8-CRT-233-262
230 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"SARASARA SAMARAIKA" (Kuntalavaráli)
You improvised a blade of grass as an unfailing deadly
weapon; you have fought against a host, single handed;
You have destroyed the arrogance oí the Sea Lord; You
have proved a fire to the’ cotton-heap of Ravana’s reserve
forces; You are the axe for the destruction of the forests
of sins committed by people in previous births; You have
broken the colossal Siva’s bow which nobody could even
dream of doing. Bless and protect me.
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“VACHAMA GOCHARAME" (Kaikavasi)
O Mind! Rama's glory is beyond description: Rama
struck down the Rakshasa Máricha and consigned to fire
his compeer Subéhu: Understanding the desire in Sità's
mind, he sent an arrow at the tail of the chamari-deer; ??
save her honour and pride, (which consisted of the fine tail)
she covered (her tail) with her head (intending to offer her
life, rather than lose the tail); seeing this and flowing with
compassion, and to afford security of life (to the meek), did
not Rama, the remover of the distress of the meek, quickly
cancel the arrow aimed already ?
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"BROCHUVAREVARE" (Sriranjani)
Who is there that will protect people with love like you?
Oh Raghupati! Lord oí the whole Universe, the best among
men !
Who would have, out of campassion, made a gift of
Lanka to Vibhishana and blessed him to the delight of
Devas as you did ?
Who would have killed Vali with one arrow and made
Sugriva the king ?
Who would have accompanied Viswümitra to see his
Yaga and killed there the cruel Rakshasas, like Máricha?
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Who would have taken by the hand and protected
Tyágaràja who had been struggling, not knowing the
means by which to cross the ocean of Samsara ?
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“SRI RAMA RAGHURAMA” (Yadukulakambhdji)
Oh Mind! can you not meditate upon Sri Rama, the
beautiful? I do not know what meritorious work in the past,
Kausaly& should have done to kiss the shining cheeks,
(of Rama),
Dasaratha to call endearingly ‘Rama’,
Lakshmana to serve Rama unceasingly,
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Visv&mitra to feel elated on seeing Rama led by him,
Ahalyà to get her sins dissolved and recover her origi-
nal charming form,
Siva's bow to come into contact with the feet of the one,
who is the embodiment of Dharma,
Janaka to give his daughter in marriage to Rama and
feast his eyes with the sight of the couple,
Janaki to hold Rama by the hand, her body pining with
ecstacy,
and Narada to praise Rama as the adored of Lord Siva:
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"SRI RAMA DASA DASOHAM” (Dhanyási)
Oh Lotus-eyed Sri Rama!
servanis.
Why do you doubt ?
l am a servant of your
Your Name, they say, is the craft for crossing the
boundless sheet of water of samsara.
To end the troubles caused by the crocodiles of Kama
and the other five inward enemies, have you not the Chakra
in your hand (to use as in the case of Gajéndra)? To quell
and calm the waves of the unsteady mind, you have your
conquering leit hand (to be used as you did against the
waves of the sea on the eve of the Sétu Bandha).
To subdue the elephants of haughtiness and hatred, the
crease lines in the sole of your feet (called Ankusa Rekha)
will serve as the hook-spear.
To break the mountain of grief and other troubles, the
crease lines in your palm (called Vajra Rekha) will serve as
the thunderbolt (Vajra).
To put down the stubbornness of egoism and protect
me, have you not arrows in your hand ?
To hurl away the mountains of sins, there is the pure-
hearted Hanumàn by you.
To stop the whirlpool of birth and death, will not your
mighty commands serve as rushing flood ?
We of all communities have joined together and with
love have learnt the glory of your holy name.
Very terrible indeed is Samsára.
We will not seek other Gods but yuu.
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"KANAKANA RUCHIRA" (Varali)
Sweeter will be the devotee's pleasure, the more he,
with a loving mind, daily sees you and your charming face
radiating beauty and unbounded glory.
Did not such a Darsana redeem and render happy
Dhruva when he felt mortified at the sharp and cruel words
of his step-mother, Suruchi ?
Did not the description of the glory of your benign
form given by Hanuman transport Sri Sità into a blissful
trance ?
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This, my statement, will be amply testified to by
Anjaneya, who longingly and lovingly holds your blessed
lotus-feet in his hands, by Lord Siva, the enjoyer of the
superb sweetness of Raman&mam, also by Narada, Parásara,
Suka, Sounaka, Indra, Parvati and Sita.
Equally sweet is the pleasure of the Darsan of
sprightly Sità devouring the exquisite beauty of Sri Rama's
face with her yearning and modest looks.
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BHAGAVAD GUNA—GENERAL
The Lord’s Greatness and Mystic Power
"NITYARUPA EVARI" (Kari)
Oh Eternal Being! Whose capacity can be of any avail?
Has anybody the power to transgress your authority which
The Lord's Greatness and Mystic Power 241
has truth for its basis? Is not the Sun revolving regularly
round Mount Meru day and night? Isnot Adisésha unflin-
chingly carryying the immeasurable load of the Earth? Is
not Lord Siva initiating all people with your Táraka mantra ?
You are the sourse of all greatness.
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“MANASA MANA SÁMARTHYA" (Vardhani)
Oh mind! Of what avail is our ability ? Note, the Lord
has mounted the chariot of the Universe and is himselt
driving it with his own prowess. He has spread the net of
Maya throughout, making victims of people like even
Kaikeyi, who in the first instance very jubilantly received
the news of Rama's coronation fixed by Vasishta and others,
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and Sugriva, who, more than once, liveda false life in
this world:
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"BAGAYANAYYA" (Chandraiyóti)
Oh, this is wonderful! How great is your magic ? Is it
possible even for Brahim to praise it? This magic, yourself
doing and at the same time proclaiming that you are not
doing it, is wonderful. In the past when Arjuna trembled to
carry out your command to destroy the Kauravas, charact-
erising it as a sin, did you not similarly teach him that the
effect of sin could not touch you or him and did you not
thus protect him ?
"KARUBARU SEYUVARU" (Mukhári)
Sri Rama! Has there been anybody who has reigned
over Ayodhya like you, protecting the subjects, exercising
supreme authority and securing the happiness and pros-
perity of townsmen, countrymen and rishis alike ? During
your reign did not your subjects have the benefit of the
three monthly rains, training and education in all arts and
crafts, longevity and freedom from intrigue and haughti-
ness ?
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“NATHA BROVAVE”
(Bhairavi)
Oh Ragunatha! Protect me: Have the words of Valmiki
who has described you as one of sweet disposition, proved
false ? You were moved with compassion at the sight of the
fear-stricken sages and vouchsafed to them protection, and
you have evinced affectionate solicitude for true devotees.
I pray for your showing me the beautiful sight of your
triumphant re-entry into Ayodhya, after conquering count-
less enemies.
The Lord's Greatness and Mystio Power ~ 245
I pray for your showing me your endearing arm which
clasped Bharata to your bosom with a melting heart:
When the women of the place (Ayodhya) charmed with
your radiant face approached you, you treated them as your
own daughters, Oh matchless one! Don't forget me.
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“ELA DELIYALERÓ " (Darbaru)
Why do people not realise your greatness? What
Karma have they done in their previous births to be so?
You are adored by Lord Siva and you are the repository of
246 - TYÀGABAJA KIRTANAS
all good qualities: In your tender age you broke sportingly
without effort the colossal bow of Siva in the presence of all
kings and jubiliantly won the hand of Lakshmi. You dest-
royed with but one arrow the fourteen thousand bell-metal
chariots and Rávana's reserve-forces as if in a play and
sent them all to Yamapuri. You are the lion to the elephants
of kings who, through Rájasa püja, got boons from Siva.
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"LEKANÀ NINNU” (Asávéri)
Otherwise, will they always be hovering along you, with
one heart and deriving everlasting bliss? Oh bestower of
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prosperity, ocean of mercy, incomparable embodiment of
knowledge, the wish-yielding gem to the devotees !
In your beautiful form, Sità derived happiness: In your
commands, through the movements of your eyes, Lakshmana
derived pleasure. In your charming face, Bharata found joy:
In your personality beaming with knowledge, Satrughna
derived bliss. In your holy feet, Anjanéya found happiness;
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“ MAMAVA SATATAM" (faganmóhini)
Oh Raghunátha! The giver of prosperity to those
who seek you, who are full of excellences, unattainable
through mere scriptural lore without devotion, of lotus eyes,
the peaceful, the changeless, of appropriate words; firm like
Mount Meru, devoid of (evils like) passion, delusion and
elation, the Deep, the Wind that blows away the clouds of
the enemies of Tyagaraja! Pray, protect me always.
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248 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS
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“EVVARE RAMAYYA" (Gangéyabhishani)
Who is there equal to you, Oh Rama! in protecting
good people quietly and without fuss ? Without minding
that he is the brother of your inveterate enemy, you made
Vibhishana, the king of Lanka, in appreciation of his
devotion:
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"OKAMATA YOKABANAMU" (Harikàmbhóji)
Oh mind! Never forget Sri Ráma: He is a man of one
word, of one arrow (unfailing in its effect), of one wife alone
and of one mind: He will vouchsafe to you deathlessness in
this world and the supreme ageless state of salvation.
Verily, he is God òn Earth: ,
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“SARASA SAMA DANA" (Kapinarayani)
Oh Rama! You are an adept in statesmanship and irt”
wielding the four expedients, conciliation (Sama), w inning
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250 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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over with gifts (Dana), separating the enemies (Bheda) and
punishing by war (Danda) and there is none equal to you in
this even among Gods: This, Ravana, who claimed to be
the great devotee of Siva, could not know. You tendered
any amount of good and beneficient advice to Ravana
(thereby exhibiting Sama).
You sincerely offered Ayodhya to him (in the event of
his also taking refuge in you) Lanka having already been,
promised to Vibhishana and thus demonstrated Dana.
You made the brother of Ravana (Vibhishana) king of
Lanka (even while Ravana was reigning, exhibiting thus
Bhéda): You destroyed Ravana and exhibited Danda:
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RAGHUVIRA RANADHIRA" (Huséni)
Come Oh! Hero of the Raghus; valorous in battle! the
destroyer of Parasur&ma's pride, the prop of (all) gods!
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an Indra who destroys the mountains of Rávana, Kumbha-
karna and Indrajit! you who are of the form of the static
and the moving, you who abide in the heart of Tyagaraja !
“KATTU JESINAVU" (Atana)
You have cast the prohibitory spell of “ Rama Bandu”
over me, preventing me from straying into numerous
other faiths claiming allegiance to other Gods. Though
I know that the faith to be followed by me is not predeter-
mined by Brahmi, it appears to me, desireless Tyágarája,
that other faiths conduce more and more to desire and
infatuation.
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“RAMA SITARAMA" " (Sankarábharanam)
If you care to reckon my sins, I can never hope to be
saved. So, my father, protect me with your eyes closed:
In a helpless condition, I have sought your support. Pray,
do not put me off, but come at once gracefully to save me.
I have become a regular abode of sins. Come to my
succour and remove my distress, cheering me up by saying
“why should you be afraid (when I am with you)?" This is
the time for taking me by the hand. My mind does not go
after others to seek help and you do not seem to know my
troubles. Positively Iam forlorn. Whom shall I seek in this
world? Come intomy mind. Do not play an illusory game
with me: Ido not know why people cling to this body and
run after sense-pleasures, without discarding them.
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"NIDAYA RAVALEGAKA " (Todi)
Oh Rama! Your Grace must come of its own accord,
What am I, after all ?
The Vedas, Sástras and Puránás declare loudly that you
are the only refuge. l
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KALIGI YUNTE GADA” (Kiravani)
Oh! Fulfiller of desires! Your grace will come only
if I had earned it by past merit; in this Kali age, without
knowing your mind, I reproached you.
Do not tarry; if you had ordained a fair fate for me,
your grace will come; if I had practiced devotion to Rama's
feet as devoutly as the foremost devotees, Narada, Prahlada,
Parasara and Ràmadàsa, I would have earned it (your
grace).
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256 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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DAYALÉNI BRADUKEMI" (Nayaki)
Oh Rama! Without your grace, of what use is life,
whether it be for one hundred years or whether it is spent
in ruling a kingdom? If I have it, I will be blessed with
your loving presence at the time of my püja and japam,
enlightening on the real secret of life and vouchsafing
mental peace to me.
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,"TANAYUNI BROVA" (Bhairavi)
Does the mother go to the child to protect it, or does
the child go to the mother ? Please reveal this secret and
show me your face. Does the cow go after the calf? Do
the paddy fields go upto the clouds for water? Does the
paramour go after his beloved? Come and reveal this
secret.
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258 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"SARASIRUHA NAYANA” ‘(Bilahari)
Oh Lotus-eyed one! Oh the life of the virtuous!
Your grace is enough. It will give the recipient the
happiness and satisfaction which the fish derive trom
prolific progeny; which a man, never accustomed to make
gifts, feels on suddenly becoming generous; which I feel in
the company of the Holy; which one derives from a delicious
meal, from gold and wealth, which one experiences when
freed from greed and unworthy desires, from securing
a throne, from acquiring and enjoying the status of Brahma
and Indra, from exercising sovereignty over the fourteen
worlds and from his entire race being saved.
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" APARADHAMULANU” (Van&ávali)
Pray forgive me for this serious sin of not knowing your
mind and show mercy to me, who am fickle-minded. When
you are there to protect (unsolicitedly) all the beings of the
Universe, knowing fully their worth and deserts, I have
made a special approach to you with an offering of hundred
songs in order that you may particularly bless me:
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260 "TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"MIVALLA GUNADOSHA” (Kapi)
Merits and blemishes are not yours but are my own
making, Oh Rama! ,
Ifthe gold is not of the required standard of purity,
why wail and blame the goldsmith ?
If one's daughter is not able to stand tha labour-pains,
why wrongly blame the son-in-law for it ?
If one failed to do charity to deserving persons and
worship God in previous births, why should one blame the
gods for his 10 ? My trouble is due to my own mind and
to my own inclinations:
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NINNADA NELA " (Kannada)
Why should Tyágarája, who knows the right method of
adoring you, blame you and be angry with everybody ?
Events happen according to one's own Karma. The
Lord dispenses his Grace to people as suited to Dharma.
One's spiritual attainment will be in proportion to his mental
developments: The success of entertainments will be com-
mensurate with the money spent.
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