O Lotus eyed one, I wish to drink some water.
If you will give it, I do not want it from you;
But if you will not, then I shall drink it.
This modified haiku is what you could call an Indian koan. It also has a casteist undertone when translated into Sanskrit. Somethings are both ugly and beautiful. It just depends on how you look at it, or in this case, how you break the sandhi.
For Yazad, the Sanskr't version.
paan'iyam paatumichchhaami tvatta: kamalalochane.
yadi daasyasi nechchhaami na daasyasi pibaamyaham..
Glossary:
paan'iyam: water
paatum: to drink
ichchhaami: i wish
tvat: from you
kamala: lotus
lochana: eye
yadi: if
daasyasi: (you) will give
daasi: servant woman
asi: is/are
na: no
pibaami: drink
aham: I
Sunday, March 16, 2003
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