The Beginning Of An Aeon Poem by Ravikumar C.P.

The poem 'Yugadi' by D.R. Bendre became a popular film song and is played on the radio on the occasion of the Yugadi festival every year.

The poem begins with an expression of wonderment about the beginning of the New Year. No matter how many aeons have gone by, the beginning of every new year is marked with the grand arrival of Yugadi. New leaves have sprung in every tree and flowers are blooming in every bough. The poet displays a great sense of optimism when he predicts that Yugadi will bring countless new joys.

Aeons may come and aeons may go,
But Yugadi returns each year without fail!
This bearer of glad tidings hides
Countless new joys behind its veil

ಯುಗ ಯುಗಾದಿ ಕಳೆದರೂ
ಯುಗಾದಿ ಮರಳಿ ಬರುತಿದೆ
ಹೊಸ ವರುಷಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಹರುಷವ
ಹೊಸತು ಹೊಸತು ತರುತಿದೆ!

The poet looks at the Beech trees with a sense of wonderment. To the best of my knowledge, the Beech tree blooms only once a year. Bunches of pale purple flowers attract a swarm of bees. Many years ago, I lived in a rented house and there was a Beech tree right in front of the house. One day, out of no where, there appeared a large beehive in the tree, giving us quite a scare. I and my wife were concerned about the safety of our young kids. I can relate to the 'music of the bees in the beech tree! ' Interestingly, there was also a neem tree not far from the beech. Bendre imagines that the faint perfume from the flowers of the Beech tree bring some respite to the otherwise bitter life of the neem! The young blossoms of the neem are consumed on the day of Yugadi along with jaggery, to signify the existence of both sorrow and joy in our lives.
In the blossoms of the Beech treesYou can hear the music of the bees! The fragrance of flowers wafts in the air, Breathing life into neem's life of despair!
ಹೊಂಗೆ ಹೂವ ಟೊಂಗೆಯಲಿ
ಭೃಂಗದ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕೇಳಿ
ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೇಳ ಬರುತಿದೆ!
ಬೇವಿನ ಕಹಿ ಬಾಳಿನಲಿ
ಹೂವಿನ ನಸುಗಂಪು ಸೂಸಿ
ಜೀವಕಳೆಯ ತರುತಿದೆ!

The poet's heart is filled with joy when he sees the celebration of spring in Nature. Why are humans not blessed in the same way, he wonders. A tree sheds leaves in the autumn and rejuvenates in spring. Why can't we do this too?

Looking at the spring of life awaken
Every life-form at this time each year,
I wonder why mankind is blessed
With one life, childhood and youth? Unfair!

ವರುಷಕೊಂದು ಹೊಸತು ಜನ್ಮ,
ಹರುಷಕೊಂದು ಹೊಸತು ನೆಲೆಯು
ಅಖಿಲ ಜೀವಜಾತಕೆ!
ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಜನ್ಮದಲಿ
ಒಂದೇ ಬಾಲ್ಯ, ಒಂದೇ ಹರೆಯ
ನಮಗದಷ್ಟೇ ಏತಕೋ!

The poet turns philosophical and wonders if mankind could have a life similar to that of a tree. Like a tree that sheds all its foliage in the winter and wakes up to a new life in spring, could we wake up each day to welcome a new life? Everyday would then be a Yugadi! But alas, our memories make us age! Perhaps the poet feels that man is inherently capable of being immortal, but shows disinterest in being reborn each day.

How would it be if we died in sleepAnd woke up anew in the dawn! O eternal one, adventurous and immortal! With no taste for this game, you seem withdrawn!
ನಿದ್ದೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ನಿತ್ಯ ಮರಣ,
ಎದ್ದ ಸಲ ನವೀನ ಜನನ,
ನಮಗೆ ಏಕೆ ಬಾರದು?
ಎಲೆ ಸನತ್ಕುಮಾರ ದೇವ,
ಎಲೆ ಸಾಹಸಿ ಚಿರಂಜೀವ,
ನಿನಗೆ ಲೀಲೆ ಸೇರದು.

I have translated 'Santkumara Deva' as 'O eternal one.' Bendre was a mystic poet and drew inspiration from a number of sources of mythology. Do read about Santkumara in Wikipedia and you may discover new meanings in the poem!