of an old joke going the rounds in Palakkad. 
Once upon a time, there was a huge flood in Palakkad and the Kalpathy river was running amok,covering and inundating the banks and carrying uprooted trees, and huts and hapless domestic animals in its onward torrential course .
Hundreds of people were watching with fear and anxiety the flow of the river standing along one of the comparatively safer banks. 
Suddenly a middle-aged pattar was seen jumping into the running waters.
Everyone was shouting, " Sami, what are you doing? If you wanted to die, there are easier methods. Was this necessary?" 
People were closing their eyes tightly expecting a big tragedy.
A few minutes passed. 
Nothing was seen of the Pattar.
Then, lo and behold, the pattar was swimming back enthusiastically, with consummate deftness, and was catching up with the river-bank. And, he was holding fast to a big bunch of coconuts which he had secured from one of the uprooted trees which were being carried away by the torrential flood. 


When the pattar reached the banks, everyone was remarking, 
" Onnum Kaanaathe pattar vellathil chadilla"(ഒന്നും കാണാതെ പട്ടര്‍ വെള്ളത്തില്‍ ചാടില്ല) meaning the Pattar would not have jumped into the waters if he did not see any material benefit. 


This is your pattar for you

Thursday, October 02, 2014

nice fellow-traveller




nice fellow-traveller

For some people Trouble with capital T becomes their second names.. and follows them passionately..

Only God can change this.. 

Troubles have their own preferences like mosquitoes..

One day I was standing in an open ground talking to a young man. 

The mosquitoes were droning in glee around him, and pressing their sharp straws on his fleshy hands and feet but they did not care even a little for an old fellow..

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

ഇങ്ങോട്ട് കാണിക്കുന്നത് അങ്ങോട്ട്‌ കാണിക്ക്



ഇങ്ങോട്ട് കാണിക്കുന്നത് അങ്ങോട്ട്‌ കാണിക്ക്

ഒരു പ്രശസ്ത കഥകളി കലാകാരന്‍..
ചുവന്നാടി വേഷം കെട്ടി അരങ്ങില്‍ വരുന്നു..
എന്തോ രൌദ്രഭാവം ഒട്ടും കാണാനില്ല..
എത്ര ശ്രമിച്ചിട്ടും കൂവലുകള്‍ക്കു പൂച്ചയുടെ ശബ്ദത്തോടാണ് ശ്രുതി സാമ്യം വരുന്നത്..
ഒരു ചീത്ത ദിവസം, വേഷക്കാരന്നു..
രസികന്മാര്‍ക്കും..
ചേങ്ങലക്കാരന്‍ കുറെ നേരം ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു.
പിന്നെ ഒരു പൊടിക്കൈ പ്രയോഗിച്ചു..
ചേങ്ങലയ്ക്ക് കിട്ടേണ്ട രണ്ടു മൂന്നു തല്ല്, വേഷത്തിന്റെ പുറത്തു വീണു.. വേഷം തിരിഞ്ഞുനിന്നു അലറാനും കണ്ണുരുട്ടാനും പിന്നെയുള്ള സ്നേഹപ്രകടനത്തിനും എല്ലാം ഒരുങ്ങി..
വാദ്യവിദ്വാന്‍ നാട്യവിവിദ്വാനോട് സാദരം ഉര ചെയ്തു.
."ഇങ്ങോട്ട് കാണിക്കുന്നത് അങ്ങോട്ട്‌ കാണിക്ക്"


നല്ല എഴുത്ത് മുഖ പുസ്തകത്തില്‍ കണ്ടപ്പോള്‍ ഇതാണ് എനിക്ക് തോന്നിയത്.

a renowned kathakali artist .. a chuvannadi vesham ( the portrayal of villain characters with rude manners and grotesque appearance)

that day,he has made his appearance in his colourful attire on the stage

but somehow he is not able to bring to his face the bhaava(emulation) of extreme anger .

nor could he produce the thunderous roars which are expected of him, and his vocal deliveries tend to emulate some injured cat

a bad day for the artist

and for the audience too
the percussion artist who beats the Chengala( a huge metallic plate) with a sturdy stick to accompany the singer, was watching his colleague and his predicament
he has a bright idea
instead of delivering a few beats on the chengala, he found the broad back of the actor as the target

In pain, the actor turned back and stared at his colleague with Chengala, almost ready to murder the latter, and started roaring

The percussionist coolly hissed, " Don't look at me, face the real audience"

when I see find good literary creations, rare as they are, in social media , I am tempted to tell the same to my dear friends..

leaking pot vs. crackpot



leaking pot vs. crackpot

If a pot is leaking and the contents are really of value, our priority should be to save whatever is left..

We can try to transfer the contents to another sturdy vessel without any leaks.. We can also try our hands at plugging the hole, especially if there is no alternative pot or if it is impossible to transfer the content..

But we tend to discuss the birth, genesis, the mode of burying the pot when the leak developed has become huge enough, and tend to forget about thecontents for ever.


In this matter animals are better than us..

If the contents are really tasty or nutritious they will rush to eat up such material even by licking the ground where it is spread..

But as we are very smart and are overflowing in wisdom, we start making very learned statements like

1. When I saw the pot, I had a gut feeling that it is going to leak some day or other..
2 The pot-makers are irresponsible..
3 They are interested in fleecing us of our money..
4. They should have collected the clay from the right place.
5.They should have taken care to see that there were no air bubbles or small pebbles while shaping the pot.
6. They should have used the best and natural firewood instead of using artificial fuels in their furnace.
7.We are in modern times. The pot should have been tested for cracks with some ultrasound source..
8. Are the government and the authorities not listening?.
.9. The potters will learn a lesson only if we call for a hartal..
10. Even the press and media do not pay much attention to such a big social issue.
11. If I had been the potter, such a thing would never have happened..
12.Ten years ago, a similar situation arose in my neighbour's house, and I had told all people around the same things.. But no one listened..

And of course we will upload to social media a snap of the leaking pot with our own faces in nice company.. and there will be so many "like"s, "wow"s, "incredible"s, and someone sure will share a link from some obscure site about Harappan pottery..

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Indeed very hot stuff…a tenali rama story.

      Indeed very hot stuff…a tenali rama story.






From the age of bows and arrows to the modern age of scud missiles internet and hot lines, the earth is being ruled by some person, or group of persons .. and with power comes self-doubts and superstitions.. funnily indeed, such rulers invariably have chamchas and con-men surrounding them .. Such con-men were present always in the history of mankind in various types, even though their castes, creeds and hues and dress codes varied.. But the basic agenda of such fellows, that is, extorting money in some way or other, nurturing and playing on the superstitions and credulity -- be it of a gullible king or ruler, or of the man on the street--remained the same, and if at all, the avariciousness grew in direct proportion to the gullible nature of the victim. In the matter of exploitation , there is hardly any difference between those wearing gowns and rosaries, those sporting henna coloured beards, or those growing tufts, wearing threads, tilaks and Panchakacchams.

The medieval India was a fertile slice of land for such purveyors of faith…

In the Kingdom of Vijayanagaram, where KrishnaDeva Raya ruled with fair justice in the company of his astute minister and court jester Tenali Rama, the influence of the Royal Priest and his large retinue of satellite priests was very apparent.. There were many poojas and rituals organized, mostly for reasons invented by the Head priest and affirmed by his genial colleagues. And invariably endorsed by the king..


Large scale expenditure on rituals, feasts and Presents to the priests was the order of the day..


The ultimate victims of the Royal patronage of the priests were the poor taxpayers and the common men, who were virtually struggling to find a good meal a day and decent clothes to wear.

The Head Priest was gifted with the art of flattery coupled with the capacity of presenting colourful tales of huge sins that could befall the Royalty on a day to day basis. And invariably, the priest had very easy solutions for expiation from any such sin.. According to him, and according to what he presented as quotes from Shastras, every sin under the sun could be remedied and expiation found if the Gods walking on the land, the Brahmins, especially those who were priests, were fed and offered costly presents.
It was a typical mid day of extreme Andhra heat, and the King Raya was feeling the temperature…they did not have centrally air-conditioned palaces those days.. and naturally, his mood was not upbeat. A feeling of sadness and despondency was engulfing him… And the King had in his company the main Purohita of the kingdom, as usual discussing matters of religion.

The shrewd Brahmin could not fail to notice the bottom-swing of the Royal mood, and the sad countenance of the ruler appeared like a blank cheque to the mind of the wily priest..

He asked, “ If it is not out of place my Sir, I cannot refrain from making the remark that the Royal countenance is slightly dark with anxiety and care today.. May I know the reason for that, if I am permitted to do so?”

The king did not have any particular worry, but the question of the priest and its timing triggered sad thought in his mind.. He said, “ Purohitji, I was just thinking of my beloved mother, the queen, who passed away last year.. I am sure she passed away at a very ripe age, and I am equally satisfied that I made her life very comfortable as long as she was alive.. I engaged the best doctors and physicians of the time for treatment of her illness. But fate had the last laugh. She was taken away from me.. My pain on account of her demise has been reduced over time and the philosophic feeling that everyone has to die some day.. But an unbearable stab on my heart as if made by a dagger pains me for ever… My dear mother, while she was about to breath her last, was asking form some ripe mangoes… In fact I had taken immediate steps to bring the fruits to her bedside, but even in spite of the royal speed in which things were done, the poor lady’s life had left her by the time we could bring the mangoes.. So my mother died without getting her last wish of eating mango fulfilled.. How can I ever expiate for this, and satisfy the departed soul of my mother?
The priest who was listening to this became all sympathy and concern… He exclaimed in a concerned voice, “ My master, it is indeed very dangerous to incur the anger of the departed spirits.. It is all the more so when the departed spirit is a woman…But my Sir, Our saints and savants have prescribed expiation for any type of displeasure or manes and other ill omens..”

Indeed with grave concentration, he consulted the Panchangam and some bundles of palm-leaves he carried… His face remained grave and matter of fact for a long time. Finally he brightened up.. “My dear Sir, I see a bright solution.. As you are well aware, the messages and presents to the souls and spirits living in the pithrulokam are transmitted through the good offices of learned Brahmins… The presents and poojas offered to the Brahmins and the sumptuous feasts given to them in the name of the departed souls would definitely be received by the pithrus in their world.. The Shastras are very clear about this… The royal mother could not get her mango before she died. Her spirit, which is now a very huge apparition is waiting with great expectation that the mango would come to her.. So, since now her size is very huge, the best way to provide her with mangos would be to make large mangoes in gold, at least one hundred and eight in number, and giving them as presents to the Brahmins who are the walking replicas of God on earth…Of course, this should be accompanied by a feast and proper Dakshina”
The King, whose treasury was flush with money, although it represented the tax paid by the poor people, did not think twice before approving of making such huge financial commitment..

On a day fixed as auspicious by the Purohita, one hundred and eight Brahmins were invited, fed and presented with golden mangoes.. The entire kingdom was watching this with dismay, but in helpless silence, and Tenali Rama was also watching this. He thought.. “ It is high time that this swindling is stopped.. The King is being defrauded and the poor people suffer.”

So Tenali Rama made a visit to the house of the Royal Purohita.. After exchanging pleasantries, Rama started to talk to the priest in apparent earnestness. “ Swamin, I saw you conducting ceremonies to satisfy the desires of the departed Rajamatha.. It was indeed a very great idea.. If learned Brahmins like you and your numerous colleagues do not exist in this world, the departed souls of our forefathers must be suffering great pain and privation in their heavenly abodes… When I learnt that the desire of the Royal Mother could be satisfied in such a wonderful manner, and when I was witness to the ceremony to please her spirit, my admiration for you and the community of priests was elevated to celestial heights. I am all admiration for your learned methods. Sir, I have a personal problem to be solved.. This problem relates to my own departed mother.. The poor soul, she also breathed he last without having her last wish fulfilled. I should seek guidance from you for her temporal relief… May I make request to you and the other learned Brahmins who made the life of the king and his mother purified, to visit my home for a feast and expiatory ceremony on similar lines.?”
The wily priest was jubiliant. He knew that Tenali Rama was quite rich by now as he was receiving large royal patronages The priest fixed the date for the ceremony and promised that he would round up the same set of Brahmins to bless Rama and to bring the satisfaction of the departed soul of Rama’s mother.

Tenali Rama praised the generosity of the king, and the learnedness of the Purohita and requested the Ruler also to make a visit to his home on the appointed day.. The king consented readily.
The day of expiation for the Spirtit of Raman’s mother dawned brightly.. The Purohita and the other priests were present in all pomp and jubiliation. The King also graced the occasion.
First, Rama invited the guests to the main hall and requested them to take their comfortable seats.. The King was also present.. Since it was a pithru karyam , the entrance to the hall from the front was ordered to be closed. Then Rama addressed the gathering.. “ Swamins, Namaskarams.. My poor mother died of arthritis and was suffering from great pain on all her joints.. And by the very nature of the ailment she was always shivering.. Her greatest desire during the last days of her life was that heated rods of iron should be placed on the joints of her knee and knuckles.. However, as I was not aware that such treatment could have given relief to her, I failed to fulfill her desires. Now, I shall correct the wrong done to her and bring eternal peace to her departed soul by offering the same heat to you learned Brahmins “
Saying this, he opened the door from the hall leading to the kitchen.. There a huge oven was burning with a dozen iron pikes glowing white-hot.. He entered the kitchen, took out one hot pike by the farther end and approached the head priest with a request to show his knee-joint so that it could be given heat which can be transmitted to Rama’s departed mother.
The priest was dizzy with mortal fear… The logic of Rama was very clear.. If the priests could carry mangoes to the heaven to the departed royal mother through one hundred and eight gold mangos presented to them, then they should be capable of carry the heat too to the departed mother of Tenali Rama.
All the priests were all scampering with loud howls to the closed entrance of the hall to save themselves from  being treated with the hot iron rods.. They bolted for their lives.
Rama suddenly stopped the proceedings and addressed King Raya, “ My Lord and Master, I apologize to you for the scene.. I had no other way of convincing the Royal mind that His Majesty was being defrauded by the Purohita and his group.. Neither golden mangos nor the heat can ever affect, please or displease dead persons..”
Needless to say, the Golden mangos were returned silently to the Royal treasury.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The peacock which was red... A tenali rama story




I do not know whether it is the same even  in places which are administered by elected representatives, but in kingdoms which were ruled by persons who were in control for no democratic reasons, the rulers were interested more in showing off what riches and artifacts they possessed, rather than sparing some time thinking of  the welfare of the subjects.. Even the best of the monarchs were never free from such tendencies..

And Krishnadevaraya was no exception.. He was always on the lookout for finding new exhibits for his musueums, zoos and nurseries.

When the king is obsessed with diversion of resources, the ministers and the courtiers would join him heartily.. And of course would derive lots of benefits out of such funny exercises.. That happened here also..

The chief courtier, Appalachari was past-master in feeling the pulse of the king… He would never let go any opportunity to prey upon the misplaced magnanimity of the king..

So, one afternoon, when the Royal court was in full session, Appalacharya made a ceremonial entry to the court with a huge bird-cage in tow.. Inside the cage rested, a peacock.. A really strange peacock.. A peacock completely red in hue.. Its feathers red, wings red, plumes red.. wholly a riot of red… as if a particular species of the birds have converted en masse to Marxism..

“My Lord and Master, this is my price catch of a lifetime.. As is well known to the exalted Royal mind, my patriotic feelings and my loyalty made me wander length and breadth of the middle-forests of India, braving all vicissitudes and costing me a fortune.. I did it in the company my two dedicated servants.. Finally we could capture this exotic bird in all its red splendor, and we did not spare any time in presenting it to the Royal Court for being inducted into the great aviary..”

The Monarch was immensely happy..

 “ We are pleased with your loyalty.. As the expedition would have cost the minister a fortune, we hereby order that a purse of one thousand gold coins be presented to Appalacharya before the bird joins the muster-rolls of the Royal Aviary”

The purse was about to exchange hands, but Tenali Rama Intervened.. “ My Royal Master, no doubt the Chief Minister has done great service to the kingdom.. However, as it is well known, the birds of such rare species would not survive solitary life in an aviary if they do not have company of the same species.. Therefore, it would be rather cruel to have a single bird like this.. The Minister may be asked to bring in a few more birds like that so that the royal aviary will be adorned with a happy and sastified family of red peacocks"

Appalachari was irritated.. He knew that he had to labour a lot even to have one red peacock.. In fact, an ordinary peacock was captured and a deft painter had given it a red-coat with his expert  strokes of painting brush.. A repetition of such work of art would take a lot of time.. 
Tenali Rama had already seen through this deceitful act since he had come by a piece of feather fallen from the red peacock, and when he washed it, it has retained its natural colour..

While Appalachari was fidgeting, Tenali Rama came with a proposal..” Our Prime Minister is very busy. It is not right to permit him to waste his valuable time chasing red peacocks in the middle forest.. Now I am on a vacation.. I shall undertake a jourey to the hatching area of such beautiful birds and bring back a dozen of them within a fortnight. The Royal Presentation may take place at that time".. 
 Appalachari wanted to say something, but the Royal mind was set. The errand was entrusted to Rama.

Rama did not go to the forest.. He just rounded up all the painters around and by constant enquiries, bribes and threats,  could locate the fellow who had done the consummate painting job to Appalachari's bird..
 “ Do not get panicky,” Rama told him. 
 “ I am going to use your talent for a better service to the kingdom. I shall protect you from any consequences that may arise out of your actions..” 
 After assuring the painter with safety and protection, Rama asked him to paint a dozen peacocks red in the same way Appalachari askded him to do..

When the group a full dozen  of red peacocks were ready for exhibition-and fifteen days had passed by this time- Rama entered the Royal Court with a dozen read peacocks happily perched in a big cage, with the painter in tandem, and gustily announced the arrival of the family to keep company to the original lone bird..

The King’s happiness knew no bounds.. He announced without hesitation that Rama was entitled now for twelve thousand gold coins.. to be awarded in a befitting ceremony, along with the thousand for Appalachari..

Rama folded his hands in salutation before the monrch and said, 
“ My lord and Master, I cannot persuade myself to be so avaricious.. All that cost me to  present these twelve peacocks was to catch a dozen  ordinary ones from the local gardens, and commission a painter to colour their plumage red with a drum of ochre dye, a bucket of water and a few painting brushes.. The cost of the birds, the paint, brushes and the wages of the painter all put together would not exceed a couple of gold coins.. I would be ungrateful if I receive more that that for this present..”

The bluff of appalachari was revealed.. He had to hang his head in shame.

Meanwhile, the clouds rolled up in the sky and it rained. The red colour adorning all the thirteen birds, ( one brought by appalachari and twelve produced by Tenali Rama) were all washed away and the peacocks danced in their natural regality.

Tenali Rama finally made a representations before the great Raya..
 “ My Lord and Master, the first responsibility of the ruler is to keep the subjects happy and peaceful.. I was watching that the poor people on the street were struggling for food and shelter. But the Royal treasury is being squandered and even being plundered for wasteful and fanciful expenditure.. The Prime Minister’s action actually gave me an opportunity to expose the senseless happenings in the court.. Had I told this without any proof, I would have been punished for spreading scandals.. May only prayer is that His Majesty make strive more for the benefit of the subjects, instead of listening to flattery and being subjected to their machinations..



Rama’s words really carried a lot of weight that day..

Sunday, February 02, 2014

priorities..

अर्थातुराणां न गुरुर्न बन्धुः

कामातुराणां न भयं न लज्जा।

विद्यातुराणां न सुखं न निद्रा

क्षुदातुराणां न रुचिर् न पक्वः॥

arthāturāṇāṁ na gururna bandhuḥ
kāmāturāṇāṁ na bhayaṁ na lajjā|
vidyāturāṇāṁ na sukhaṁ na nidrā
kṣudāturāṇāṁ na rucir na pakvaḥ||
For people who are desperately running after money, there is no consideration for even their elders, preceptors or relatives.
For people obsessed with carnal desires and who run after bodily pleasures, there is neither fear nor shame
For people eager to acquire knowledge, there is no question of considering physical comforts or even sleep
and 
For people who are hungry, there will not be any concern as to whether the food is tasty or whether it is rightly cooked

Those who run after money would not care for the welfare of their kith and kin, and would not hesitate even to cheat them if that would mean getting more money. 
Those who are after sensual pleasures say goodbye to fear of law and bad name and also to any sense of shame. 
Knowledge can be acquired only through a lot of efforts and in that process, sleep and other physical comforts would have to be set aside..
And for the hungry man, it is some food to fill the stomach that matters and taste and other culinary qualities are not of much concern..

evil eyes..

भारतः पञ्चमो वेदः जामाता दशमो ग्रहः 

BhaarataH panchamo vedaH, jaamaataa dashamo grahaH



Mahabharatham is an encyclopedic storehouse of all knowledge.. So the scholars are unanimous in classifying the epic in the august company of the four great Vedas. 

But a second and rather impish tag is added to this eminent saying.



The son in law is the tenth planet..



We know the parents of female children go through a lot of physical, mental and material turmoil as the child is to be joined in marriage with a suitable groom. First they circulate and compare horoscopes, and in this process, they are left to the vagaries of the nine planets.. even the best matches in India are denied just because the positioning of a planet in a horoscope is not considered auspicious.. 

This is the conditions before the child is married off. The nine planets may be benevolent of malevolent at times.. Opinions may vary among astrologers on this issue. 

But once the marriage is over, a fresh planet, never benevolent, appears in the firmament for the parents of a girl.. This is called the son-in-law.. 

The nine planets are capable of being pacified even from the worst moods through pariharams and all ..

But the son in law is never pleased..

Hopefully the situation is changing with girls becoming more educated and articulate.. But old habits do not disappear easily..

Friday, January 03, 2014

Indeed... very smart





There was a couple, a merchant and his wife. And there was a domestic male servant .The merchant's world revolved round his business.. The wife, presumably young..And was subject to all human desires. Something developed between the servant and the mistress of the house. Things developed in such a way that when the merchant just happened to visit his home to take some cash or so, he discovered that his wife was kissing the servant...

When the presence of the lord of the house was noted, the lady cried out..
" This scoundrel is also a thief.. When I went to the pooja room, I found that some camphor was missing. I had a gut feeling of such shortage of camphor even earlier, but today I was almost sure that this servant was eating the camphor. So I was just smelling his lips... And I am sure his mouth smells of camphor..Now you can do whatever you want with the fellow.."

The servant was all indignation to hear this.. " I am not a thief, and I have not 
eaten the camphor from your pooja room.. In fact, I am taking some lehyam(some medicine in gelatinous form) every day and it gives the smell of camphor. The mistress here is very suspicious. This is not the first time that she has tested my mouth for camphor.. I am insulted indeed that she has done that in the presence of the master today.. So I am leaving your services and leaving this home immediately"

The Lord of the house was shocked.. It was indeed very difficult to find a man-servant for the wages he was paying. The very thought that if a new servant was to be found, more wages will have to be paid, sent shock waves through the mind of the wily businessman."

He told the servant," Do not worry about what this foolish lady says. I am sure you have not stolen camphor from my house.. My good fellow, you simply continue to work here. Never even think of leaving the job"




(A story adapted from Hitopadesham...)

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

The Happy Prince by Oscar wilde



The Happy Prince

by Oscar Wilde




High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

"Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything."

"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy," muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.

"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never seen one."

"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she has no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady- love. "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtseys. "I admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also."

"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.

"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. "Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made preparations."

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.

"I will put up there," he cried; "it is a fine position, with plenty of fresh air." So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

"I have a golden bedroom," he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. "What a curious thing!" he cried; "there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness."

Then another drop fell.

"What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?" he said; "I must look for a good chimney-pot," and he determined to fly away.

But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw - Ah! what did he see?

The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.

"Who are you?" he said.

"I am the Happy Prince."

"Why are you weeping then?" asked the Swallow; "you have quite drenched me."

"When I was alive and had a human heart," answered the statue, "I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans- Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep."

"What! is he not solid gold?" said the Swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.

"Far away," continued the statue in a low musical voice, "far away in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion- flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queen's maids-of- honour to wear at the next Court-ball. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened to this pedestal and I cannot move."

"I am waited for in Egypt," said the Swallow. "My friends are flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus- flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King. The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so thirsty, and the mother so sad."

"I don't think I like boys," answered the Swallow. "Last summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the miller's sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it was a mark of disrespect."

But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry. "It is very cold here," he said; "but I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger."

"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.

So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince's sword, and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.

He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. "How wonderful the stars are," he said to her, "and how wonderful is the power of love!"

"I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball," she answered; "I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it; but the seamstresses are so lazy."

He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman's thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy's forehead with his wings. "How cool I feel," said the boy, "I must be getting better"; and he sank into a delicious slumber.

Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what he had done. "It is curious," he remarked, "but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold."

"That is because you have done a good action," said the Prince. And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep. Thinking always made him sleepy.

When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. "What a remarkable phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology as he was passing over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand.

"To-night I go to Egypt," said the Swallow, and he was in high spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, "What a distinguished stranger!" so he enjoyed himself very much.

When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. "Have you any commissions for Egypt?" he cried; "I am just starting."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"I am waited for in Egypt," answered the Swallow. "To-morrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the water's edge to drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint."

"I will wait with you one night longer," said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. "Shall I take him another ruby?"

"Alas! I have no ruby now," said the Prince; "my eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and firewood, and finish his play."

"Dear Prince," said the Swallow, "I cannot do that"; and he began to weep.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So the Swallow plucked out the Prince's eye, and flew away to the student's garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the bird's wings, and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

"I am beginning to be appreciated," he cried; "this is from some great admirer. Now I can finish my play," and he looked quite happy.

The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes. "Heave a-hoy!" they shouted as each chest came up. "I am going to Egypt"! cried the Swallow, but nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince.

"I am come to bid you good-bye," he cried.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"It is winter," answered the Swallow, "and the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and next spring I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea."

"In the square below," said the Happy Prince, "there stands a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her."

"I will stay with you one night longer," said the Swallow, "but I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So he plucked out the Prince's other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. "What a lovely bit of glass," cried the little girl; and she ran home, laughing.

Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. "You are blind now," he said, "so I will stay with you always."

"No, little Swallow," said the poor Prince, "you must go away to Egypt."

"I will stay with you always," said the Swallow, and he slept at the Prince's feet.

All the next day he sat on the Prince's shoulder, and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and catch gold-fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the world itself, and lives in the desert, and knows everything; of the merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty priests to feed it with honey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with the butterflies.

"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there."

So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one another's arms to try and keep themselves warm. "How hungry we are!" they said. "You must not lie here," shouted the Watchman, and they wandered out into the rain.

Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen.

"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think that gold can make them happy."

Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor, and the children's faces grew rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have bread now!" they cried.

Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.

The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he would not leave the Prince, he loved him too well. He picked up crumbs outside the baker's door when the baker was not looking and tried to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.

But at last he knew that he was going to die. He had just strength to fly up to the Prince's shoulder once more. "Good-bye, dear Prince!" he murmured, "will you let me kiss your hand?"

"I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow," said the Prince, "you have stayed too long here; but you must kiss me on the lips, for I love you."

"It is not to Egypt that I am going," said the Swallow. "I am going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?"

And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.

At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.

Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he looked up at the statue: "Dear me! how shabby the Happy Prince looks!" he said.

"How shabby indeed!" cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed with the Mayor; and they went up to look at it.

"The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer," said the Mayor in fact, "he is litttle beter than a beggar!"

"Little better than a beggar," said the Town Councillors.

"And here is actually a dead bird at his feet!" continued the Mayor. "We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here." And the Town Clerk made a note of the suggestion.

So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. "As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful," said the Art Professor at the University.

Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal. "We must have another statue, of course," he said, "and it shall be a statue of myself."

"Of myself," said each of the Town Councillors, and they quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.

"What a strange thing!" said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We must throw it away." So they threw it on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow was also lying.

"Bring me the two most precious things in the city," said God to one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird.

"You have rightly chosen," said God, "for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me."

Thursday, December 26, 2013

ganapathi's snacks

This is a hilarous piece of Satirical of poetry by Kunchan Nambiar. The words and metres are arranged for Ottanthullal(ഓട്ടന്‍തുള്ളല്‍).. The Lord of Wealth Kubera was a close Friend of Lord Shiva.. Once Kubera Visited Kailasam and had taken with him a huge cluster of plantains as an offering.. The naughty Ganapathy just grabbed the pazhakkula and simply ate it peels and stem and all. Kubera, seeing this thought that there was great scarcity of food in Kailasam and invited Lord Shiva with his family Parvathy, Ganesh Skanda and the bhootaganas for a weeks rest and recreation in Alagapuri, Kubera's palace town.. The Lord of wealth was very much conscious of his own affluence, and the Lord of the Universe saw through the sarcasm.. The city of Alakapuri was decorated with all pomp, and the kitchens were filled with variety of food and delicacies prepared in huge quantities.
The shiva family reached his friends city well in time.. The lord said.." we are happy to see your affluence and generosity, Lord Kurbera.. We will have bath and would partake in the dinner in time. But the boy Ganesha is hungry.. Let him have some snacks." 


So the servers in the kitchen placed a plantain leaf before the lord and started serving food from huge golden vessels with golden ladles. Lord Ganesha, ate the food, ate the leaf, ate the ladle and vessel and asked for little more food. He said, "Let me just get relief from immediate hunger. I shall join the feast along with my father later. But bring some more snacks just now." 



More plantain leaves, more food, more vessels were brought, to be consumed by the impish God without any delay. Further, all the reserves of grains and vegetables, vessels, oil, salt and all the food materials were brought in and they could not fill even a fraction of the huge belly of the benevolent Lord..



Finally, when the whole treasures of Kubera were finished in feeding the elephant-headed God and the arrogant Lord of Wealth started to feel realistic about the power of Lord Ganesha. He apologized for his indiscretion in thinking lightly and sarcastically about Lord Shiva and the Family. Lord Ganesha, the benevolent Lord as He is, restored the food and other things already consumed, and brought sense to Kubera and order to Alagapuri.|



The incident is vividly described in the Thullal Katha of Kunchan Nambyar.. The nuances can be understood only by reading and digesting the poem in Malayalam.. No translation can be good enough.. I have only given an outline of the plot of the poem.. No translation is attempted



ഗണപതി പ്രാതൽ ശീതങ്കന്‍ തുള്ളൽ
കുഞ്ചൻ നമ്പ്യാർ


മലയാള കവികളിൽ ഏറ്റവും മൌലീകതയുള്ള ഇദ്ദേഹം അമ്പലപ്പുഴ വച്ച് എഴുതിയ തുള്ളലാണിത്.



സഭതന്നിൽ വിളങ്ങുന്ന സരസന്മാരടിയത്തി --



ന്നഭയം തന്നരുളേണമതിനായി വണങ്ങുന്നേൻ ;



അഭിരാമമൊരു കഥ പറവാനെന്‍ മനതാരിൽ



അഭിലാഷമുണ്ടു പാരമതുകൊണ്ടു തുടങ്ങുന്നേന്‍.



പ്രണതവത്സലനായ ഗണപതിഭഗവാനും



പ്രണയമോടടിയനു തുണയായിബ്ഭവിക്കേണം



ഗുണദോഷമറിയുന്ന ബുധന്മാരിക്കഥ തന്റെ



ഗുണദോഷം വിചാരിപ്പാനൊരുമ്പെട്ടു വസിക്കേണം ;



പരബോധം വരുത്തുവാനെളുതല്ലെന്നിരുന്നാലും



ഉരിയാടാതിരിപ്പാന്‍ ഞാൻ‍ പഠിച്ചില്ല കാണിപോലും ;



ഒരുവരുമിളകാതങ്ങൊരു കോണിലിരുന്നേച്ചാൽ



പരിഹാസം നടത്തുന്ന നരന്മാര്‍ക്കു വകയില്ല



പരിചോടെന്‍ ഗുരുനാഥൻ അരുള്‍ചെയ്ത വചനങ്ങൾ



കരളിലുണ്ടെനിക്കേതും കുറവുമില്ലതുകൊണ്ട് ;



കുറ്റം പറഞ്ഞു ചിരിക്കുന്നവരോടു



ചുറ്റത്തിനാളുകളേറ്റമുണ്ടായ് വരും



മറ്റും പലരതു കേൾക്കുന്ന നേരത്തു



മുറ്റും ഗുണദോഷമെല്ലാം വെളിപ്പെടും



ഏറ്റം കവിതയിലൂടുള്ളവര്‍ക്കതു



പറ്റും മനതാരിലെന്നാലതും മതി ;



ഈറ്റുനോവിന്റെ പരമാര്‍ത്ഥമൊക്കെയും



പെറ്റ പെണ്ണുങ്ങൾക്കു തന്നേയറിയാവൂ ;



കാട്ടുകോഴിക്കെന്തു സംക്രാന്തിയെന്നതും



കൂട്ടം കവിപ്രൌഢരൊക്കെ ധരിച്ചിടും ;



ആടിന്നറിയുമോ അങ്ങാടിവാണിഭം ?



കൂട്ടാക്കയില്ല ഞാന്‍ ദുഷ്ക്കവിഭോഷരേ !



ഇഷ്ടമില്ലാത്തവരാരൊരു ദൂഷണം



കെട്ടിച്ചമച്ചതു കേട്ടാൽ നമുക്കൊരു



ഞെട്ടലില്ലേതും മനസ്സിനെന്നുള്ളതീ



ശിഷ്ടജനങ്ങൾ ധരിച്ചുകൊള്ളേണമേ



ദോഷവും നല്ല ഗുണങ്ങളുമുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ



ദോഷം വെടിഞ്ഞു ഗുണത്തെ ഗ്രഹിക്കണം



ശേഷമുള്ളാളുകളെല്ലാമതിനിങ്ങു



ശേഷിയായ് ത്തന്നേ ഭവിക്കേണമെപ്പൊഴും ;



പാലും ജലവും കലര്‍ന്നു വച്ചീടിനാൽ



പാലേ കുടിപ്പൂ അരയന്നജാതികൾ ;



ദുഷ്ടെന്നിയേ മറ്റതൊന്നും ഗ്രഹിക്കില്ല



പൊട്ടക്കുളത്തിൽ കളിച്ചീടുമട്ടകൾ ;



ദുഷ്ടജനത്തിന്റെ ശീലമവ്വണ്ണമെ --



ന്നൊട്ടു പലരും പറഞ്ഞുകേൾപ്പില്ലയോ ?



ഏവം പറഞ്ഞാലൊടുക്കമില്ലേതുമേ



കേവലം കാലം കഴിച്ചുവെന്നേ വരൂ ;



സേവിച്ചു മേവുന്നവര്‍ക്കുവേണ്ടിത്തന്റെ



ജീവനെപ്പോലും കൊടുപ്പാന്‍ മടിക്കാത്ത



ദേവനാരായണസ്വാമി മഹീതലേ



ജീവിച്ചു മേവുന്ന കാലം ജനങ്ങൾക്കു



ദേവലോകാവാസസൌഖ്യം ലഭിക്കുമ --



ക്കേവലാനന്ദം സതതം ഭവിക്കുന്നു ;



ചെമ്പകനാട്ടിന്നലങ്കാര രത്നമാം



ചെമ്പകപ്പൂവൊത്ത തമ്പുരാന്‍ തന്നുടെ



ചെമ്പൊൽ പ്രഭ ചേരുമോമൽ തിരുവുടൽ



കുമ്പിടുന്നേനിന്നു കമ്പങ്ങൾതീരുവാൻ ;



പണ്ടങ്ങൊരു ദിനം വിത്തേശ്വരന്‍ നീല -



കണ്ഠനു കാഴ്ചയായ് വച്ച വാഴക്കുല



മണ്ടിവന്നാശു ഗണേശനെടുത്തതു



തൊണ്ടോടുകൂടിബ്ഭുജിച്ചതുമാദരാൽ



കണ്ടുനിൽക്കുന്ന ധനേശനവന്‍ ശിതി -



കണ്ഠനെത്താണു തൊഴുതുണര്‍ത്തീടിനാൻ :



" കാലാന്തക ! ഭവൽ കാരുണ്യമല്ലാതൊ -



രാലംബനം നമുക്കില്ലെന്നറിക നീ !



ഒന്നുണ്ടെനിക്കു മനക്കാമ്പിലാഗ്രഹം



ചന്ദ്രചൂഡാ വിഭോ ! കേട്ടരുളേണമേ !



പ്രാലേയപര്‍വ്വതപുത്രിയോടൊന്നിച്ചു



ബാലകന്മാരെയും കൊണ്ടൊരു വാസരം



കാലത്തുതന്നെയെഴുന്നള്ളി നമ്മുടെ



ആലയം തന്നിൽ ഭുജിച്ചു പോന്നീടണം ;



എന്നാലതുകൊണ്ടെനിക്കു മേന്‍ മേൽ ഗുണം



വന്നീടുമല്ലോ മഹാദേവ ! ശങ്കര ! "



എന്നതു കേട്ടു മഹേശന്‍ കുറഞ്ഞൊന്നു



മന്ദസ്മിതം പൂണ്ടു ചൊന്നാന്‍ ധനേശ്വരം :



" നിന്നുടെയുള്ളിലെ ഭക്തിയും സ്നേഹവു -



മെന്നെക്കുറിച്ചേറ്റമുണ്ടെന്നറിഞ്ഞു ഞാൻ



എന്നതുകൊണ്ടു നമുക്കു സന്തോഷവും



നിന്നിൽ പ്രതിദിനമേറ്റം ധനപതേ ! "



എന്നതുകേട്ടു ധനേശ്വരൻ പിന്നെയും



പന്നഗഭൂഷണനോടറിയിച്ചിതു :



" ഭക്തി കൊണ്ടീശ്വരന്‍ പ്രീതനായെങ്കിലും



ഭുക്തിക്കു നല്ല വസ്തുക്കൾനല്കും ജനം



എന്നതുകൊണ്ടങ്ങെഴുന്നള്ളി നമ്മുടെ



മന്ദിരം ശുദ്ധമാക്കേണം വിഭോ ! ഭവാൻ ."



ഇങ്ങനെ ചൊന്നതു കേട്ടു ലോകേശ്വര --



" നങ്ങനെതന്നെ " യെന്നും പറഞ്ഞീടിനാൻ ;



യാത്രയും ചൊല്ലിത്തൊഴുതു ഗണേശ്വര --



മൂര്‍ത്തിയെ നോക്കിച്ചിരിച്ചു പോന്നീടിനാൻ ;



ആലയം തന്നിലകത്തു വന്നോരോന്നു



കാലേ വരുത്തിത്തുടങ്ങി പൌലസ്ത്യനും ;



തുമ്പക്കുസുമത്തിനൊത്തൊരു തണ്ഡുലം



സംഭരിച്ചീടിനാനേറ്റം ധനേശ്വരൻ



സദ്യയ്ക്കു വേണ്ടുന്ന വസ്തുക്കളൊക്കെയു --



മുദ്യോഗമുള്ള ജനങ്ങൾവരുത്തിനാർ ;



നീളെ നെടുമ്പുര കെട്ടി ശ്രമിപ്പതി --



നാളുകളേയും ക്ഷണിച്ചു വരുത്തിനാൻ ;



ചോറ്റിന്നു വേണ്ടും കറിസാധനങ്ങളു --



മേറ്റം പലതരം തത്ര വരുത്തിനാൻ ;



വിത്തം വളരെക്കരത്തിലുള്ളാളുകൾ--



ക്കൊത്തതിന്‍ വണ്ണം വരും കാര്യമൊക്കെയും ;



വെപ്പു തുടങ്ങിച്ചു പിന്നെ മഹീശ്വരൻ



കല്പിച്ചു വേണ്ടുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങളൊക്കെയും .



" വെട്ടുവഴികളടിച്ചു തളിച്ചതിൽ



പട്ടുകൾനീളെ വിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടീടണം



നാലു നിറമുള്ള പട്ടുകൾകൊണ്ട്വന്നു



മേലെ വിതാനം , ചുരുക്കരുതൊട്ടുമേ !



മുത്തും പവിഴവും ചേര്‍ത്ത മാലാഗണം



പത്തുനൂറുതരം തോരണം തൂക്കണം ;



രണ്ടുപുറത്തും നിറപറ ദീപവും



രണ്ടുലക്ഷം കുലവാഴയും വെക്കണം



പൊന്നണിഞ്ഞാനക്കഴുത്തിൽപെരുമ്പറ



പിന്നെയും വേണ്ട വാദ്യം വരുത്തീടണം



മിന്നുന്ന പൊന്നിന്‍ തളികയിൽ നൂൽത്തിരി --



തന്നെ നനച്ചു കൊളുത്തിപ്പിടിക്കണം



മങ്കമാർ വേണമതിന്നവർനല്ലൊരു



തങ്കപ്പതക്കമണിഞ്ഞു വന്നീടണം



കങ്കണം കൈവിരൽ കൽവച്ച മോതിരം



കൊങ്കദ്വയങ്ങളിൽ മുത്തുരത്നാവലി



കുങ്കുമം നല്ല മലയജം തന്നുടെ



പങ്കവും നന്നായണിഞ്ഞെതിരേൽക്കണം ;



ശങ്കരീശങ്കരന്മാരേയകമ്പടി --



ക്കാലവട്ടങ്ങളും വെഞ്ചാമരങ്ങളും



കാലമൊട്ടും കളയാതെ വരുത്തണം ;



ബാലമട്ടോൽമൊഴിമാര്‍ക്കു വാണീടുവാൻ



നാലുകെട്ടിന്നിയും നാലഞ്ചു തീര്‍ക്കണം ;



നന്ദി മുമ്പായ ഗണങ്ങൾക്കിരിക്കുവാൻ



മന്ദിരം ഭംഗിയായൊന്നു നിര്‍മ്മിക്കണം



എന്നുതന്നെയല്ല വേണ്ടുന്നതൊക്കെയും



ഒന്നൊഴിയാതെ വരുത്തിവച്ചീടണം . "



ഇങ്ങറിയിപ്പാന്‍ ഗമിച്ചു ധനാധിപൻ :



" തമ്പുരാനേ ! ഹരേ ! നിന്‍ കൃപകൊണ്ടു ഞാൻ



സംപ്രതി വേണ്ടുന്ന കോപ്പു കൂട്ടീ വിഭോ !



വെക്കമവിടേക്കെഴുന്നള്ളി നമ്മുടെ



സത്കാരമേറ്റു തുണച്ചരുളേണമേ ! "



കാളകണ്ഠനതു കേട്ടോരനന്തരം



കാളപ്പുറത്തു കരേറിപ്പതുക്കവേ



പേടവിലോലവിലോചന പാർവതി



കൂടവേ കാളമുകളിൽകരേറിനാൾ ;



സ്കന്ദന്‍ ഗണേശ്വരൻ നന്ദി മുമ്പായുള്ള



വൃന്ദങ്ങളൊന്നൊഴിയാതെ പുറപ്പെട്ടു ;



പട്ടു വിരിച്ച വഴിയിൽചവുട്ടാതെ



പെട്ടെന്നു കാള നടന്നു തുടങ്ങിനാൻ ;



നല്ലോരു പട്ടു വിരിച്ച സ്ഥലങ്ങളി --



ലെല്ലാം ചവിട്ടി നടന്നു വിനായകൻ ;



എന്നതുകൊണ്ടു ധനാധിനാഥന്‍ പുന --



രൊന്നുമേ മിണ്ടാതെ നിന്നാനരക്ഷണം ;



കാളപ്പുറത്തൂന്നിറങ്ങി മഹേശ്വരൻ



മാളിക തന്നിലിരുന്നു മൃഡാനിയും



" മുപ്പതു നാഴികകൊണ്ടു വരുത്തിയ



കോപ്പുകൾകണ്ടാൽവിചിത്രമല്ലോ സഖേ !



കൈയ്യിൽപണമുള്ളവന്‍ നിനച്ചീടുന്ന



കാര്യം വരുത്താന്‍ പ്രയാസമുണ്ടാകുമോ ?



എല്ലാമൊരുക്കിയെന്നാകിലും താമസം



തെല്ലുണ്ടതുകൊണ്ടു ബാലകന്മാരുടെ



ഭക്ഷണം വേഗം കഴിപ്പിച്ചു നമ്മുടെ



ഭക്ഷണത്തിന്നും ശ്രമിച്ചുകൊണ്ടാൽമതി . "



എന്നതു കേട്ടു വിളിച്ചു ഗണേശനെ



സ്കന്ദനേയും വിളിച്ചങ്ങിരുത്തീടിനാൻ :



നല്ലയിലക്കെട്ടെടുത്തതിലോരോന്നു



നല്ലവണ്ണം തുടച്ചാശുവച്ചാദരാൽ



പൊന്നുകൊണ്ടുള്ളൊരു കോരിക തന്നില --



ങ്ങന്നം നിറച്ചതു കണ്ടു വിനായകൻ



ചട്ടുകം ചോറുമിലയുടെ കെട്ടുമാ --



ക്കോരികയും ഭുജിച്ചാദരാലങ്ങുടൻ



യക്ഷാധിനാഥനോടേവം പറഞ്ഞിതു :



" ഭക്ഷണത്തിന്നിലവച്ചു വിളമ്പുക ; "



രണ്ടാമതുമൊരുകെട്ടില വച്ചതും



കൊണ്ട്വന്ന ചോറും ഭുജിച്ചുടന്‍ പിന്നെയും



" കൊണ്ടുവാ പത്രവും ചോറുള്ള പാത്രവും



ഉണ്ടു വിശപ്പതു തെല്ലു തീര്‍ന്നാൽമതി ;



അച്ഛനോടൊന്നിച്ചു പിന്നെ ഞാന്‍ സദ്യയി --



ലിച്ഛിച്ചവണ്ണം ഭുജിച്ചുകൊള്ളാം സുഖം ;



പിന്നെയും പിന്നെയുമേവം പറഞ്ഞുകൊ --



ണ്ടന്നം വളരെ ഭുജിച്ചോരനന്തരം



ചോറു വിളമ്പി വിളമ്പി വലഞ്ഞവർ



മാറിപ്പതുക്കെയൊളിച്ചുതുടങ്ങിനാർ;



" നല്ലവണ്ണം നമുക്കന്നം വിളമ്പുവാ --



നില്ല മനസ്സു ധനാധിനാഥന്നഹോ



ഏറെപ്പണം കെട്ടിവക്കും ജനങ്ങൾക്കു



ചോറു കൊടുപ്പാന്‍ മുഷിച്ചിലുണ്ടായ് വരും



എന്നാലടുക്കള തന്നിൽക്കടന്നു ഞാ --



നൊന്നൊഴിയാതെ ഭുജിക്കുന്നതുണ്ടിനി ! "



ചമ്പതാളം



മനതളിരിലിതി കരുതിമദനരിപുനന്ദനൻ



മന്ദം മഹാനസം പുക്കു നോക്കും വിധൌ



അതിധവളരുചികലരുമധികതരമന്നവു --



മദ്ഭുതമായോരെരിശ്ശേരി വച്ചതും



അമൃതിനൊടു സദൃശമഥ പല പല ചരക്കില --



ങ്ങഞ്ചാറുകൂട്ടം പ്രഥമനും കണ്ടിതു ;



പരമഗുണഗണമുടയസിതയൊടിടചേര്‍ന്നൊരു



പാൽപായസം നല്ലതന്തികേ കാണ്കയാൽ



ഇതിലധികമധുരമിനിയപരമൊരു വസ്തുവി --



ങ്ങില്ലെന്നുറച്ചതു ഭക്ഷിച്ചനന്തരം



നലമൊടതിലരികിലഥ വളരെ മധുരക്കറി



നാലെട്ടു വാര്‍പ്പിൽക്കിടന്നതും പാത്രവും



അഴകിനൊടു സവിധഭുവിയരി കഴുകിവച്ചതും



അന്നവും പിന്നെക്കറി പലതുള്ളതും



ഇല പലക വിറകു കടുമുളകുമുപദംശവും



എണ്ണയും നെയ്യും വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ തേങ്ങയും



അതികഠിനമരനിമിഷമതിനിടയിലമ്മിയും



അമ്മിക്കുഴവിയുരലും ചിരവയും



അടപലക കയറുകളുമധികമരിവട്ടിയും



അദ്ഭുതമായുള്ള പപ്പടക്കൂട്ടവും



വടിവിനൊടു ഗജവദനനഴകൊടു ഭുജിച്ചുടൻ



വന്നു കലവറ തന്നിൽകടന്നുടൻ



രസകദളി കദളികളുമഴകൊടതി പൂവനും



രണ്ടുനാലായിരം നേന്ത്രക്കുലകളും



കനിവിനൊടു കരിവദനനതികുതുകമോടുടൻ



കണ്ണന്‍ കുറുങ്കാളി വണ്ണൻ പഴങ്ങളും



ഇവ പലതുമവിടെയഥ ഭരണികളിലേറ്റവും



സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്നോരു തേനും ഗുളങ്ങളും



അതിമധുരമുടയ സിത ഘൃതവുമഥ കണ്ടുട --



നാനന്ദമോടു ഭുജിച്ചാനശേഷവും



പുനരപി ച ഭരണി കുടമനവധി കലങ്ങളും



കണ്ടു കറിക്കുള്ള കോപ്പു ശേഷിച്ചതും



അതു സകലമപി ച കരിവദനനഥ തിന്നുട --



നാനമുഖവന്‍ പുറത്തിറങ്ങീടിനാൻ ;



അതുസമയമരികിലഥ ധനദനെ വിളിച്ചുകൊ --



ണ്ടാഭാഷണം കൊണ്ടു ചൊല്ലിനാനിങ്ങനെ :



" അയി കുടില ! ധനദ ! മമ തരിക പുനരന്നവു --



മല്പമെന്നാകിലും കൂട്ടുവാനുള്ളതും



പെരിയ പരവശത മമ കളവതിനു ചോറു നീ



പ്രാതൽക്കു മാത്രമെന്നാകിലും നല്കണം



അശനമതിലൊരുവനിലുമഴകിനൊടു വച്ചുകൊ --



ണ്ടൊന്നും കൊടുക്കാതയയ്ക്കുക യോഗ്യമോ ?



അതിലധികമധികധനമുടയ ധനദാ ! ഭവാ --



നാമന്ത്രണം ചെയ്തു കൊണ്ടുപോന്നിങ്ങനെ



ബദരിഫലമതിനു സമമൊരു കബളമെങ്കിലും



ബാലനായീടും നമുക്കു തരാഞ്ഞതു



ഉചിതമിതി തവ മനസി കരുതിടുക വേണ്ടതി --



ന്നൂണും മുടക്കിയയയ്ക്കുക നിന്ദിതം



അയി ധനദ പുരുഷനിഹ പെരിയ ധനമുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ



ആയവന്‍ ചെയ്തതു നല്ല നേരായ് വരും



ഹൃദയമതിലിതു കരുതി മദമധികമുള്ള തേ



ഹൃദ്യമീ ബാലനാമെന്നെച്ചതിച്ചതും ! "



വചനമിദമതിപരുഷമനവധി പറഞ്ഞുടൻ



വായും പിളര്‍ന്നോടിയെത്തി വിഘ്നേശ്വരൻ ;



അതുസമയമധികഭയമുടയ നിധിനായകൻ



ആധിയുംപൂണ്ടങ്ങുമിങ്ങുമോടീടിനാൻ :



" അടിയനിഹ കരുതിയതു സകലവുമൊടുങ്ങിയി --



ങ്ങാവോളമിന്നിയും വേണ്ടതുണ്ടാക്കുവൻ ; "



അതിനു പുനരൊരു വചനമവനൊടുരചെയ്യാതെ



ആര്‍ത്തനായ് പിന്നാലെ മണ്ടി ഓടിക്കയാൽ



' കരിവദനകലഹമതു കളവതിനു നമ്മുടെ



കാലാരിപാദം പിടിക്ക നല്ലൂ ജവാൽ'



ഇതി മനസി ബത കരുതി സപദി നരവാഹനൻ



ഇന്ദുചൂഡാന്തികേ ചെന്നു വീണേറ്റവും



വിനയമൊടു വിമലതര നുതിവചനമോതിനാൻ :



" വിശ്വാധിനാഥാ ! നമസ്തേ യമാന്തകാ !



അടിയനിഹ പിഴ പലതുമധികമിഹ ചെയ്കിലും



ആശ്രയം മറ്റാരുമില്ലെനിക്കീശ്വരാ !



ജനനിയുടെ ജഠരമതിലമരുമൊരു ബാലകൻ



ജാതനാംമുമ്പേ ചവിട്ടിയെന്നോര്‍ക്കയാൽ



മനതളിരിലതിനു ബത കലഹ, മൊരുനാളുമാ



മാതാവിനുണ്ടാകയില്ലെന്നു നിര്‍ണ്ണയം ;



അടിമലരിലടിമപെടുമടിയനുടെ സങ്കടം



അഷ്ടമൂര്‍ത്തേ ! ഭവാന്‍ നീക്കി രക്ഷിക്കണം



തവ ചരണയുഗളമതു ശരണമണയും ക്ഷണേ



താപം ശമിക്കുമെന്നല്ലോ ബുധമതം



കുസുമശരതനുദഹന ! ദിവസകരബിംബവും



കൂരിരുട്ടും കൂടിയൊന്നിച്ചിരിക്കുമോ ?



കരലസിതകനകമൃഗ ! കലവറയിലുള്ളതും



കാലാന്തക ! കറിവച്ചതുമന്നവും



ചെരവ തവി വിറകുരുളികരകമിതി പാത്രവും



ചെമ്പും ചരക്കും നെടുമ്പുരയുള്ളതും



പരമശിവ പരിചിനൊടു ഗജമുഖനശേഷവും



പാരാതെ ഭക്ഷിച്ചൊടുക്കി പുരാന്തക !



പുരമഥന ! പുനരധികമരിശമൊടടുത്തുടൻ



പുഷ്കരം കൊണ്ടു പിടിക്കുന്നു ഹന്ത മാം ;



ജിതശമന തവ മനസി ബഹുകരുണകൊണ്ടു ഞാൻ



ജീവിച്ചിനിച്ചിലകാലമിരിക്കണം . "



അമൃതകരശകലധരനുതികളിതി ചെയ്തുട --



നഞ്ജലി കൂപ്പി നമസ്കരിച്ചാദരാൽ



അചലവരമകളുടയ ചരണകമലങ്ങളും



അത്യന്തഭക്ത്യാ വണങ്ങി നിന്നീടിനാൻ ;



അതുപൊഴുതു ശിവനുമഥ ശിവയുമരുളീടിനാർ:



" ആധി നിനക്കിനി വേണ്ട ധനേശ്വര !



പല കുറവു പല ദിവസമധികമിഹ ചെയ്കിലും



പാദം പിടിച്ചാൽക്ഷമിക്കും മഹത്തുകൾ



ഇതിനു തവ പിഴ കിമപിയൊരു വഴി നിനയ്ക്കിലു --



മില്ലെന്നു നിശ്ചയമുണ്ടു ഞങ്ങൾക്കഹോ !



കരിവദന ! വിരവിനൊടു വരിക മമ സന്നിധൌ



കഷ്ടം ! കണക്കല്ല നിന്നുടെ ചേഷ്ടിതം



അയി തനയ ! ധനദനിഹ മമത പെരുകീട്ടുട --



നഷ്ടിക്കു നമ്മെ ക്ഷണിച്ചു വരുത്തിയാൽ



ഉചിതമതു മൃദുവചനമവരൊടുരചെയ്തുകൊ --



ണ്ടൂണിനു തന്ന ചോറുണ്ടു പോന്നീടണം ;



അപരനിഹ തരുമശനമമൃതിനു സമാനമെ --



ന്നാശ്വസിച്ചീടണമെന്നേ ഗുണം വരൂ .



അതിദുരിതഫലമതിനു പരിചൊടു ധരിക്ക നീ



അന്നദാതാവിനെ നിന്ദ ചെയ്യുന്നത് ;



ഇതി സപദി കരുതി ഹൃദി ധനദനെ വിളിച്ചു നീ



ഇച്ഛിച്ചതെല്ലാം കൊടുത്തു കൊണ്ടീടണം ; "



സകലജന പരമഗുരു പരമശിവനിങ്ങനെ



സാധുവാം വണ്ണം പറഞ്ഞതു കേൾക്കയാൽ ;



" അയി ധനദ ! നഹി കിമപി പരിഭവമൊരിക്കലു --



മാധിയുണ്ടാകുക വേണ്ടാ ഹൃദന്തരേ ; "



അതിമൃദുലവചനമതു ഗണപതി പറഞ്ഞുട --



നാശാധിനാഥനെച്ചേര്‍ത്തു വക്ഷസ്ഥലേ !



"സകലപതി ശിവനുമഥ പരിചരണഭൃത്യരും



സ്കന്ദനും ഞാനും മൃഡാനിയാം ദേവിയും



സരസമിഹ തവ മനസി കരുതിയതിലപ്പുറം



സാധുവാം വണ്ണം ഭുജിച്ചു സന്തുഷ്ടരായ് ;



ചതുരതയൊടതു സകലമറിവതിനു ദിവ്യമാം



ചക്ഷുസ്സു കൊണ്ടു വിലോകനം ചെയ്ക നീ ; "



സകലജന നതചരണനഴകൊടു ഗണേശ്വരൻ



സാദരം ചൊന്നതു കേട്ടു ധനേശ്വരൻ



ഹൃദയതലമതിലമരുമമലതരദൃക്കിനാ --



ലീക്ഷിച്ച നേരമറിഞ്ഞു സമസ്തവും ;



അതു പൊഴുതു ഹൃദി കുതുകമധികമുളവാകയാ --



ലാനമുഖനെത്തൊഴുതു നിന്നൂ ചിരം ;



അതുസമയമചലമകൾഗിരീശനുമുരയ്ക്കയാ --



ലന്നവും സ്വാദുള്ളതും നീക്കിയൊക്കെയും



വടിവിനൊടു കരിവദനവദനകമലാന്തരാൽ



വീണുവണങ്ങി സമസ്ത വസ്തുക്കളും ;



പുരമഥനനതു പൊഴുതു നിധിപതിയൊടിങ്ങനെ



പുഞ്ചിരിതൂകിയരുൾചെയ്തു സാദരം



" ഇഭവദനമുഖഗളിതമിതു തവ സമസ്തവു --



മീക്ഷണം ചെയ്തു കണക്കുനോക്കി ദ്രുതം



പരിചിനൊടു ഭരണികളുമഖിലമിഹ പാത്രവും



പണ്ടിരുന്നേടത്തു വയ്പിച്ചു കൊള്ളുക ;



അമരകുലമഖിലമിഹ ഹവിരനലനാവുകൊ --



ണ്ടാസ്വദിക്കുന്നതുപോലെയെല്ലാവരും



തവ സകല വിഭവമിഹ ഗണപതിമുഖംകൊണ്ടു



താത്പര്യമോടേ ഭുജിച്ചു സന്തുഷ്ടരായ് ,



തവ ഭവതു ശുഭമിനിയുമഖിലധനവൃദ്ധിയും



താമസമില്ലിനിപ്പോകുന്നു ഞാനെടോ !



ഇനിയുമിഹ വിരവിനൊടു പറക തവ വേണ്ടതെ "--



ന്നീശ്വരന്‍ ചൊന്നതു കേട്ടവൻ ചൊല്ലിനാൻ :



"പരിചിനൊടു ജടമുടിയിലണിമതിയണിഞ്ഞതും



പാമ്പും പലതരം തുമ്പയും ചാമ്പലും



സരസതരമൊഴുകുമൊരു സുരതടിനി തന്നുടെ



സാരമായുള്ളോരു കാന്തിപ്രവാഹവും



നിടിലതട നയനമതുമപരനയനങ്ങളും



നീടുറ്റ നല്ലോരു നാസികാഭംഗിയും



ദലിത മണിപവിഴമതിലധികരക്താഭമാം



ദന്തവാസസ്സിന്റെ സൌഭാഗ്യമുള്ളതും



മുകുരമതിലതി ധവളനിറമുടയ ദന്തവും



മൂല്യമറ്റുള്ളോരു കുണ്ഡലദ്വന്ദ്വവും



പരശുവരമഭയമൃഗമിവ പലതുമുള്ളൊരു



പാണിപത്മങ്ങളും നീലമാം കണ്ഠവും



മടിയിൽമലമകളു പുനരഴകൊടു വസിപ്പതും



മത്തദ്വിപത്തിന്റെ ചര്‍മ്മമുടുത്തതും



തുടയിണയുമടിമലരുമടിയനു ഹൃദന്തരേ



തോന്നേണമെന്നും മഹാദേവ ശങ്കരാ ! "



തൊഴുതു പുനരിതു പറയുമിളിബിളികുമാരനോ --



ടീശ്വരന്‍ പിന്നെയും ചൊല്ലിനാനിങ്ങനെ :



" ഇതു സതതമഥ ഭവതി ഭവതു ! " ഭവനിങ്ങനെ



ഇച്ഛിച്ഛതേകി മറഞ്ഞു , ഭവാനിയും ;



തദനു പുനരിഭവദനപദയുഗളപത്മവും



താരകാരാതിപദാംഭോരുഹങ്ങളും



അതിവിനയമൊടു തൊഴുത ധനപതിയൊടാദരാ --



' ലസ്തു തേ മംഗള ' മെന്നവർചൊല്ലിനാർ;



പുനരവരുമെരുതുമഥ പരിജനമശേഷവും


പുണ്യജനേശ്വരന്‍ കാണ്കെ മറഞ്ഞിതു .