Two great ‘chāTu poems’

kalanāTi dhanamu lakkara
galanāTiki dācha kamalagarbhuni vaSamā?
nelanaDimi nāTi vennela
alavaDubē gāde bōya amavasa nisikin?
(A ‘chāTu poem’ said by Allasāni Peddana)

కం. కలనాటి ధనము లక్కర
     గల నాటికి దాచ కమలగర్భుని వశమా?
     నెల నడిమి నాటి వెన్నెల
     అలవడునే గాదె బోయ అమవస నిసికిన్?
           (అల్లసాని పెద్దనదిగా ప్రసిద్ధమైన చాటుపద్యం)

Would it be possible even to the Lotus-born Brahma to keep
The wealth of blessed day for the needs of later days upkeep?
Would the middle-of-month’s moon-light that shines bright
Be possible to hide in a granary for use on the darkest night?

This is one of the most popular ‘ChaTu’ poems in Telugu literature. The poem was said by Allasani Peddana who was considered the greatest of the eight great poets ‘ashTa diggajamulu’ (Eight great poets who are comparable to the eight celestial elephants which bear the wight of the earth staying on eight directions) who adorned the royal court of Srikrishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar dynasty. Tenali Ramakrishna, who was popular as a great witty poet ‘vikaTakavi’ was also one of them. He found fault in the word ‘amavasa nisi’ which was placed there denoting the word ‘amavasya’ (the darkest of the dark nights) in the last line of the poem. On hearing this poem recited by Allasani Peddana, it was said that Tenali Ramakrishna immediate recited the following poem highlighting the fault and ridiculing Allasani Peddana in his own inimitable style.

క. ఎమి తిని సెపితివి కపితము
    బ్రమపడి వెరి పుచ్చకాయ వడి దిని సెపితో
    ఉమెతః కయ తిని సెపితో
    అమవసనిసి అన్న మాట అలసని పెదనా!  

What did you eat and said the word ‘amavasanisi’
In this poem you alasani pedana! Had you hastily
Eaten a raw bitter cucumber and said the poem  
Or had you eaten the raw thorn-apple and said!

The main ridicule Tenali Ramakrishna made was regarding the word ‘amavasa nisi’ – since the word ‘amavaSya’ itself means the darkest night, there is no need for placing the word ‘nisi’ which means darkness again after the word ‘amavaSya’ which became redundant and considered not an intelligent way or flawless way of writing poetry. The ridicule also included in the words he purposely placed such as ‘alasani’ pedana (for the correct word ‘Allasani’ Peddana) etc.