Tell us whether you’re king of poets or yogis!
Which are dear to you— metres or Sadhus?
Prefer ashes or songs? What is in your hands?
Nectar of self-knowledge or poetry?
On your cheeks shining
Didn’t droop your moustache mesmerizing
No fading of desire in your lips tender
Why such detachment in a moment?
The marks of Royalty haven’t faded
from your forehead gentle;
Why are your feet seeking villages
giving up palaces golden ?
Poet or saint or philosopher? Who are you?
Has Shiva himself descended
With his disciples dozen to kondaveedu?
The rural folks are marching to see you
Heard the songs of the Gita on Telugu fields!
Whether you wore clothes or not,
Tikkana’s forerunner or Timmanas successor?
Not for me are these quarrels bitter
Kudos your stream poetic and words sweet!
The Crown of the poet-philosophers
in fusing teluguness and Aataveladi!
your bold morals brightened the streets rural,
Your poems banners of green leaves
Adorned the thresholds of homes Telugu
Your lines of Abhirama are butterflies
on the lotus hearts of the Telugus;
oh, the sun of the poets!
Reached every home your rays bright
Salutes to Vemana Kavindra! Karma Yogiswara!
You served sweet idioms moral
To the children Telugu.
Your “uppukappurambu”
Is learnt by heart by every brat.
Since the twilight of infancy
When we went to school in shirts small;
Taught our teachers during times leisure
Your “Chittasuddi.”
From the childish cow-herds
To Scholars old of Sruthis
None Could be found on the land Telugu
Ignorant of your poems sumptuous.
Holding aloft the flag of morality
You attacked the fortress evil !
The light of your Crown reached
The cosmos entire, you are deathless!
As a social reformer you lighted the way
To the world full of practices poisonous
You gave novel awareness –
Man eminent ! Vemana!
In the light of your crown elegant
Saw our Telugus paths of light:
Appearing on the streets of literature
Small Vemanas many at present.
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