Lyrics & Meanings of some of the songs in today’s concert (28/04/2024).
Lyrics given in Sanskrit (Devanagari) text for easy reference.
Vinayaka Ninnuvina Brochudaku (Raga: Hamsadwani; Composer: E. V. Ramakrishna Bhagavathar)
विनायका निन्नुविना ब्रोचुडकु वेरेवरुरा विग्नराज |
O Vinayaka! Vigna Raja! Who else, other than you (ninnuvinA vErevrurA) can protect me (brOchuDaku)?
अनाथ रक्षक नीवेगादा आदरिञ्चि ननु ब्रोवराद |
Aren’t you (nIvE gAda) the protector of the hapless (anAtha-rakshaka)? Won’t you be gracious and bless me? (aadarinchi nanu brova)
सरसीरुहारुण युग चरण | सततमु श्रितजन संकट हरण |
Your feet are red like the lotus; You always remove the miseries of your devotees.
परम कृपासागर वर सुगुण | पालितजन गोपालदास नूत |
You are an ocean of immense mercy (kripa-sAgara); You are the one with great qualities (suguNa); Praised by Gopaladasa and all devotees whom you always protect!
Guruleka eTuvanTi (Raga: Gaurimanohari; Composer: Thyagaraja)
गुरुलेक येटुवण्टि गुणिकि – तेलियक पोदु |
Guru Leka (without a Guru), eTuvanTi guniki (how talented or virtuous one might be)
telikayaka pOdu (one will not know)
करुकैन हृद्रोग गहनमुनु गोट्टनु सद् (गुरुलेक …)
sad-guruleka (without a pious guru) karukaina (thorny) gahanamunu (thicket) hrid roga (the thorny affliction of the heart) goTTanu (destroying that) is not possible.
तनुवु सुत धन दार दायादि बान्धवुलु जनियिञ्चि चेदरु जालिनि करुणतो |
Health, wealth, wife, children, relatives (tanuvu suta dana dAra dAyadi bAndhavaru) appear and disappear (janiyinchi cEdaru).
मनसुनण्टक सेयु मन्दनुचु तत्वबोधन जेसि कापाडु त्यागराजाप्तुडगु |
Only a guru can administer the medicine (mandanuchu) of ‘tatva bodhana’ (true knowledge) and protect one (kApAdu) from the anguish (of attachment). Such a guru is worshipped by Thyagaraja (thyAgarAjAptuDagu)
Devi Rame (Raga: Vasantha; Composer: Mysore Vasudevacharya)
देवि रमे मामवाब्धि तनये देवदेव वासुदेवजाये |
Devi ramE, daughter of the Ocean (abdhi tanayE), consort of Lord Vishnu (vAsudeva jAyE),
protect me (maam ava)!
पावन कनकाद्रि वरनिलये देवादिविनुत महिमातिशये |
Your abode is the Meru mountain (KanakAdri); Your great prowess (mahimA) is adored by all gods (dEvAdi vinuta)!
राकादीश सन्निभ वदने राजीवलोचने गजगमने | लोकानन्द विधायिनि लोकविदितकीर्ति शालिनि |
Your face (vadana) is magnificent like (sannibha) the moon (rAkAdeesa); your eyes (lOchanE) resemble the lotus (rAjeeva); your walk resembles the majestic gait (gamana) of an elepahnt (gaja); You are the source of happiness (aananda); Your glory (keerthi) is known to all.
अकारादि वर्ण स्वरूपिणि तव करुणापूर्ण भक्तानां | अनुपम सौभाग्यदायिनि अमन्दानन्द सन्दोहदायिनि |
You are the personification of every letter (akArAdi); You bestow immense happiness and properity (anupama saubhAgya) to your devotees (bhaktAnAm); You are the source of boundless bliss!
Manasa mana sAmarthyamemi (Raga: Vardhani; Composer: Thyagaraja)
Eka-Krithi raga. Tyagaraja has composed many such krithis, in about 40 or so ragas, wherein only one krithi exists in such raga (ie., only composition is his). There are similar Eka-krithi raga compositions from Deekshitar and other major composers as well.
मनसा मन सामर्त्थ्यमेमि ओ |
In this krithi, Thyagaraja points out that our abilities are so limited; it is Rama who hold the reins of this world, and his plans always endure.
manasA (Oh Mind!) mana (our) sAmarthyamemi (Oh Mind! of What consequence is our abilities?)
विनु साकेत राजु विश्वमने रथमुनेक्कि | तन सामर्त्थ्यमुचे ताने नडिपिञ्चिने |
Vinu (Listen!) sAkEta rAju (Rama) rathamunekki (mounting the chariot) that is the Universe (vishwamu anE) tAnE naDipinchinE (himself driving it!) on his own (tana) skill (sAmarthyamuchE).
अलनाडु वसिष्टादुलु पट्टमुगट्टे पलुकुल | विनि वेगमे भूषणमुलनोसगिन कैकनु |
पलुमारु जगम्बुलु कल्ललनिन रविजुनि माय | वलवेसि त्यागराज वरदुडु दा चनग लेदा |
Didn’t he cast his net of illusion wide (vala vEsi) to change the minds of people? Kaikeyi was so happy to hear about Rama Pattabhisheka plan being talked about by Vasishta and others, she immediately gifted her ornaments (to her maid servant); Sugriva was so dejected that he has lost all hope he was lamenting about the whole world being just an illusion. Yet, ultimately Rama’s plan prevailed in the end. Oh Mind! of What consequence is our abilities?
Ninne Nammitinayya (Raga: Simhendra Madhyamam; Composer: Mysore Vasudevacharya)
निन्ने नम्मितिनय्या श्री राम |
I have reposed my faith in you alone, O Sri Rama!
पन्नगेन्द्र शयन पन्नगारि वाहन पन्नगाचल भव्य सदन प्रपन्नार्ति हरण निपुण |
You recline on Adisesha (pannagendra); your vehicle is garuda (pannagAri = enemy of the snake); your gracious abode is seshachala (pannagAchala bhavya sadana); you are adept in obliterating the sufferings of your devotees (prapannAthi haraNa nipuNa).
परमकृपासगर परतत्त्वाधार वरमुलोसगि ब्रोववय्य परवासुदेव |
You are the ultimate ocean (sAgara) of mercy (kripa); you are the foundation (aadhAra) of Supreme Truth (para-tatva).
नीरजनेत्र नीरदनिभगात्र गिरिराजसुतावर शङकर करसन्नुतिपात्र सच्चरित्र |
Your eyes are beautiful as the lotus petals; your body (gAtra) resembles the rain-clouds (nIrada); You are adored by Sankara, the consort of parvati (giri-raja sutA). You are of impeccable reputation (sat-charitra).
Enta Muddo Enta Sogaso
Another Eka-Krithi raga of Thyagaraja, in Raga : Bindumalini.
In this composition, Thyagaraja asks, can anyone describe the beauty of Sri Rama?
एन्त मुद्दो एन्त सोगसो एवरिवल्ल वर्णिम्प तगुने |
How charming and how beautiful ! Who can ever fully describe it!
एन्तवारलैन गानि कान्त चिन्ताक्रान्तुलैनारु |
However great one may be, people are held captive by desires and lust.
अत्तमीद कनुलासकु दासुलै सत्त भागवत वेसुलैरि |
Such people (who are driven by desires) wear the garb of great devotees!
दुत्त पाल रुचि देलियु साम्यमे धुरीणुडौ श्री त्यागराज नुतुडौ |
Verify, the milk-pot does not know the teste of its contents! Oh lord who sustains (dhuriNudau – bearer of the burden) this Universe! Praised by Thyagaraja!
Aadamodi Galade Ramayya (Raga: Charukesi; Composer: Thyagaraja)
In this krithi, Thyagaraja prays to Rama to reply to him. Then he goes on to say that Rama has not directly talked to even Anjaneya when they first met. So, how can one expect him to reply to Thyagara’s pleadings!
आडमोडि गलदे रामय्य – माट(लाडमोडि गलदे ) |
O Ramayya, is it justified on your part to be so impertinent (stubbon) even to talk to me?
तोडुनीड नीवे यनुचु सद्भक्तियु गूडिन पादमु बट्टिन नातो माट(लाडमोडि गलदे…) |
My devotion to you has been steadfast; I am your constant companion like a shadow. I have held on to your feet with devotion. Is is right on your part not to talke to me?
चदुवुलन्नि देलिसि शङ्करांशुडै सदयुडाशुग सम्भवुडु म्रोक्क |
कदलु तम्मुनि बल्क जेसितिवि गाकनु त्यागराजाडिन माट(लाडमोडि गलदे…) |
When the erudite Anjaneya (himself a strand of Siva) greeted you and enquired about you, onlt your younger brother Lakshmana replied to him (and not yourself). That being the case, how can I expect you to directly respond to my pleadings and talk to me?
Venkat Ayalur 