ಕುಂಬಾರನು ಮಾಡಿದ ಹಣತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ,
ದಲಿತನು ಬೆಳೆದ ಹತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ,
ನೇಕಾರನು ಮಾಡಿದ ದಾರದಿಂದ,
ಗಾಣಿಗನು ತೆಗೆದ ಎಣ್ಣೆಯಿಂದ,
ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನು ದೀಪವನ್ನು ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ,
ಭಗವಂತನೇ ಅದನ್ನು ಮೆಚ್ಚುವಾಗ,
ಕುಲವೆಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ!!?
ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಕುಲ ಕುಲ ಕುಲವೆಂದು ಹೊಡೆದಾಡದಿರಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕುಲದ ನೆಲೆಯನೇನಾದರು ಬಲ್ಲಿರಾ ಬಲ್ಲಿರಾ? ಎಂಬ ಕನಕದಾಸರ ವಚನದಂತೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲ ಕುಲವೆಂಬ ಅಂಧಕಾರದಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಂದು, ಒಂದೇ ತಾಯಿಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳಂತೆ ಬದುಕಬೇಕು.
The verse powerfully questions caste-based discrimination by showing how everyday contributions from all people — like the potter’s clay work, the cotton grown by Dalits, the thread made by weavers, and the oil pressed by traders — support life and are valued by society. Even a lamp lit with that oil is pleasing to the divine. If all these contributions are essential and accepted by God, then where is caste superiority? It challenges those who shout about “caste, caste, caste” to reflect on whether they truly understand the basis of their own caste identity. Echoing the timeless message of the poet-saint Kanakadasa — a devotee, poet, and social reformer — this verse urges us to rise above artificial caste labels and live with unity, like children of the same mother, recognizing that all human beings are equal before God and society.
ದಲಿತನು ಬೆಳೆದ ಹತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ,
ನೇಕಾರನು ಮಾಡಿದ ದಾರದಿಂದ,
ಗಾಣಿಗನು ತೆಗೆದ ಎಣ್ಣೆಯಿಂದ,
ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನು ದೀಪವನ್ನು ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ,
ಭಗವಂತನೇ ಅದನ್ನು ಮೆಚ್ಚುವಾಗ,
ಕುಲವೆಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ!!?
ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಕುಲ ಕುಲ ಕುಲವೆಂದು ಹೊಡೆದಾಡದಿರಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕುಲದ ನೆಲೆಯನೇನಾದರು ಬಲ್ಲಿರಾ ಬಲ್ಲಿರಾ? ಎಂಬ ಕನಕದಾಸರ ವಚನದಂತೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲ ಕುಲವೆಂಬ ಅಂಧಕಾರದಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಂದು, ಒಂದೇ ತಾಯಿಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳಂತೆ ಬದುಕಬೇಕು.
The verse powerfully questions caste-based discrimination by showing how everyday contributions from all people — like the potter’s clay work, the cotton grown by Dalits, the thread made by weavers, and the oil pressed by traders — support life and are valued by society. Even a lamp lit with that oil is pleasing to the divine. If all these contributions are essential and accepted by God, then where is caste superiority? It challenges those who shout about “caste, caste, caste” to reflect on whether they truly understand the basis of their own caste identity. Echoing the timeless message of the poet-saint Kanakadasa — a devotee, poet, and social reformer — this verse urges us to rise above artificial caste labels and live with unity, like children of the same mother, recognizing that all human beings are equal before God and society.
