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ENTARÁNI TANAKENTA" (Harikámbhóji)
Whatever may come to me, whatever may go away
from me, I will never allow myself to be separated from you:
Did not Siva stay always by you in the form of Hanuman and
serve you? Did not Adisesha, Paramasiva's ornament serve
you in the form of Lakshmana ? Did not the great and
austere Vasishtha, the chief among the munis, serve you as
friend and counsellor ? Did not the host of Devas come
down to earth for your sake to serve as Vánaras ? Has not
Tyagaraja sung your virtues praised by the Vedas?
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“ENNADU JÜTUNÓ" (Kalavati)
Oh Protector of Devotees! When shall I have the
privelege of seeing your face, like the fullmoon, as you
summon for affectionate treatment, one by one, Sit&, Laksh-
mana, Bharata, Satrughna, Sugriva and Anjaneya, who sing
your glory ?
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“KANTA JÜDUMI" (Latangi)
Pray, cast your benevolent look, your sidelong glance,
atleast once on me, your faithful servant who is ever free
from all evil and mischievous tendencies: It should be just
like the one which once transported Lakshmana to ecstacy
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as soon as it was administered with the loving concurrence
of Sit&, while Lakhmana was passionately Serving at your
feet:
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“RARA MAYINTIDAKA" (Asavéri)
Oh Raghuvira! Tyá&garája's Blessedness! Pray; come
tomy house; I bow to you: Bless me: I cannot bear the
separation any longer. Till now, with unfulfilled desire, I
have been in long and vexatious search for you; Pray, do
come today at least, in all your glory; My. purpose in seek-
ing you is to implore you every morning to teach me, to
have the privilege of the Darsan of your enchanting face,
to stand by your side and worship you every day, and thus
be blessed: Believing that you alone are my refuge, 1 have
allowed myself to be in your grip: Why do you forget this
and why do you not come to me promptly ?
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"OKAPARI JÜDAGA RADA” (Kalavati)
Oh, the ever pure-hearted, adored in the hearts of the
great poets! Can you not once at least cast your look on
me? The Sun, the Moon, the Dikpálakas and great seers
flourish only through your grace and mercy:
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306 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
When can I have the Darsan of the blessed feet that
followed the lead of Viswámitra in all humility ? Of those,
when can I see particularly the foot that turned the stone
into a woman? When am I to see the feet that caused the
great bow of Siva to break? When can I see the feet that
Janaka washed with milk ? When am I to see the hand that
lovingly tied mángalya round Sitá's neck? When am! to
see the hand that angrily absorbed back the power of the
bow of Parasuráma ? When am I to see the hands that
destroyed Virádha in the forest ? When am I to see the
hands that vouchsafed protection to the sages ? When am
I to seo the arrow that itself saved Kakasura ? When am I
to see the arrow that pulvarised several chariots in a
moment ? When am I to see the arrow that killed the
mighty Vali? When am I to see the arrow that destroyed
the haughtiness of the Ocean ? When am I to see the eyes
that benignly looked at Vibhishana ? When am Ito see
the sight of monkeys jumping high in exultation over the
fall of Ravana ? When am I to see the eyes that compas-
sionately looked at Sugriva ? When am I to see the eyes
that showered progressive prosperity on Lankà ? When am
I to see the beauty that imparted splendour to the glorious
Pushpaka Vimana? When am I to see the wonderful sight
of your meeting Bharata and holding him in your arms?
When am I to see the grandeur of your graceful occupation
of the golden throne ? When am I to see the decoration
made by sages and kings together? When am I to see
well the one, adored by the Vedas, who is the repository
of bliss? When am I to see Lord, who is dear to the
devotees and is devoid of all change, coming towards me?
When am I to see promptly the Lord reclining on the sea,
the ocean of mercy? When am 110 see the way in which
Siva and other Gods praised HimAutsuky8—Kirtana
" RAMABHI RAMA” (Dhanyasi)
Oh beautiful Rama! Can you not speak to me why
you have come on this earth in words that cheer up my
heart? Can you not ask Tyágarája to sing before you
when Sità, shining, well-adorned, worships you with flowers,
yourself sitting on the golden bed ?
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EPANIKO JANMINCHITINANI (As4véry)
Oh! Sri Rama! Do not think that I have been born
for any undefined puropse. Are you not aware of it in your
heart ? True, Valmiki and other sages have sung your
praise, and the songs may also be good and worthy of the
appreciation of pious devotees, but how can my yearning
(to sing of you) be satisfied P
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“SUDHA MADHURYA " (Sindhuráma Kriy&)
Oh Supreme One, ? speech delicious like nectar!
I have been for a long time having my hunger appeased by
the nectar of your divine story: Pray, Protect me; For that
purpose, 1 have discarded the company of wicked men
and sought the friendship of your Bhaktas.
" RAMA KODANDA RAMA " (Bhairavi)
Rama! Youare my only refuge: I worshipped you:
I am in your hands. Who is there equal to you? Cast a
side-glance atme: I am yours: Pray talk to me: Your
holy name alone is great: Your contemplation is enough
forme: Bless me, you are enough forme: A word from
you is a treasure to me. Songs about you are the only
songs. The path that leads to you only is the right path:
Whatever may happen, I will not leave you. Under no
circumstances can I think of anything else but you:
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? SARVABHAUMA " (Rágapanjaram)
Oh King of kings! Can you not heartily talk to me a
few words. The charming words that you spoke before had
not reached my ears and as a result I have been uneasy
with an unfulfilled desire: Am 1 only to be living in the
hope that on some future occasion I will have the privilege ?
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" VINANASAKONI " (Pratápavaràli)
I am desirous of heartily feasting my ears with the
sweet and loving conversation that passed between you and
Sità with mutual understending of each other's minds while
playing at the indoor games. Anjaneya and Bharata were
privileged to hear it.
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? MATADAVEMI " (Nilambari)
Oh Sweet-lipped one ! Oh Peerless one! Why don't
you speak to me to cheer up my heart ? Not having found
you, in spite of longing and eager waiting, my mind was ill
314 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
at ease; just then you appeared near me; still you won't
talk;
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" SRI MANINI MANOHARA " (Pürnashadjam)
The only one long-cherished desire of mine, which
needs no reiteration on my part, is your Padaseva, in the
manner done by your blessed brothers. All the Purushar-
thas like Dharma and the secret of Sárüpya are entirely
different. Pray, forgive me. (Tyàgarája says that he does
not want either the Purusharthas or even Sarupya of the
‘Lord and that his ambition is comparatively humble, viz.
the constant service at the Lord’s feet).
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TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
TIRUNA NALONI DUGDHA (Savéri)
Will my passionate desire be gratified, until and unless
I instal and hold your blessed feet in the lotus of my heart
unless and until I offer you thrice good milk and rice, fine
betel leaves and stand by your side, holding the gem-
bedecked spitoon, until and unless I stroke everyday your
lotus feet, fan you with golden-handled fan, put you on
=the big Serpent-couch, spending time seeing you to my
eyes’ content, singing pleasingly your glories ?
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CHALAMELARA " (Márgahindólam)
Why are you cross with me who have loved you and
have been singing your praises with intense devotion 2
Where could Igo? What could Ido? To whom could 1
complain? Is my time to be wasted in all this trickery ?
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“SRI RAMA RAMA " (Pirnachandrika)
Oh Rama! Soul of the Universe, save me; I know
nothing beyond You; without You what refuge is there
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" NIBHAJANA GANA * (Nayak)
Oh Blessed one, worshipred by the Trinity and Indra !
I have not found here anywhere those that delight in
singing of you:
I have (in vain) explored fully the Saguna Marga and
the Nirguna Marga, truth and falsehood, the six schools
and the eight siddhis. |
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" EVARITO NEDELPUDU (Manavati)
Oh Embodiment of all good qualities! Oh Dispeller
of Maya! To whom shall I unburden my agony? My
constant Bhajana has not produced the desired result—the
reverse has been the end—an attempt to make an idol of
Ganesa has resulted in my making a monkey.
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TOLINE JESINA PÜTAPHALAMU" (Suddha Bangla)
It must be the effect of my (defective) worship in
previous births that, though I have been thinking and
pining in several ways, you are irresponsive, myself remain-
ing here and yourself there. You have left me to the
ridicule of my compeers, in a place bereft of devotees and
full of people whose only concern is to live somehow, and
you have not shown me a way out.
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PRARABDHAMITTUNDAGA" (Swaravali)
When my own past karma is like this, and you too
are there, Oh all-merciful one, the giver of 92?78, there
el
322 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
is no purpose in blaming others: Those whom I help do me
harm. When I show mercy to others, they level unfounded
charges against me. Fickle-minded people who put on the
garb of Bhaktas become my enemies;
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“TOLI NENU JESINA” (Kokila Dhwani)
This after all is the fruit of the worship I did in my
previous births with all my heart! Can I purchase with
money what I seek ? , Will my distress end? You need
not worry yourself, Oh Abode of mercy! Probably, I
began my role of Bhakta at an inauspicious time:
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“TOLI JANMAMU " (Bilahari)
I have now known the sins I had committed in my
previous births. I have known also their results. They are
clear as a fruit in the palm of the hand, which does not
need a mirror to show it; Just as a fine paddy sprout will
be in an incompatible company amidst ragi crop, the merit
of your holy name will also be so in the midst of my sins.
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2
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» EMANATICHCHEDAVO " (Sahana)
What have you ordained for me and what have you
thought of me, Oh Rama! You are not likely to listen to my
words: Idon't know what my fateis. You are the giver
of fame, longevity, devotion, single-mindedness and a
healthy body.
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"ORULANADUKO'" (Suddha Savéri)
should undergo such suffering all this while ?
Oh Rama! What is the use of blaming others when
you yourself treat me ?????? mercy when I appeal to you
unable to bear my troubles, when I have given up the com-
pany of the good and have taken to flattering small men,
when the luck of my name is such that Ihave to suffer
without any of my desired objects being achieved, when
luck will come to man accordingly as fate takes him by
hand, when I should attribute (my present position) to my
past karma, when you yourself must know why my body
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" ETULA GAPADUDUVO " (Ahiri)
How are you going to protect me, who had got entang-.
led in the meshes of pgàyà of Samsara, who have been
proudly going ebout considering none as my equal, as a
Atmagarhana & Naishyünusandhüna 327
result of the wealth earned by flattering rich men for
maintaining wife and family, me whose lot had been per-
petual physical suffering at the hands of wily agnates and
who got incapacitated thereby to know you; me who all
his life believed in the permanence of the company of
relations (discarding you), but realizing late in life its
profitlessness, (shamelessly) sought refuge in you in the
end ?
328 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"DUDURUGALA" (Gowla)
Oh Lord who transcends speech and mind! Which
prince but you will protect one like me who is so
Atmagarhana ¢ NaichyGnusandhana 329
evil-minded that he is drawn every moment by powerful
evils; that he has lost the realisation that You are imme-
nent in every being; who, from his early days, has been
indulging in vain disputation without enjoying the ambrosia
of your divine Bhajana; coveting others’ wealth, has
gathered money 107 sustenance by moving the hearts of
people by ilattery; has spent all the days believing that a
comfortable living is the only aim of life (taking living itself
is happiness); has posed as a good Bhakta, though stone-
hearted and ignorant of the elements oí music, and has
pleased oneseli by delivering sermons to women and
ignorant and low folk; taking good-looking women, houses,
children and wealth as permanent assets to 93 coveted, has
wilfully ignored the worship of your holy feet ?
I have remained ever a criminal with an unsteady mind
without the constant thought in mind of your beautiful lotus-
face, have sought the. company of men of evil infatuation,
have been caught up in difficulties, and am unable to repel
sense-pleasures and iow desires, and have becomea sinner
and one of unsteady mind.
Without realising that a human birth is hard to get and —
without attaining supreme bliss withits aid, I have become a
slave to haughtiness, jealousy, lust, avarice and delusion
and have got deceived; baing one of foremost birth in this
‘world, have resorted io the service of the low born and
330 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
seeking inferior people have perversely tried to establish
worthless faiths; have wandered in this world for women and
wealth for some time, and for the children at other times.
Which Prince but you wil! protect such a sinner ?
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“TERA TIYAGA RADA” (Gowlipantu)
Oh Supreme Being! Tirupati Venkataramana! Could
you not remove the screen of pride and envy, which,
taking a firm stand within me, keeps me out of the reach
of Dharma and the like and Moksha ?
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"ETULA BROTUVO " (Chakravakam)
Oh Ráma, my sole, intimate Lord! I do not really know
how you are going to save me: Alas! Mine is a despicable
record of sins; detestable for the ear. Like an astray bull;
I have been roaming about caring only ior my feed. I have
flattered born misers to earn my sustenance, doing wicked
deeds in association with wicked people: 1 have thus
suffered a lot.
352 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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" ENNALLU TIRIGETI" (M&lavasri)
How long am I to wander like this - taking countless
births, harassing others in this forest of Samséra, like a
thief? Day and night I feel distressed, always thinking of
food for the morrow, forgetting your worship, all the same
pretending that 1 am doingit: Ihave to procure every
little thing that is needed by begging, but pose myself as a
great man and live to get flatterd: I delude my neighbours
so as to merit their invitation for dinners and make them
believe that I can help them by püja and japam.
You have long ago known fully my defects. Oh glorious
lord! Pray, do not give me up;
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“NENENDU VETUKUDURA" (Harikambhoji)
Sri Hari! Where could I search for you ? Even Brahma
could not have 8 response from you to his prayers for a
similar purpose: I have been a sinner, have done wicked
deeds, have indulged often in vulgar talks and have
imposed on the world as a great Bhakta.
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