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Sumathi Sataka - Its relevance to modern living (12)

“ Udakamu travedu hayamunu Madamuna nupponguchundu mattebhambun Modavukadanunna vrushabham Jaduvani aneechu kadaku janakura Sumathi ” This can be translated as “ one should not go near A horse drinking water A young wild elephant A bull mating with a cow An uncouth illiterate plebeian / reprobate ” This poem basically elucidates the situations which should be avoided. If one approaches a horse which is drinking water, that person will be approaching from behind. The horse may fear that it is getting disturbed and strikes with its hind legs. A young wild elephant will be moving without any rhyme and reason and control. It is fatal to go near such an elephant. Similarly a bull in heat mating with a cow will turn wild if interrupted. In the same way an illiterate, uncouth plebeian does not know how to behave and talk. He may behave in such a way which may be insulting to a normal person. It is advised to avoid such a person as far as possible.

Sumathi Sataka - Its relevance to modern living (11)

“ Uttama gunamulu neechuna Ketteraguna galuga nerchu; neyyedalam daa Nethichchi karugabosina Nithhadi bangaramagune ilalo Sumathi ” This can be translated as “ How can a villain Learn good deeds Like the metals knowingly mixed to make brass Cannot result in gold ” The above poem is akin to a modern saying “ A Leopard cannot change his spots” or “A tiger cannot change his stripes”. This can also be an old idiom “old habits die hard” of “Appearances are often deceptive”. The meaning of these idioms or the first two lines of the above poem (written around 800 years ago) is the same. One cannot change his basic nature easily and quickly. A person with a bad bent of mind may appear to have reformed by behavior due to a lack of opportunity but the person’s basic nature remains unchanged. We can have several examples of such villains in our movies. In some of the movies, the villain initially tries to bulldoze his way with bad behavior. Find it difficult he po