Contented Home

Griha oy phcit phcam

Kum oy phan phuy dhuli

Jamrah par pos ti

Oy hmat hman koet sukha.

Anjuli duk oy gan

Prak knun than duk oy ja

Proe khnum moel mukh va

Doh kac ja moel oy staen.

Let your house be spick and span

With no dust rising.

Clean, rake and sweep the ground

So that its neatness will cause content.

Put your needles away safely

And keep carefully the money in your purse.

When you give orders to your servants, look at their faces

To see whether they are good or ill-natured.

Stanzas 18 & 19 of Chbab Kerti Kal (Codes of Conduct: Hereafter)

Composed in Pad Brahmagiti (Brahma’s Song Metre) 17th Century or earlier

Transliteration by Judith M. Jacob