A Translation of "mivalla guna" Song

Translation of "mivalla guna"

Is there any flaw (defect)

In your (personality) qualities? 

(Is there any defect, any imperfection

that can be ascribed to you, Sri Rama?)

Whatever defects (or deficiencies) there are -

They are all solely due to me, (O) Lotus petal eyed One!

If the gold does not reach 24 carat purity

(If the gold cannot be refined to maximum purity)

What’s the point in wailing and complaining

To the goldsmith?

If the mother can’t bear the labor pains

Of her daughter, why get angry at her 

Errant son-in-law?

Perhaps, in some earlier birth

I did not give (donate) to deserving person(s)

(Did not indulge in generous charitable acts)

Forgot to pray, then what’s the point in complaining 

To the gods now?

Luminous (shining)

You, whose feet are praised by Tyagaraja -

You have helped my love and mind

Remain steady and grow 

(You have helped my bhakti stay firm)

[I dedicate this translation to Dr. Balamuralikrishna. For many singers and music connoisseurs (particularly of Carnatic style), he was the guru in absentia. He taught us the emotional touch in vocal music, precision with diction, and how to convey the real meaning behind each word and phrase. That our birth places are separated by a mere distance of 36 miles, just half-an-hour's drive is something I would cherish forever. Foolishly I dream like the  (proximate) wild creeper on a Sandalwood tree, that perhaps I too can sing as sweetly as the great genius and child prodigy. I have seen many articles written on him including several pieces in the Telugu newspapers. Here I will add only two sentences: He was a versatile consummate artist reaching extraordinary heights in literature, music composition, and singing. Truly the legendary musician can only be compared with the Trinity in Carnatic music. He was a rare phenomenon, that occurs only once in several centuries. We will definitely remember him fondly through his works and new ragas. How lucky is our generation! We got to see and know (about) the great ones in Indian philosophy, Hindu (Sanatana) Dharma, Indian music, literature, and dance. Copyright 2024 by the author]  

Lyrics of "jnana mosaga rada"

జ్ఞాన మోసగ రాదా గరుడ గమన వాదా 

నీ నామమున నా మది నిర్మల మైనది 

పరమాత్ము౦డు జీవాత్ముండు పదు నాలుగు లోకములు 

నర కిన్నర కింపురుష  నారదాది మునులు 

పరిపూర్ణ నిష్కళంక నిరవధి సుఖ దాయక 

వర త్యాగరాజార్చిత వారము తాననే (జ్ఞానము)

రాగము: గమనశ్రమ

తాళము: రూపక  

j~naana mOsaga raadaa garuDa gamana vaadaa nee naamamuna naa madi nirmala mainadi paramaatmu~0Du jeevaatmuMDu padu naalugu lOkamulu nara kinnara kiMpurusha naaradaadi munulu paripoorNa nishkaLaMka niravadhi sukha daayaka vara tyaagaraajaarchita vaaramu taananae (j~naanamu) raagamu: gamanaSrama taaLamu: roopaka

[vadaa = the whirring sound. Luckily due to parents' blessings I got "the music rub" in the sinews. So, without listening to any singer I learned to sing this kirtana with perfect melody, myself. Here, the composer is asking for Sri Rama's grace (help). He says, "Why not bestow the supreme wisdom on us? Just by uttering (or hearing) your precious name my mind becomes clear, it gets uncluttered. Then Tyagayya enumerates a long list of "objects" including the sages like Narada, vina, and the fourteen worlds. (Narada and Tumbura are the great celestial singers.) Rama, you are the only one who can give us perfect, unblemished, and interminable happiness. Won't you give us the "wisdom" to recognize all the above entities as none other than Yourself (Rama)?"] Copyright 2022 by the author

 

Telugu Lyrics of "buddhi radu" Song

బుద్ధి రాదు బుద్ధి రాదు పెద్దల సుద్దులు (సుతులు)  వినక (2)

బుద్ధి రాదు బుద్ధి రాదు భూరి విద్యల నేర్చిన 

ధాన్య ధనముల చేత - ధర్మమెంతయు జేసిన య

నన్య చిత్త భక్తుల వా - గమృత పానము సేయక 

మానక భాగవతాది రా - మాయణములు చదివిన

మానుషావతార చరిత - మర్మజ్ఞుల జత( గూడక 

యోగములభ్యసించిన భోగములెంతో కల్గిన

త్యాగరాజ నుతుడౌ రామ దాసుల చెలిమి సేయక 

buddhi raadu buddhi raadu peddala suddulu (sutulu)  vinaka (2)

buddhi raadu buddhi raadu bhoori vidyala naerchina 

dhaanya dhanamula chaeta - dharmameMtayu jaesina ya

nanya chitta bhaktula vaa - gamRta paanamu saeyaka 

maanaka bhaagavataadi raa - maayaNamulu chadivina

maanushaavataara charita - marmaj~nula jata( gooDaka 

yOgamulabhyasiMchina bhOgamuleMtO kalgina

tyaagaraaja nutuDau raama daasula chelimi saeyaka 

The song can be heard at Jio site: Dr. Balamuralikrishna's voice

(I first heard this song in a cassette, I think. It was a slow pace rendering by Dr. Balamuralikrishna. Real slow pace, you can distinctly hear each phrase and its in-depth profound meaning. We'll look into its meaning and implications for any devotee, any sadhaka in the arduous path.) Copyright 2021 by the author 

Lyrics of "abhimana mennadu" Song

రాగము వివర్ధని 

తాళము ఆది

అభిమాన మెన్నడు గల్గురా 

అనాధుడైన నాదుపై 

అపరాధములన్ని మన్నించుమయ్యా 

అభిరామ పట్టాభిరామ నాయందు 

కన్న తల్లియు ఘన తండ్రియు 

అన్నియును నీవే యని నమ్మలేదా 

నిను విన గతి నాకెవ్వరు లేరే 

నను బ్రోవ త్యాగరాజ వినుత  

raagamu vivardhani taaLamu aadi abhimaana mennaDu galguraa anaadhuDaina naadupai aparaadhamulanni manniMchumayyaa abhiraama paTTaabhiraama naayaMdu

kanna talliyu ghana taMDriyu anniyunu neevae yani nammalaedaa ninu vina gati naakevvaru laerae nanu brOva tyaagaraaja vinuta

[When will Your affection (grace) fall on me? When will it befall on an orphan like me? Please forgive all my infractions (misdeeds, improper conduct), excuse my sins. O handsome Emperor (Crown King), when will Your compassionate love touch me? You are my birth mother and You are my great father. Did I not believe that You are everything for me? I do not have anybody else except You (Sri Rama). I have no other way. No body else cares for me. Please rescue me, Rama (the Lord who is praised by Tyagaraja). The birth parents may not be there for us at every moment and in every place. So, even if one is the offspring of very noble and loving parents, one cannot count on the help of parents at critical junctures. The other scenario is like Prahlada’s situation. His father was very hurtful and wicked to the little kid. The father (Hiranyakasipu) tried everything to change and even annihilate the devout Prahlada. This tells us Narayana (Sri Rama) is the only protector for the bhaktas. I must have heard this song in a cassette by

Maharajapuram Santanam. On the Internet there is a YouTube recording by Yesudas. This is a short lyric with profound meaning.

Abhiraama = captivating, pleasing, agreeable, a rare beauty with physical and mental attributes; vina (vinaa) = without, absent; gati = a way out, means, some solution] Copyright 2021 by the author

Lyrics of "Sitamma mayamma" - A Tyagaraju Composition

రాగం: లలిత  తాళము: రూపక 

సీతమ్మ మాయమ్మ శ్రీరాముడు మాదు తండ్రి

వాతాత్మజ సౌమిత్రి వైనతేయ రిపుమర్దన

తాత (తాతా)  భరతాదులు సోదరులు మాకు ఓ మనసా

పరమేశ వశిష్ట పరాశర నారద శౌనక  శుక 

సురపతి గౌతమ లంబోదర గుహ సనకాదులు 

ధరణిజ భాగవతాగ్రి సరులెవరో (భాగవతాగ్రేసరులెవరో)  వారెల్లరు (ను)  

వర త్యాగరాజునికి పరమ బాంధవులు మనసా 

siitamma maayamma SriiraamuDu maadu tanDri

vaataatmaja saumitri vainatEya ripumardana

taata bharataadulu sOdarulu maaku O manasaa

paramESa vaSishTa paraaSara naarada saunaka Suka 

surapati gautama laMbOdara guha sanakaadulu 

dharaNija bhaagavataagri sarulevarO (bhaagavataagraesarulevarO)  vaarellaru (nu)  

vara tyaagaraajuniki parama baaMdhavulu manasaa 

(My preference is for Dr. Balamuralikrishna's rendition with clear diction and emphasis on the appropriate phrases. The writer is a bit perturbed by the prevailing events both local and international. I do not know the exact moment when Sri Tyagayya composed this exquisite song. But it rests solely on the theme: Dear Sita is our mother and Sri Rama is the father figure for us. That is our firm foundation, our strong pillars for bhakti. Everything follows from that essential fact. Just one or two points of clarification for now. 

రిపు మర్దన = శతృఘ్న ; తాత = (Sanskrit) ప్రియమైన, Dear. 

"Hanuma, Lakshmana, Garuda, Satrughna,

And dear ones like Bharata and others -

They all are our brothers, O mind") (to be contd.)

Copyright 2021 by the author

 

Lyrics of "Yochana kamala Lochana" Kirtana

యోచనా కమల లోచనా

సూచనా తెలియక నొరుల (యొరుల)  యాచనా

చేయుననుచు నీకు 

తోచనా తుది విది కాయ తవి లోచన

నన్ను బ్రోవ నీకు 

ఖేచర నిజ భక్త విజయ ( నిచయ) పాప విమోచన గల 

బిరుదులెల్ల కల్గిన 

హేచన కృత విభీషణ వరాభిశేషణ

త్యాగరాజ పూజిత  

yOchanaa kamala lOchanaa

suuchanaa teliyaka norula yaachanaa

chEyunanuchu naaku 

tOchanaa tudi vidi kaaya tavi lOchana

nannu brOva niiku 

khEchara nija bhakta vijaya paapa vimOchana gala

birudulella kalgina 

hEchana kRta vibhIshaNa varaabhiSEshaNa
tyaagaraaja pUjita 

(This is one of my favorite devotional songs. If our great grandfather Annamayya explored the beauties of Tirumala, Tyagayya tried to put words into life's burdens. Out of the depths of pain, suffering, and desperation he shows us how to redeem ourselves with Lord Rama's name on our tongues. With or without the prevailing destruction of Corona, the world is still full of inconveniences. I had to solely rely on Dr. Balamurali's rendition for the exact words. I will try to find if possible other original Telugu textual sources to authenticate each word. Still, we can feel the full meaning of this composition. In a subsequent post we will look into each word, for its meaning and profundity. This song always lifts my mood though it starts out with a sad situation. Copyright 2020) 

  

Lyrics of "tulasi daLamula" Song - A Tyagaraja composition

మాయా మాళవ గౌళ రాగము   దేశాది తాళం 

తులసీ దళములచే సంతోషముగా (పూ) బూజింతు 

పలుమారు చిరకాలము పరమాత్ముని పాదములను 

సరసీరుహ పున్నాగ చంపక పాటల కురువక 

కరవీర మల్లికా సుగంధ రాజ సుమముల్ 

ధరనివి యొక పర్యాయము ధర్మాత్ముని 

సాకేత పురవాసుని శ్రీ రాముని వర త్యాగరాజ నుతుని  

maayaa maaLava gauLa raagamu   daeSaadi taaLaM 

tulasee daLamulachae saMtOshamugaa (poo) boojiMtu 

palumaaru chirakaalamu paramaatmuni paadamulanu 

saraseeruha punnaaga chaMpaka paaTala kuravaka 

karaveera mallikaa sugaMdha raaja sumamul^ 

dharanivi yoka paryaayamu dharmaatmuni 

saakaeta puravaasuni Sree raamuni vara tyaagaraaja nutuni  

(The English transliteration is generated by Lekhini)

(I heard this exquisite Tyagaraja composition from a CD. As always Dr. Balamuralikrishna had rendered it flawlessly with perfect diction. I do not want to wax over past or get nostalgic about my school days. But one incident or daily routine stands out with unique picturesque colorful memory. In the coastal village I used to pick flowers in the morning for my mother's puja. Our modest garden then was not bountiful to yield jasmines, hibiscuses, or gardenias. I would go across the street or run down to neighbors for collecting a handful of fresh flowers; always I requested the friendly neighbors. Later when we moved to a bigger town, my father worked for a landlord with vibrant gardens. It had everything from Rangoon creeper, jasmine, tuberose, rose, to crossandra. There father used to collect a basketful of aromatic flowers for his daily puja. Occasionally I would substitute father in the act of flower gathering. Perhaps, it is one of the few simple selfless acts I ever did. I did not ask for anything - I simply obeyed my parents and fulfilled my duty sincerely. But I derived indescribable joy in that daily routine. This song takes me back to those days. I know instinctively (just as Tyagaraja expounds here) how difficult it is to perform such a floral sweet smelling puja even once in a life time!) Copyright 2020

Lyrics of "Vandanamu Raghu Nandana" Kirtana

శహన రాగము  ఆది తాళము 

వందనము రఘునందన - సేతు
బంధన భక్త చందన రామ 

శ్రీదమా నాతో వాదమా - నే 

భేదమా ఇది మోదమా రామ 

శ్రీరమా హృచ్చార మము బ్రోవ
భారమా  రాయబారమా  రామ 

వింటిని నమ్ము కొంటిని శర

ణంటిని రమ్మంటిని రామ 

ఓడను భక్తి వీడను నొరుల

వేడను జూడను రామ

కమ్మని విడె మిమ్మని వరము

కొమ్మని పలుక రమ్మని రామ

న్యాయమా నీ కాయమా ఇంక 

హేయమా ముని గేయమా రామ 

చూడుమీ గాపాడుమీ మమ్ము 

పోడిమిగా (గూడుమీ రామ 

క్షేమము దివ్య ధామము నిత్య
నీమము రామనామము రామ

వేగరా కరుణాసాగర శ్రీ
త్యాగరాజు హృదయాకర రామ 

vaMdanamu raghu naMdana - saetu
baMdhana bhakta chaMdana raama

Sreedamaa naatO vaadamaa - nae 
bhaedamaa idi mOdamaa raama
Sreeramaa hRchchaara mamu brOva
bhaaramaa raayabaaramaa raama 
viMTini nammu koMTini Sara
NaMTini rammaMTini raama
ODanu bhakti veeDanu norula
vaeDanu jooDanu raama
kammani viDe mimmani varamu
kommani paluka rammani raama
nyaayamaa nee kaayamaa iMka 
haeyamaa muni gaeyamaa raamaa
chooDumee gaapaaDumee mammu 
pODimigaa (gooDumee raama 
kshaemamu divya dhaamamu nitya
neemamu raamanaamamu raama
vaegaraa karuNaasaagara Sree
tyaagaraaju hRdayaakara raama 

[This is a nice song for beginners. There three aspirated consonants here: "gha", "bha", and "dha". ఘ, భ, ధ. First learn to puff air, put out a candle, or fill a balloon. Then try to combine the soft 'ga' with expelling of air. To master these hard emphatic consonants, deliberately utter words like ఘటము, ఘటోత్కచుడు, సుభద్ర, ధారణ, ధాత్రి ten, twenty, or thirty times. Practice it several days. This is the advice (I am paraphrasing from memory) from Dr. Balamuralikrishna: "We cannot distort the words. Musicality and fluency with words (lyrics, సాహిత్యము) should coexist." This song has in-built rhythm and melody. When you understand each word and sing with pure emotion (of bhakti), it automatically comes out great.]   

Telugu Lyrics of "Banturiti" song with Transliteration

బంటు రీతి కొలువీయవయ్య రామా

తుంటివింటి వాని  మొదలైన 

మదాదుల (బట్టి నేల (జేయ నిజ

రోమాంచమనే ఘన కంచుకము

రామభక్తుడని (భక్తుండనే)  ముద్ర బిళ్ళయు

రామనామమనే వర ఖడ్గము - వి 

విరాజీల్లు (విరాజిల్లు) నయ్య   త్యాగరాజనితో (త్యాగరాజునికి)

హంసనాద రాగము   దేశాది తాళము  

baMTu reeti koluveeyavayya raamaa

tuMTiviMTi vaani  modalaina 

madaadula (baTTi naela (jaeya nija

rOmaaMchamanae ghana kaMchukamu

raamabhaktuDani (bhaktuMDanae)  mudra biLLayu

raamanaamamanae vara khaDgamu - vi 

viraajeellu (viraajillu) nayya   tyaagaraajanitO (tyaagaraajuniki)

haMsanaada raagamu   daeSaadi taaLamu  

Comments on "Banturiti koluvu" Song

బంటు రీతి = like a servant, like a soldier, like a bhakta, like a loyal desciple; koluvu = patronage, a command, job, direction, a position in the (royal) court; eeyavayya = give me, sir. 

తుంటి వింటి వాని = Manmatha’s, the one with sugarcane bow, (god of sringara rasa); modalu = starting with; madadula baTTi = desire and the five other defects, pick them up; nEla jEya = throw them on to the ground, uproot them totally; nija = your, true;

rOmanchamu + anE = a state of thrill in which the whole body’s hair stand erect on the skin, an exalted state with goosebumps!; ghana = strong; kanchukamu = jacket, upper body garment, (bronze shield?), a metal protective body cover, armor; mudra biLLayu = (also) a badge or metal plate with a stamp or seal (similar to the medallions worn by Indian Railway coolies or military brass). Here in this context the metal plate is adorned with Sri Rama’s picture or letters. Vara khaDgamu = a sharp sword, an excellent sword; virajillu = shinging well;(n)ayya = sir, lord; 

This word to word translation should be sufficient to aid us in understanding the well-known devotional song. Our invisible enemies are the six strong emotional pulls: desire, anger, greed, infatuation, ego (pride), and jealousy (కామ, క్రోధ, లోభ, మోహ, మద, మాత్సర్య). Annamayya or Tyagaraja or any other devotee - they all repeatedly insisted that our real foes are the six defects of human character. Sure there are other major devastating conditions in life like sickness (Carona scare!!), misfortune, ignorance (even illiteracy), or poverty. We do not want to belittle hard times or life’s adversities. But over and above those “difficult circumstances” (sometimes we’ve no control over them, good or bad we’re just born into them. Call it luck or bad luck.) we have to contend with these hidden dangerous enemies ready to pounce on us at any moment. Now how to fight such a merciless army of invaders or highway bandits? Here, our compassionate saint Tyagayya comes to our rescue; he offers simple techniques.

Where else did I come across this word, “రోమాంచము” (pure ecstasy)? (See Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s and Sri Trilingaswamy’s works) This is a state where the hairs on our bodies stand erect. It happens in three situations: 1) We observe this phenomenon during the dry fall and winter months. It occurs due to static electricity. 2) It can happen during a sudden frightful situation. 3) For the saints and bhaktas, it happens spontaneously while singing “a kirtana” rapturously. Put on the shield of “Rama-bhakta”, then we can go for war with the six crooks. Just utter the name of Sri Rama with all your heart, mind, and body - that is enough to vanquish these pesty trouble makers. There may be more arduous paths like the ‘jnana yoga’, but they are not any easier either. And some paths may not suit the ordinary householder mired in the day-to-day mundane affairs.  Finally, who would not like to be in the court of Sri Rama, who is an embodiment of perfect human qualities? Rama - the sheer utterance of His holy name brings protection to all stuck in life’s predicament. Umpteen thanks to Ms. Mutya Syamasundari who painstakingly compiled the devotional songs for the benefit of Telugu community. And of course the publishers (Gollapudi of Rajahmundry) deserve much gratitude for bringing out the devotional (Carnatic music) song books at a nominal price accessible to many. What can you say? Once I noticed a Tyagaraja songs compilation book in Pittsburgh temple exhorbitantly priced at $ 100!   

Telugu Lyrics of "Brova bharama" Kirtana

బ్రోవ భారమా రఘు రామా 

భువనమెల్ల నీవై యుండ నన్నొకని 

శ్రీవాసుదేవ అండకోట్లు 

కుక్షిని యుంచుకొనలేదా 

కలశాంబుధి లో దయతో నమరులకు 

గోపికలకై కొండలెత్తలేదా కరుణాసాగర త్యాగరాజుని 

brOva bhaaramaa raghu raamaa bhuvanamella neevai yuMDa nannokani Sreevaasudaeva aMDakOTlu kukshini yuMchukonalaedaa kalaSaaMbudhi lO dayatO namarulaku gOpikalakai koMDalettalaedaa karuNaasaagara tyaagaraajuni

(Only two contemporary renditions captured my attention. One by the great original vocalist, Dr. Balamuralikrishna and the other by Bombay Jayasri. When we closely listen to the former musical stalwart, we can feel the spontaneity, the emotion, and his total authenticity. He can feel the meaning of each word, each syllable, and the agony of Tyagaraja. Music automatically follows when you know the language, the underlying depth of meaning, and when you dissolve totally into the vast emotional currents of “true feeling or bhakti”. You cannot fake it; when you force your musical technicality it sounds insincere. And the listener can sense it and detect it immediately. (This is similar to when you do excessive “padding” in a Ph.D. thesis with extraneous matter!) Ms. Syama Sundari's Telugu compilation has helped me a lot.

In the second stanza, there is a reference to the milky ocean where Lord Vishnu reclines on the Adi-Sesha and lost in the meditation of yoga maya (యోగ నిద్ర). It (the phrase కలశ) reminds me a scene from a movie on Sri Adi Sankara (by G. V. Iyer). There Sankara-acharya controlled the flood waters of Narmada river by gently putting back the spilled river into his water-pot (కమండలువు). Here in this song Tyagaraja reminds Lord Rama His earlier feat(s) of supporting Mandara mountain during the churning of milky ocean. Not only that for the innocent gopis, He later lifted the Govardhana hill to protect the cows, cowherds, and gopis from the flurry of hails and rainstorms - hurled by Indra. For a Lord who effortlessly carries all the fourteen worlds in His tummy, is it difficult to carry or protect one individual? (Thus wails and complains helplessly Sri Tyagayya. We, mired in similar desperate situations, concur with the composer. We too feel the heart wrenching pain inwardly. What can we say? That is the power of great art, it can cross vast boundaries of time, space, and people. Copyright 2019 by the author)