Tana kOpame tana satruvu....

Being born to Telugu family, some or other time one would have gone through the poems of Vemana, but due to north India schooling, hardly ever read about him. 

Other day , some lines caught the ear to this beautiful poem, after coming back when I asked my mother she at once recited  the entire poem, and told the general meaning ,that one;s own anger is the enemy. Thankful to my gurus , who shown mercy and reveal some thing special understanding about this poem .

On  careful analysis of this poem we can found  lots of hidden meaning in it , and I had goose bumps when one by one it started revealing, as if the Yogi himself talking to me, though am not proficient  Telugu. but meaning is not that difficult to understand, and apply it in our lives.

Poem by yogi Vemana  in telugu

తన కోపమె తన శత్రువు,

తన శాంతమె తనకు రక్ష, దయ చుట్టంబౌ

తన సంతోషమె స్వర్గము,

తన దుఃఖమె నరక మండ్రు తథ్యము సుమతీ

Tana kOpame tana satruvu

Tana sAntame tanaku raksha, daya cuttambou

Tana santOSame swargamu

Tana dukhame narakamandru, taTyamu sumati

తన కోపమె = one’s anger

తన శత్రువు,= is one’s enemy

తన శాంతమె = one’s peace

తనకు రక్ష, = is one’s protection

దయ = Compassion

చుట్టంబౌ= will be a relative

తన సంతోషమె = one’s happiness

స్వర్గము,= is heaven

తన దుఃఖమె = one’s sorrow

నరకమండ్రు = is hell, they say

తథ్యము = this is a fact

సుమతీ = Oh! The one with good mind!

One's anger is one's enemy and one's peace is one's protection, compassion is dependable relation, and one's happiness is heaven and one's sorrow is hell is a fact.

To my understanding:
Yogi says, listen people you don't need hundreds of enemies outside; be prepared for death, your anger is enough, it will destroy you completely and  ensure you to reach hell; is a fact.
only one thing that can protect from this every changing world is Peace of mind (non turbulent), still mind, this state of mind only appears when we push out anger. 
than he explain it further do you think your Blood relatives will come and save you if you been on attack !, forget it..it is only one thing that can protect on this earth from the death is Compassion.
Make compassion as your friend, he will not deceive you like blood relatives do, swing their reactions according to our financial/ other status, compassion is evergreen friend.
And what your are seeking for heaven ( Hindus believe after death they go to swargamu or heaven) , here only the heaven and that is Happiness, and sorrow (Dukahamu) is the hell, nothing you wait for . Right here right now, live life like living in heaven , if once  we  are able to depart permanently to anger, the peace of mind will appear, which is non turbulent, still , soothing, energetic, powerful and in-whole it is Blissful, enjoy the life being compassionate, that could only be possible if you realized the God in this body, that person become ocean of mercy, filled with compassion (daya). Become blessed soul.
These wonderful poems are taught as part of curriculum in Telugu language, in schools. How beautiful it would be if teachers able to explain the kids at that age and  ask them to apply the formula in their lives, and children obey it and implement it right from that age, would certainly build a strong character. Students should not study just for the sake of passing exams..

कोटिश नमन