KAMBA RAMAYANAM POET’S HUMBLE PREFACE

My attempt to present the story

Of the spotless and triumphant Rāma

Is not unlike the puny cat going to a sea

Brimminng with milk, and trying to lick it all.

Rāma ’s story was first written by Sage Vālmīki.

His work is acclaimed as the best in the country.

I am the humblest of all who are humble,

Yet with the temerity to compose these verses.

I may be subjected to much humiliation,

And may be experience much criticism too.

Yer, I have composed these verses on Rāma

Only because I wish to show the (Tamil) world

The grandeur of that divine poetry

That Sage Valmiki had composed in Sanskrit.

He was Lord of spotless poetic creation.

To the good and the noble who listen only

To rich and great poetry,

What I have composed could well sound painful,.

It may be like the noise that comes

From the random beating of drums.

To the bird that delights in good music

Produced by the stringed yāzh.

I therefore humbly  request all great scholars

Versed in prose, music, and play-writing,

The three main branches of Tamil literature,

Not to give importance to the blabbering

Of fools, lunatics, and mindless ones like me.

Expert  wise architects will not make fun of

Children that  innocuously sketch drawings 

Of houses and stages for dancing.

Likewise I expect genuine scholars

Not to be upset by my composing these verses

That have absolutely no value whatever.

I hope they will pardon my daring

To follow the steps of Sage Vālmīki

In  writing the Rāmāyaṇam in Tamil verses.

This epic  that recounts the glory

Of Mahāvishṇu in the  incarnation as Rama.

My verses were composed at Tiruvennainallūr,

The native town of the philanthropist Sadayappan.