Poem: Satya Sandesh

The poem ‘सत्य सन्देश’ (satya sandesh) is a poem written by Kabi Shiromani Lekhnath Paudyal (कविशिरोमणि लेखनाथ पौड्याल). His real name is Lekhnath Paudyal, Kabi Shiromani is his title. He is one of the most known poets of Nepali and his poems are among the most read. Did you know that Lekhnath means ‘Lord of Writing’

सत्य सन्देश (satya sandesh) literally translates into ’Truth Message’.

This poem appears as a grade 10 poem in CBSE.

The format might be a bit different because the following is used according to how it appears in the course book.

Do note that the poem is translated as literally as possible.

This poem has some very difficult words but I chose to translate this to show readers some technical words in Nepali. Hope you enjoy it!

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POEM

थोत्रो पाटी उज्यालो, मलिन तृणकुटी, कन्दरा झन् उज्यालो
भिक्षा भारी उज्यालो, अझ वन वनको साग सिस्नु उज्यालो।
फयाङ्लो गुन्द्री उज्यालो, वर पर घुम्दा जीर्ण कन्था उज्यालो
तृष्णाको तुच्छ जालो मनबीच नभए जो मिल्यो सो उज्यालो।।

कालो मन्दाकिनीको जल, जलनिधिका मोतिको ज्योति कालो
कालो सौदामिनीको चहक सब शरच्चन्द्रको कान्ति कालो।
कैलाश श्रेणि कालो झलमल गर्ने शु्र्यको बिम्ब कालो
यो सारा सृष्टि कालो मनबिच छ भने दम्भ दुर्भाब कालो।।

मत्ता हात्ती हलुङ्गो, विकट जलधिका ह्वेल माछो हलुङ्गो
जङ्गी बेडा हलुङ्गो, विकट कटकटे रेलगाडी हलुङ्गो।
शैलश्रेणी हलुङ्गो, पृथुतम पृथिवी-पिण्ड सारा हलुङ्गो
यो व्रह्माण्डै हलुङ्गो, जब सब मनको तिर्सना लाग्छ टुङ्गो।।

दोषी माता पिताका बचन गुरुजनादेश नि:शेष दोषी
सत्यात्मा मित्र दोषी गृह परिजनको चाल देखिन्छ दोषी।
पत्नीको प्रेम दोषी अमृतमय मीठा वेदका वाक्य दोषी
यो सारा सृष्टि दोषी विधिवश छ भने आफ्नो दृष्टि दोषी।।

जस्तो मानी धनीका नगिच हरघडी टप्प जोडेर हात
छाती खोलेर गर्छौ हृदय बुझि सदा नम्रता साथ बात।
दु:खीका साथ उस्तै विनयसित सदा मर्म सम्झेर बोल
गर्नै पर्दैन फेरि ब्रत, जप, तपले स्वर्गको मोल तोल।।

________

MEANING

थोत्रो पाटी उज्यालो, मलिन तृणकुटी, कन्दरा झन् उज्यालो (thotro pati ujyalo, malin trinakuti, kandara jhan ujyalo)

भिक्षा भारी उज्यालो, अझ वन वनको साग सिस्नु उज्यालो। (bhiksha bhari ujyalo, ajha ban ban ko sag sisnu ujyalo)

= Worn-out board bright, dirty squatter, cave(s) even bright(er)

Alms burden bright, even more the greens-nettles of the forest bright(er)

                            .

फयाङ्लो गुन्द्री उज्यालो, वर पर घुम्दा जीर्ण कन्था उज्यालो (phyanglo gundri ujyalo, war par ghumda jirna kantha ujyalo)

तृष्णाको तुच्छ जालो मनबीच नभए जो मिल्यो सो उज्यालो।। (trishna ko tuchcha jaalo man bich nabhae jo milyo so ujyalo)

= Torn mat bright, Roaming here-there (with) less clothes bright 

If the terrible [lit. insignificant] snare is not between the heart (then) whatever (we) get (that) is bright

                            .

कालो मन्दाकिनीको जल, जलनिधिका मोतिको ज्योति कालो (kalo mandakini ko jal, jalnidhi ka moti ko jyoti kalo)

कालो सौदामिनीको चहक सब शरच्चन्द्रको कान्ति कालो। (kalo saudamini ko chahak sab sarachchandra ko kanti kalo)

= Dark (is) the water of mandakini, Dark (is) the light of the pearl of the sea

Dark (is) all the flash of Lightning, dark is the light of the sarrachchandra

                            .

कैलाश श्रेणि कालो झलमल गर्ने शु्र्यको बिम्ब कालो (kailash shreni kalo jhalamala garne surya ko bimba kalo)

यो सारा सृष्टि कालो मनबिच छ भने दम्भ दुर्भाब कालो।। (yo sara shristi kalo man bich cha bhane dambha durbhab kalo)

= Dark (is) Mt. Kailash, Dark is the sun’s disk that does jhalamala 

Dark (is) this whole creation, if there is arrogant bad-thoughts between (our) heart

                            .

मत्ता हात्ती हलुङ्गो, विकट जलधिका ह्वेल माछो हलुङ्गो (matta hatti halungo, bikat jaladhi ka hwel macho halungo)

जङ्गी बेडा हलुङ्गो, विकट कटकटे रेलगाडी हलुङ्गो। (jangi beda halungo, bikat katkate relgadi halungo)

= Bull Elephant light, the formidable sea’s whale light

The gigantic ship light, the revolting(ly) creaking train light

                            .

शैलश्रेणी हलुङ्गो, पृथुतम पृथिवी-पिण्ड सारा हलुङ्गो (sailshreni halungo, prithutam prithiwi-pinda sara halungo)

यो व्रह्माण्डै हलुङ्गो, जब सब मनको तिर्सना लाग्छ टुङ्गो।। (yo brahmandai halungo, jaba sab man ko tirsana laagcha tungo)

= Mountain range light, Massive Earth everything light,

This UNIVERSE (is) light when every longing of the heart is released

                            .

दोषी माता पिताका बचन, गुरुजनाSSदेश नि:शेष दोषी (doshi mata pita ka bachan, gurujana.desh nishesh doshi)

सत्याSSत्मा मित्र दोषी, गृह परिजनको चाल देखिन्छ दोषी। (satya.tma mitra doshi, griha parijan ko chal dekhincha doshi)

= Sinful the pledge of mother & father, wisdom of gurujan empty & sinful

Truthful-soul (having) friend sinful, home kin’s movement is seen sinful

                            .

पत्नीको प्रेम दोषी अमृतमय मीठा वेदका वाक्य दोषी (patni ko premi doshi amritmaya mitha veda ka bakya doshi)

यो सारा सृष्टि दोषी विधिवश छ भने आफ्नो दृष्टि दोषी।। (yo sara sristi doshi bidhibash cha bhane aafno dristi doshi)

= Sinful is wife’s love, ambrosia-like sweet Veda’s sentence(s) sinful

If fate is controllable yet this whole creation sinful  then (it is) our own vision (which is) sinful

                            .

जस्तो मानी धनीका नगिच हरघडी टप्प जोडेर हात (jasto maani dhani ka nagich harghadi tappa jodera haat)

छाती खोलेर गर्छौ हृदय बुझि सदा नम्रता साथ बात। (chati kholera garchau hridaya bujhi sada namrata sath baat)

= Just like (how) In front of any respect-deserving (person), joining our hands tappa everytime,

Opening the chest, we conversate (with them) by understanding the heart with softness

                            .

दु:खीका साथ उस्तै विनयसित सदा मर्म सम्झेर बोल (dukhi ka saath ustai binaya sita sada marma samjhera bola)

गर्नै पर्दैन फेरि ब्रत, जप, तपले स्वर्गको मोल तोल।। (garnai pardai pheri brata, jap, tap le swarga ko mol tol)

= (just like that) Always talk with a similar (kind of) softness with the pitiful by remembering their pain always

(after that) No need to do any fasting, jap and meditation to assess heaven’s value

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VOCABULARY

थोत्रो (thotro) = Worn-out; Old

पाटी (pati) = Board

उज्यालो (ujyalo) = Bright; vibrant

मलिन (malin) = Dirty; covered with dirt

तृणकुटी (trinakuti) = Squatter; Hut

कन्दरा (kandara) = Cave; A type of cave formed in such a way that one can take shelter from natural elements

भिक्षा (biksha) = Alms

भारी (bhari) = Burden

वन (ban) = Forest

साग सिस्नु (sag sisnu) = Literally Spinach-stinging nettle, used to mean ‘vegetation’

फयाङ्लो (phyanglo) = Torn; Ripped

गुन्द्री (gundri) = Mat

जीर्ण (jirna) = Less

कन्था (kantha) = Clothes

तृष्णा (trishna) =Greed (in this poem used as ‘terrible’)

तुच्छ (tuchchha) = Terrible; Insignificant

जालो (jaalo) = Trap; Snare

मन्दाकिनी (mandakini) = A mythological tap from where the waters of The Holy river of Ganga come out

जल (jal) = Water

जलनिधि (jalnidhi) = Sea; Ocean

मोति (moti) = Pearl

ज्योति (jyoti) = Light

कालो (kalo) = Dark; Black

सौदामिनी (saudamini) = Lightning

चहक (chahak) = Shine; Light; Flash

शरच्चन्द्र (sarachchandra) = The moon seen during the Sarad (autumn) Season 

कान्ति (kanti) = Light

कैलाश (kailash) = The name of a sacred mountain where according to mythology, Lord Shiva resides

श्रेणि (shreni) = Area; Category

झलमल (jhalamala) = An onomatopoeic word which means ‘to shine with vigour’

शु्र्य (surya) = Sun

बिम्ब (bimba) = 1. The visible disk seen when the Sun or the Moon shines     2. Size 

सारा (sara) = Every; All

सृष्टि (srishti) = Creation

दम्भ (dambha) = Arrogant

दुर्भाब (durbhab) = Bad Thoughts

मत्ता (matta) = Male (used for animals only)

हलुङ्गो (halungo) = Light (as in less weight)

विकट (bikat) = 1. Formidable   2. Revolting; Terrible 

जलधि (jaladhi) = Sea

ह्वेल (hwel) = Whale

जङ्गी (jangi) = Big; Gigantic

बेडा (beda) = Ship; Vessel

कटकटे (katkate) = An onomatopoeic word which describes the sound of something creaking

रेलगाडी (relgadi) = Train (literally Rail Car)

शैलश्रेणी (shailshreni) = Mountain Range

पृथुतम (prithutam) = Massive

पृथिवी-पिण्ड (prithiwipinda) = Earth-mass (= Earth)

व्रह्माण्डै (brahmandai) = An emphatic ’व्रह्माण्ड’ (brahmanda) which means ’Universe’ or ’Cosmos

तिर्सना (tirsana) = Longing; Desire; Wanting; Greed

दोषी (doshi) = 1. Guilty   2. Sinful

माता पिता (mata pita) = Parents (literally mother father)

बचन (bachan) = Pledge

गुरुजनादेश (gurujanadesh) = गुरुजन (gurujan /people whom we should respect/)+ आदेश (aadesh /command; wish/)

नि:शेष (nishesh) = Empty

सत्यात्मा (satyatma) = सत्य (satya /truth/) + आत्मा (aatma /soul/)

गृह (griha) = House; Home

परिजन (parijan) = Kin

चाल (chal) = Movement

पत्नी (patni) = Wife

अमृतमय (amritmaya) = Like Amrit (ambrosia) 

वेद (veda) = A sacred book of Hindus

विधिवश (bidhibash) = the action of controlling fate

दृष्टि (drishti) = Vision; Scene

मानी धनी (mani dhani) = 1, Someone who is respected by everyone (literally respect rich)   2. Miser

हरघडी (harghadi) = Everytime

नगिच (nagich) = Near

हर (harghadi) = Every

टप्प (tappa) = An onomatopoeic word which describes the sound of something being picked or something being added or joined to something

हृदय (hridaya) = Heart

सदा (sadaa) = Always

नम्रता (namrata) = Softness

बात (bat) = Conversation; Dialogue

दु:खी (dukhi) = Someone who is miserable; Pitiful

विनय (binay) = Softness

मर्म (marma) = Pain; Misery

ब्रत (brata) = Fasting

जप (jap) = The action of counting necklace beads (a common practice in Buddhism)

तप (tap) = Short for तपश्या (tapashya) which means ’Meditation

स्वर्ग (swarga) = Heaven

मोल तोल (mol tol) = To estimate or assign the value of something

___

MEANING

The opening stanza dictates that when our view on this word is bright, then things that are dilapidated, dark and/or terrible in condition appear bright to us. This means that, things are not inherently terrible at all but it is in our nature to assign them such values of contempt and that is because we as humans are greedy and only want things to be new and better. If we get rid of our greed then whatever we will get, that thing will always be excellent.

The next lines say that if we harbour bad thoughts and dark feelings in our hearts then even good and bright things in life appear to be dark. The shining light of the lightning, the moon, the sun, pearls etc. all appear dark to us if we choose to see the world as being a dark place.

The third paragraph says that when desires in our heart is released then all massive and weighty things will be consecutively light(er). When done so, even this whole cosmos will be light.

The fourth paragraph says that if our vision is sinful even when we can control our fates, then everything will be sinful as well. Even the truth will become a sin if our vision is sinful.

Finally, if we are to live a better life then we need to have a more positive outlook as well. We don’t need to meditate, count beads or fast if we are to go to heaven for if we always help the pitiful and deeply understand their situation and kindly help, that much is enough. 

__

QUESTIONS

1) If we all acted in kindness, the world would be a beter place. Agree or not? Why?

2) You may have noticed some double S (SS) in some words. Investigate what this actually is.

3) Find an alternative spelling or a synonym for: नगिच nagich)

4) The word हरघडी (harghadi) means ‘Everytime’ and not ‘Every clock’. This word lacks a schwa in the middle. Find out why.

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ANSWERS (for illustrative purposes only / some not provided)

2) That S is actually a character used in texts to extend the total amount of time a word needs for it be pronounced (for example, saying maaaaaaan instead of a short man). It is basically a syllable stretcher (because it stretches syllables)

3) नजिक (najik)

4) हरघडी (harghadi) is an agglutination of हर (har) and घडी (ghadi); when two words are agglutinated they tend to retained their schwa deletion. Also it might be imported from Hindi, where it is spelt ’harghadi