కుమార శతకము

K U M A A R A S A T A K A M U.


Kumara Satakamu was written as a document preaching good manners and telling his young son how to avoid pit falls in life. Thus all the stanzas are addressed kumaaraa in the end.


Sri bhaaminee manoharu
saubhaagya dayaa swabhaavu saarasanaabhun
lobhaavincheda neekun
vaibhavamu losaguchunda vasudha kumaaraa. 1

My dear son, I am thinking and praying Lord Vishnu, who is the husband of wealth-giving Lakshmi and who is very kind hearted, to give you all wealth.

aagna yonarchedi vritthula
lo gnaanamu galigi melagu lokulu mecchan
braagnathanu galigi yunnan
braagnulalo braagnudavuga prabalu kumaaraa. 2

Always do the jobs entrusted to you intelligently so that all people praise you. Come up well in life by showing your sharp intelligence excelling even other such people.

Athi baalyamulo nainanu
brathikoolapu maargamula bravarthinchaka sa
dgathi meera melaga nerchina
nathaniki lokamuna soukhya magunu kumaaraa. 3

Any one who goes in the right path even in early boyhood without straying into bad ways will be very happy in life.

Vriddha jana seva chesina
buddhi viseshagnu bootha charithudun
saddharma saali yani budhu
liddhara bogidedaru prema yesaga gumaaraa. 4

One serving elderly people, will be praised and loved by people as intelligent, good mannered and having good conduct.

Peddalu vaddani cheppina
paddula bovanga raadu parakaanthala ne
podde neda barikinchuta
kuddesimpamga gooda durvi gumaaraa. 5

Do not go along ways when elders ask to be discarded. Never think of looking at others' ladies.

Thanapai daya noolkona ganu
gona nethenchinanu seela guru mathulanu pam
danamuga bhajimpam dagu
manamalaraga nidiya vibudha mathamu gumaaraa.

It is the way of a gentleman to show respect to highly cultured persons who come by showing reverence and make them happy.

Unnanu lekunnanu py
kennadu marmambu delupa negakumee nee
kaqnna thalidandrula yasam
bennabadedu maadki dirugu melami gumaaraa.

Do not let your secrets out whether and what you have or not. Behave in a manner which brings out your parent's reputation every where.

Peddalu vicchesinacho
baddhakamuna dushta paddhathi nainan
hadderigi levakunnan
moddu vale joothu rathani muddu kumaaraa.

When elders visit you if you behave in a lazy way and do not get up and show due respect, you will be considered a blockhead.

Sathathamu braathah kaalo
chitha vidhulanu jarupu marasi seeghramuga sahah
pathi poorva parvathaagraa
gathudagutaku mundu menne veravu galgi kumaaraa.

Complete always all the morning ablutions before sun rise withoui any delay systematically.

Poshakuni mathamu ganugoni
bhushipmaka gaani mudhamu bonduru mariyun
doshamula nenchu chundunu
doshivyna migula geedu dochu kumaaraa.

Only when you show respect to your boss's way of working he will not be happy. Otherwise he will look for your mistakes and trouble you.

Naravarudu nammi thanu nou
karilo nunchu neda vaani kaaryamulandun
sarigaa melanga nerchina
purushudu lokamuna girthi bondu kumaaraa.

A person gets a good name only when a job entrusted by the king ( or in general boss) out of trust is satisfactorily handled and completed.

Pudamini dushtatha gala yaa
thadu lamchambulu batta dalachuchu midiyou
nadavadi vidi yandiri vem
badi drippikonuchunu geedu varupa kumaaraa.

A bad mannered person with a view to collect bribes makes all people who have work with him to make round to him several times and troubles them.

Panulenni galigi yunnanu
dinadinamuna vidya pempu dheeyukthudavai
vina gorumu sathkadhalanu
kani vibudhulu santhasinchu gathini gumaaraa.

Even when you have lot of work to do, try to hear stories which teach good morals and improve your knowledge. When your elders notice this, they will feel happy.

Dharanee naayaku raaniyu
guru raaniyu nannaraanikulakaathanu ga
nna ramani danuganna dhiyunu
dharanevuru thallulanuchu dalupu kumaaraa.

The King's consort, wife of your teacher, elder brother's wife, wife's mother and your own mother are to be treated as mothers and respected.

Sadamala mathitho beddala
madhi kimpuga melagu ninda maanumu parulan
mridu maargamulanu vadalaku
vidithambuga daana girthi velayu kumaaraa.

Behave well so as to please elders. Stop criticising others. Do not leave gentle ways of behaviour. These will get you a good name.

Aachaaryuna kedirimpaku
brochina dora ninda seya bokumu kaaryaa
lochanamu londa jeyaku
maachaaramu viduva bokumayya gumaaraa.

Do not argue with teacher. Do not criticise your master who looks after you. Do not do your job in a way as to think unnecessarily on your work. Do not leave tradition.

Puttinadi modalu parasathi
battaga juchutaya ninda paddhathi yanuchu
nnatti purushundu pudamin
buttina janathathula geerthi bondu gumaaraa.

Any person who realises that trying to make his own another person's wife brings disrepute will be praised by every one.

Kallalagu maatalaadaku
mella janambulaku vega hridayamu kadu ram
jillaga balkumu neekidi
thellamu rahi geerthi gaanchu deragu kumaaraa.

Never speak lies. Always speak in a way which pleases all. Such a behaviour will bring you a good name from all.

Yenaadainanu vinayamu
maanakumee matsaramuna manujesulatho
boonaku masammathayi bahu
maanamunanu bondu midiye mathamu kumaaraa.

Never be disobedient and develop animosity towards rulers. This is the way to get rewarded by them.

Nagakoodadu parasathi gani
thana maathru samaanamennadagu nevvari thon
baga guda dorula nindin
paga koodadu ganumu vriddha pathamu kumaaraa.

Do not laugh at married ladies but treat them as your mother. Never develop enemity with any one. Never criticise others. Find out how elders behave.

Vagavaku gadachina daaniki
bogadaku durmathula nepudu posagani panikin
yegi deenatha nondakumee
thaga daina gathin bosangu dharanu kumaaraa.

Do not regret past things. Do not praise bad people. Do not feel bad about things you could not make possible. Be satisfied with what God has ginen you.

Sarivaari lona nerpuna
dirigedu vaaralaku gaaka theravaatulalo
narayuchu melagedi vaariki
baruvetiki geede yanubhavambu kumaaraa.

If you move with your equals with skill, you get a good name. But if you move with bad people, you lose not only your good name but get harmed.

Thanujulanum guru vruddhula
jananeejanakulanu saadhu janula nevadu daa
ghanudayyu brovado yaa
janude jeevanmruthundu jagathi kumaaraa.

Whoever does not help at the needed hour, though can help, one's sons, teachers, elderly persons, and good people, will be equal to a dead one although living.

Sadgosthi sariyu nosagunu
sadgosthiye keerthi benchu sathusthini naa
sadgosthiye yona goorchunu
sadgosthiye paapamulanu jampu kumaaraa.

Friendship with good people and discussios with them pays rich dividend. It will help in your development and brings satisfaction and destroys any bad act of yours earlier in advertantly.



Cheyakumu kaani kaaryamu
Paayakumu marin subham bavani bhojanamun
jeyakumu ripu gruhambuna
gooyaku morumanasu nocchugaatha kumaaraa.

Never do wrong works. Never leave performing auspicious jobs. Do not dine in enemy's house. Do not speak in a way to offend other's feelings.

Pinnala peddala yedu gadu
mannanache melagu sujana maargambulanee
venni koni thirugu chundina
nanni yedala nenna badadu vanna kumaaraa.

Move in a way with both elders and young as to command their respect. You will be praised by all if you move in a good way everywhere.

Thanaku vidyaabhaasam
bunu jesina vaani kanna bolupuga badire
tlanu duugu thandri vaaniki
jananeeyu badi retlu duugu jagathi gumaaraa.

Father is ten times better than the teacher who taught him. Mother is ten times more than father. As such parents are to be respected and worshipped.

Thammulu thama yanna eda bha
yammunu bhakthi yunu galigi yaaraadhimpan
dammula nannayu sammo
dammunu bremimpa danaru gumaaraa.

While younger brothers have to show respect and fear towards their elder brother, elder brother also has to show affection equally towards them. Thus they all develop mutual affection and appreciated by all.

Appan dana thalliga me
loppangani jarupavalayu nurveesthali ji
nnappudu channidi manipina
mappadathiyu maathru thulya yandru kumaaraa.

Elder sister is to be treated like ons's mother. Similarly, the ayah who fed you in your childhood with her milk is to be respected as a mother.

Buutakapu varthanamu gani
jootari veedanuchu dappa joothurugaa yaa
baatanu vidi sathyamu madhi
baatinch natinchu vaade narudu kumaaraa.

Person with bad behaviour will be treated in the same way as a habitual lier. Hence one who leaves such a line and moves in the right path is a really good person.

Thanayudu chedugai yundina
janakuni thappanna maata sathyamerugudu gaa
vuna nee jananeejanakula
ku napakhyaathi yagu reethi gumaaraa.

It Is true that if a son has bad behaviour people attribute it to father. As such do not hehave in a way as to bring disrepute to your parents.

thallini dandrini sahajula
nallari bettinanu vaaralaluguchu nee pai
nullamuna royu chunduru
kallari veedanuchu geerthi ganda kumaaraa.

If you go on troubling your parents and your brothers and sisters, they become annoyed in their hearts and treat you as a lier spoiling your good name.

Lokulu thanu goniyaadu vi
veki yadiyu nindagaaka vinanolladu su
slokula charitham bittidi
chekonavale natti nadaka chinni kumaaraa.

Good people do not like to hear public praising of criticising them.Adopt the same attitude.

Dharanini paropakaaraa
charana vrathanishtha nepudu salulumu neekaa
theraguna vaasaadivratha
varakarmamu kante melu vacchu kumaaraa.

Cultivate the habit of always helping others. It is superiour to even fasting and ceremonial deeds.

Vagavaku gadachina daaniki
pogadaku durmathula nepudu posagani panikai
yogi deenatha nondakumee
thaga daivagathim bosangu kumaaraa.

Do not feel sorry for past things. Never praise bad people. Since every thing happens as per God'd will only, do not take up impossible works and feel sorry.

Pani booni janulu santhasa
muna daalimi sathyasouchamulanu bravarthim
china yasamu nonduchunduru
ganugonu mide dodda nadaka gaaga kumaaraa.

People who start doing works with truth and clarity will complete them and win laurels. This is the correct behaviour.

Vinu lokambuna dharmam
basaga gulaachaaramatla narasi naduvadaa
ganu mayuh keerthula niha
muna baramuna bondu soukhyamulanu gumaaraa.

Behaving as per the traditions will bring name in this world and happiness in the other worlds after death.

Sari vaari lona theerpuna
dirigedi vaaralaku gaaka theravaatulalo
narayuchu melagedi vaariki
paru vetiki geede yanubhavambu kumaaraa.

If one does not move openly and carefully with your equals but with bad people who make "behind the scene" moves, how could respect come except facing bad experience.

Barulevvareni danatho
baribhashinchinanu melu paluka valayunaa
daramu gala chota geedu
karamu nonarchanga raadhu gadara kumaaraa.

One should talk only good while speaking to others but not bad words. Where one gets respect, one should not create problems.

Siri cherchu bandhuvula naa
siriye subhamula nosangu cheluvula goorchun
siriye gunavanthundani
dharalo bogadinchu dalapu kumaaraa.

Always remember that acquiring riches will bring relatives nearer and will also be auspicious getting friends. It w2ill also help people reaping praises and calling as good person. This implies that earning riches is very important.

Aakulatha badaku maapada
nekathamuna janaku throva ninthiki dagu nan
the kaani chana vosangaku
lokulu ninnenna sugunalola kumaaraa.

Do not despair when in trouble. Do not move lonely. Give enough freedom to your wife. But do not be lenient. This way people will respect you.

Thanadu kulaangana yaalo
chanamuna manthriyu bhukthi samayambuna daa
jananiyu rathilo rambhaa
vanajekshana yayina bunyavasamu kumaaraa.

Consider you are blessed if your wife gives you right ideas like a king's minister, feeds like a mother and brings great happiness in your married life.

Manujudu sabhudu daanai
kaniyunna yadhaarthamella kaanina yatlaa
manujundu palukakunnanu
ghanamagu paathakamu naadu ganunu kumaaraa,

One who can distinguish between good and bad does not speak the thing actually witnessed that day will be most inauspicious.

Angeekaara rahithamagu
sangathikin bovaraadu saamaanyulatho
dam gadu jagadamunaku jana
vengali thanamandru janulu vinumu kumaaraa.

One should not move with general public in matters not of mutual interest. Getting involved in such affairs will make people take one as a boor.

Avayava heenuni sounda
rya viheenuni daridruni vidyaraani yathani sam
sthavaneeyu deva sruthulan
bhuvi nindimpa daga dandru budhulu kumaaraa.

A person who has lost one of his limbs, one who is not handsom, a poor man, one who is illiterate and sacred religeous books should not be abused.

Peddalu vicchesinacho
baddhakamuna naina dusta paddhathi nainan
hadderigi levakunnanu
modduvale joothurathani muddu kumaaraa.

If you do not get up when elders visit either due to lethargy, bad intention or due to bad manners, you will be treated as a dunce.

Sathathamu braathah kaalo
chitha vidhulanu jarapu marasi seeghramuga nahah
pathi poova parvathaagraa
gathudagu munne veravu galgi kumaaraa.

Always complete morning ablutions fast before the sun rises in the east with interest.

Poshakuni mathamu ganugoni
bhushimpaka gaani mudamu bondaru mariyun
doshamula nenchuchundunu
doshivaina migula geedu dochu kumaaraa.

Unless you understand the tastes of the boss and respect him he will not be pleased. Moreover he may look for your errors and try to harm you.

Naravarudu nammi thanu nau
karilo nunchuneda vaani kaaryamulandun
sarigaa melanga nerchina
purushudu lokamuna keerthi bondu kumaaraa.

When boss employs you trusting you, do all his tasks well. Then only you will be praised in the world.