Mahagiri [Kannada] - Vidya Online

An Elephant Story retold by Hemlata
Illustrated by Pulak Biswas
ªÀĺÁVj
PÀxÉ: ºÉêÀÄ®vÁ
avÀæUÀ¼ÀÄ: ¥ÀÅ®Pï ©¸Áé¸ï
C£ÀĪÁzÀ: PÉ f gÁd®Që÷ä

Mahagiri was a huge elephant He was so big than children were
afraid to go near him.
ªÀĺÁVj MAzÀÄ zÉÆqÀØ D£É. CzÀÄ JµÀÄÖ zÉÆqÀØzÁVvÉÛAzÀgÉ ªÀÄPÀ̼ÀÄ
CzÀgÀ §½ ºÉÆÃUÀ®Æ ºÉzÀgÀÄwÛzÀÝgÀÄ.

Mahagiri belonged to a merchant. The merchant made a lot of money
by sending Mahagiri out to work.
ªÀĺÁVj M§â ªÁå¥ÁjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀÄÝzÁVvÀÄÛ. D ªÁå¥Áj CzÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆgÀUÉ
PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹ §ºÀ¼ÀµÀÄÖ ºÀt ¸ÀA¥Á¢¹PÉÆArzÀÝ£ÀÄ.

He often sent Mahagiri to the forest to carry heavy logs of wood from
one place to another.
CªÀ£ÀÄ PÉ®ªÉǪÉÄä ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ªÀÄgÀzÀ ¨sÁjà ¢«ÄäUÀ¼À£ÀÄß MAzÉqɬÄAzÀ
E£ÉÆßAzÉqÉUÉ ¸ÁV¸À®Ä PÀ½¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝ£ÀÄ.

When there was a wedding he sent Mahagiri to carry the
bridegroom to the bride’s house.
ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀÄ ¸ÀAzÀ¨sÀðUÀ¼À°è ªÀgÀ£À£ÀÄß ªÀzsÀÄ«£À ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ PÀgÉvÀgÀ®Ä
PÀ½¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝ£ÀÄ.

When there was a big festival at the temple,
he sent Mahagiri to lead the procession.
zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ°è AiÀiÁªÀÅzÁzÀgÀÆ zÉÆqÀØ
GvÀìªÀ«zÀÝgÉ ªÉÄgÀªÀtÂUÉAiÀÄ ªÀÄÄAZÀÆtÂAiÀÄ°è
¸ÁUÀ®Ä ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀ½¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝ£ÀÄ.

Once the people of a village wanted to hold a festival at their temple. The festival could not begin till
the temple flag was put up. The temple had a flag, but there was no flag-post.
MªÉÄä ºÀ½îAiÀÄ d£ÀgɯÁè zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ°è MAzÀÄ GvÀìªÀªÀ£ÀÄß ªÀiÁqÀ¨ÉÃPÉAzÀÄPÉÆAqÀgÀÄ. ªÀÄA¢gÀzÀ zsÀéd
ºÁPÀzÉà GvÀìªÀªÀÅ DgÀA¨sÀªÁUÀĪÀAwgÀ°®è. D zÉÃUÀÄ®zÀ°è zsÀéd«¢ÝvÉà ºÉÆgÀvÀÄ zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀ«gÀ°®è.

So the villagers went to the nearby forest and
cut down a tall teak tree.
»ÃUÁV D ºÀ½îAiÀĪÀgɯÁè ¸À«ÄÃ¥ÀzÀ PÁrUÉ
ºÉÆÃV JvÀÛgÀzÀ vÉÃUÀzÀ ªÀÄgÀªÉÇAzÀ£ÀÄß PÀrzÀgÀÄ.

They made the tree trunk into a fine flag-post.
D ªÀÄgÀzÀ PÁAqÀªÀ£ÀÄß zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÁßV ªÀiÁrzÀgÀÄ.

The flag-post was very long and heavy. The villagers could not carry it.
So they brought Mahagiri and made him carry it to the temple.
D zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀÅ vÀÄA¨Á GzÀݪÁVAiÀÄÆ ¨sÁgÀªÁVAiÀÄÆ EvÀÄÛ. CzÀ£ÀÄß MAiÀÄå®Ä D ºÀ½îAiÀÄ d£ÀjAzÀ
¸ÁzsÀåªÁUÀĪÀAwgÀ°®è. CzÀjAzÀ CªÀgÀÄ ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀgÉvÀAzÀÄ D zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀPÉÌ
PÉÆAqÉÆAiÀÄÄåªÀ PÉ®¸ÀªÀ£ÀÄß ªÀĺÁVjUÉ ªÀ»¹zÀgÀÄ.

The villagers dug a hole in front of the
temple. They wanted Mahagiri to put the
flag-post in the hole.
D ºÀ½îAiÀÄ d£ÀgÀÄ ªÀÄA¢gÀzÀ JzÀÄj£À°è
MAzÀÄ UÀÄArAiÀÄ£ÀÄß vÉÆÃrzÀÝgÀÄ.
ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄÄ CzÀgÀ°è zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß
EqÀ¨ÉÃQ¢ÝvÀÄ.

Mahagiri carried the flag-post to
the hole. Then suddenly he
stopped and turned back.
ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄÄ D zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß D
UÀÄArAiÀĪÀgÉUÀÆ vÀA¢vÀÄ. DzÀgÉ C°è
vÀlÖ£É ¤AvÀÄ©nÖvÀÄ. ºÁUÉà »AzÀPÉÌ
wgÀÄV©nÖvÀÄ.

The mahout ordered Mahagiri to put
the flag-post in the hole.
But Mahagiri would not move.
The mahout told him again and
again, but Mahagiri refused.
ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£ÀÄ ªÀĺÁVjUÉ zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß
ºÀ¼ÀîzÀ°è £ÉqÀĪÀAvÉ C¥ÀàuÉ ªÀiÁrzÀ£ÀÄ.
DzÀgÉ ªÀĺÁVj MA¢µÀÆÖ PÀzÀ®°®è.
ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£ÀÄ ªÀÄvÉÛ ªÀÄvÉÛ ºÉýzÀgÀÆ
ªÀĺÁVj ¤gÁPÀj¹vÀÄ.

The mahout beat Mahagiri with his hard
stick. But Mahagiri just stood still. The
mahout beat Mahagiri till his stick broke.
ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£ÀÄ vÀ£Àß PÉÊ°zÀÝ UÀnÖAiÀiÁzÀ
PÉÆð¤AzÀ ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß
ºÉÆqÉAiÀÄvÉÆqÀVzÀ£ÀÄ.
ªÀĺÁVj CZÀ®ªÁV ¤AwvÀÄÛ.
vÀ£Àß PÉÆÃ®Ä ªÀÄÄjAiÀÄĪÀªÀgÉUÀÆ ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£ÀÄ
ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÉÆqÉzÀ£ÀÄ.

The people were angry. They shouted at the mahout and
said he was not a good mahout.
d£ÀgɯÁè PÉÆÃ¥ÀUÉÆAqÀgÀÄ. ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£À£ÀÄß CªÀ£ÉƧâ M¼ÉîAiÀÄ
ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£Éà C®èªÉAzÀÄ dgÉAiÀÄÄvÁÛ QjaPÉÆAqÀgÀÄ.

The mahout was angry. He took out his sharp
knife and stabbed
Mahagiri many times on the neck saying,
“Now you will do as I tell you.”
Mahagiri could not bear the pain any more.
He was angry. He threw away the flag-post.
ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ¤UÉ ¹lÄÖ §A¢vÀÄ. vÀ£Àß°èzÀÝ ºÀjvÀªÁzÀ
ZÁPÀĪÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆgÀvÉUÉzÀÄ “FUÀ ¤Ã£ÀÄ £Á£ÀÄ
ºÉýzÀAvÉ PÉüÀĪɔ J£ÀÄßvÁÛ ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ªÀÄvÉÛ
ªÀÄvÉÛ EjAiÀÄvÉÆqÀVzÀ£ÀÄ.
ªÀĺÁVjUÉ £ÉÆêÀ£ÀÄß E£ÀÄß ¸À»¸À¯ÁUÀ°®è.
CzÀPÀÆÌ PÉÆÃ¥À §A¢vÀÄ. zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß zÀÆgÀ
J¸ÉzÀÄ©nÖvÀÄ.

Mahagiri cried loudly and shook himself violently. The mahout was thrown off. The people were
frightened. They thought the elephant had gone mad. They all ran away.
ªÀĺÁVj vÀ£ÀߣÀÄß vÁ£ÀÄ eÉÆÃgÁV PÉÆqÀ«PÉƼÀÄîvÁÛ UÀnÖAiÀiÁV XýnÖvÀÄ. ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ CµÀÄÖ zÀÆgÀ ºÁj
©zÀÝ£ÀÄ. d£ÀgɯÁè ©üÃwUÉÆAqÀgÀÄ. D£ÉUÉ ºÀÄZÀÄÑ »r¢zÉ JAzÀÄPÉÆAqÀgÀÄ. CªÀgɯÁè NqÀvÉÆqÀVzÀgÀÄ.

Mahagiri was alone. He went to the hole and
knelt down. Then he put his long trunk into
the hole.
ªÀĺÁVj MAzÉà ¤AwvÀÄÛ. zsÀédPÉÌAzÀÄ ªÀiÁrzÀÝ
UÀÄArAiÀÄ §½ ºÉÆÃV ªÀÄArAiÀÄÆj PÀĽwvÀÄ.
vÀ£Àß GzÀÝ£ÉAiÀÄ ¸ÉÆAr®£ÀÄß CzÀgÉƼÀUÉ ºÁQvÀÄ.

He picked up something and gently
placed it on the ground. It was a cat!
The cat had been hiding in the hole.
CzÀgÉƼÀV¤AzÀ K£À£ÉÆßà eÁUÀgÀÆPÀvɬÄAzÀ
ºÉÆgÀvÉUÉzÀÄ ªÉÄvÀÛUÉ £É®zÀ ªÉÄðnÖvÀÄ.
CzÉÆAzÀÄ ¨ÉPÀÄÌ !
¨ÉPÀÄÌ D ºÀ¼ÀîzÉƼÀUÉ CqÀV PÀĽwvÀÄÛ.

The people were watching Mahagiri from a distance. They knew now why he had disobeyed the
mahout’s orders. The huge elephant did not want to hurt the little cat. They ran to him in great joy.
d£ÀgÀÄ ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß zÀÆgÀ¢AzÀ UÀªÀĤ¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝgÀÄ. CzÀÄ ªÀiÁªÀÅvÀ£À C¥ÀàuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß KPÉ ¢üPÀÌj¹vÉA§ÄzÀÄ
CªÀjUÉ FUÀ w½¬ÄvÀÄ. D §ÈºÀvï UÁvÀæzÀ D£É ¥ÀÅmÁt ¨ÉPÀÌ£ÀÄß £ÉÆìĸÀ®Æ ¹zÀÞªÁUÀ°®è. CªÀgɯÁè
¸ÀAvÉÆõÀ ¸ÀA¨sÀæªÀÄUÀ½AzÀ CzÀgÉqÉUÉ zsÁ«¹ §AzÀgÀÄ.

Mahagiri then lifted the flag-post, lowered it into the hole, and held it up with his trunk so that the
people could fill up the hole with earth.
ªÀĺÁVj zsÀéd¸ÀÛA¨sÀªÀ£ÀÄß JwÛPÉÆAqÀÄ UÀÄArAiÉƼÀUÉ Ej¹ d£ÀgÀÄ CzÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄtÂÚ¤AzÀ vÀÄA© £ÉÃgÀªÁV
¤°è¸À®Ä C£ÀĪÁUÀĪÀAvÉ vÀ£Àß ¸ÉÆAr°¤AzÀ »rzÀÄPÉÆArvÀÄ.

The people patted Mahagiri
with love and affection. They
brought him sweets and fruit.
They felt very sorry that
Mahagiri had been hurt.
d£ÀgÀÄ ªÀĪÀÄvÉ C©üªÀiÁ£ÀUÀ½AzÀ
ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ ¨É£ÀÄß vÀnÖzÀgÀÄ.
CzÀPÉÌ ¹»w¤¸ÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÆß
ºÀtÄÚUÀ¼À£ÀÆß vÀAzÀÄ w£Àß®Ä
PÉÆlÖgÀÄ. CzÀPÉÌ DzÀ £ÉÆëUÉ
CªÀgɯÁè £ÉÆAzÀgÀÄ.

From that day Mahagiri became the pet of the people. Children loved him. And they were very
happy whenever the merchant allowed them to have a free ride on Mahagiri.
CA¢¤AzÀ ªÀĺÁVj d£ÀgÀ PÀtätÂAiÉÄà D¬ÄvÀÄ. ªÀÄPÀ̽UÉ ªÀĺÁVjAiÉÄAzÀgÉ §ºÀ¼À CPÀÌgÉ. ªÁå¥ÁjAiÀÄÄ
CªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÀĺÁVjAiÀÄ ªÉÄÃ¯É ¸ÀªÁj ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä C£ÀĪÀÄw¹zÁUÀ¯É¯Áè CªÀgÀ ¸ÀA¨sÀæªÀĪÉà ¸ÀA¨sÀæªÀÄ !
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