This week Nikhil will bring Telugu compositions from the repertoire of Carnatic music. (Click here to see the texts).

SALC Lunchtime Lyrics: Telugu compositions from the repertoire of Carnatic music

Translations by Nikhil Mandalaparthy

November 25, 2017

“O Rangashayi”

Vāggēyakāra (composer):       Tyagaraja (1767-1847)

Rāga:                                       Kāmbhōji

Tāḷa:                                        ādi tāḷam (8 beats)

1. ఓ రంగ శాయి పిలిచితే
   ఓయనుచు రా రాదా
2. సారంగ ధరుడు జూచి
   కైలాసాధిపుడు కాలేదా
3. భూలోక వైకుంఠమిదియని నీలోన నీవేయుప్పొంగి
   శ్రీ లోలుడైయుంటే మా చింత తీరేదెన్నడో
4. మేలోర్వలేని జనులలో నే మిగుల నొగిలి దివ్య రూపమును
   ముత్యాల సరులయురమును కాన వచ్చితి
   త్యాగరాజ హృద్భూషణ

1. ō rangaśāyi pilicitē
   ō yanucu rā rādā
2. sāraṅga dharuḍu jūci
   kailāsādhipuḍu kāledā
3. bhū-lōka vaikuṇṭham-idi-yani nī-lōna nīvē-yuppongi
   śrī lōluḍai-yuṇṭē mā cinta tīrēdennaḍō
4. mēlōrva-lēni janula-lō nē migula nogili divya rūpamunu
   mutyāla sarula-yuramunu kāna vacciti
   tyāgarāja hṛd-bhūṣaṇa

1. O Rangashayi! When I call you,
   Can’t you say something and come to me?
2. Didn’t he who holds an antelope
   Become the lord of Kailasa by beholding you?
3. Considering this place to be your earthly heaven, having too much fun,
   If you remain enamored with Lakshmi, when will you put an end to our worries?
4. Surrounded by envious people, I have suffered greatly;
   I have come to see your divine form, the pearl necklaces radiant on your chest,
   Ornament of Tyagaraja’s heart!

“Enta mātramuna”

Vāggēyakāra (composer):       Annamayya/Annamacharya (15th century)

Rāga:                                       Bṛndāvaṇi and Māyāmālavagauḷa, tuned by Kadayanallur S. Venkataraman (b. 1929)

Tāḷa:                                        miśra cāpu (7 beats)

1. ఎంత మాత్రమున ఎవ్వరు తలచిన అంత మాత్రమే నీవు
   అంతరాతరములెంచి చూడ పిండంతేనిప్పటి అన్నట్లు
2. కొలుతురు మిము వైష్ణవులు కూరిమితో విష్ణుడని
   పలుకుదురు మిము వేదాంతులు పరబ్రహ్మంబనుచు
   తలతురు మిము శైవులు తగిన భక్తులునూ శివుడనుచు
   అలరి పొగడుదురు కాపాలికులు ఆది భైరవుండనుచు
3. సరి నెన్నుదురు శాక్తేయులు శక్తి రూపు నీవనుచు
   దరిశనములు మిము నానా విధములను తలపుల కొలదుల భజింతురు
   సిరుల మిమునే అల్పబుద్ది తలచినవారికి అల్పంబగుదవు
   గరిమిల మిమునే ఘనమని తలచిన ఘనబుద్దులకు ఘనుడవు
4. నీ వలన కొరతే లేదు మరి నీరు కొలది తామరము
   ఆవల భాగీరధి దరి బావుల ఆ జలమే ఊరినయట్లు
   శ్రీ వెంకటపతి నీవైతే మము చేకొని ఉన్నా దైవమని
   ఈవలనే నీ శరణననియెదను ఇదియే పరతత్త్వము నాకు

1. enta mātramuna evvaru talacina anta mātramē nīvu
   antarāntaramul-enci cūḍa piṇḍ-antē-nippaṭi annaṭlu
2. koluturu mimu vaiṣṇavulu kūrimitō viṣṇuḍani
   palukuduru mimu vēdāntulu parabrahmambanucu
   talaturu mimu śaivulu tagina bhaktulunū śivuḍanucu
   alari pogaḍuduru kāpālikulu ādi bhairavuḍanucu
3. sari nennuduru śāktēyulu śakti rūpu nīvanucu
   dariśanamulu mimu nānā vidhulanu talapula koladula bhajinturu
   sirula mimunē alpabuddhi talacina-vāriki alpam-bagudavu
   garimala mimunē ghanamani talacina ghana-buddhulaku ghanuḍavu
4. nī valana koratē lēdu mari nīru koladi tāmaramu
   āvala bhāgirathi dari bāvula ā jalamē ūrinayaṭlu
   śrī veṅkaṭapati nīvaitē mamu cēkoni unna daivam-ani
   ī-valane nī śaraṇani-yedanu idiyē paratattvamu nāku

1. However much one thinks of you, you are that much to them.
   Reflecting on those differences, one sees this. As they say, the size of the cake depends on the amount of flour.
2. Vaishnavas lovingly serve you as Vishnu;
   Vedantins speak of you as the Supreme Soul;
   Shaivas and proper devotees think of you as Shiva;
   Kapalikas gleefully praise you as Adi Bhairava.
3. Shaktas rightfully believe you are a form of Shakti;
   You are approached through various paths; in different ways, people seek your grace.
   For narrow-minded people who only think of you for wealth, you become limited and small.
   For noble people who reflect on your glory, you become vast and majestic.
4. You are full in yourself, just as lotuses grow to fill a pond;
   Beyond the Ganges, the wells on its banks are filled with the same water;
   If you really are Venkatapati, the god that has accepted us,
   Then I seek your protection; this is my supreme truth.

“Payyeda”

Vāggēyakāra (composer):       Kshetrayya/Kshetrajna (17th century)

Rāga:                                       Nādanāmakriya

Tāḷa:                                        tripuṭa tāḷam (7 beats)

1. అయ్యయ్యో వెగటాయెనే
   పయ్యెదమీద చేరి పవ్వళించి యుండే సామికి
2. వెలది నా మోము రెప్పవేయక కనుగొన
   కలయ నిండు సంజ చీకటి గమ్మితే
   కాలికి నీ ముద్దు మోము గాన రాక యుండునని
   తెలిపి ప్రోద్దుండగానే దీపము దెమ్మనే సామికి
3. ననబోడి వినుమమ్మ నాపై చాలా ప్రేమచే
   తన దంతమున నా యధరము నొక్కి
   మొనసి మాటాడితే మోవి విడువవలెనని
   యనువున చేసైగ లాడుచున్నసామికి
4. మదిరాక్షి వినుమమ్మా మా మువ్వగోపాలుడు
   నిదురించిన కౌగిలి వదలీ నని
   పదరి శయ్యమీద దుప్పటి కొంగులు నాలుగు
   ముదముతో గట్టిగా ముడిగొను మనుసామికి

1. ayyayyō vegaṭāyenē
   payyedamīda cēri pavvaḷinci yuṇḍē sāmiki
2. veladi! nā mōmu reppa-vēyaka kanugona
   kalaya ninḍu sanja cīkaṭi gammitē
   kaliki nī muddu mōmu gāna-rāka yunḍunani
   telipi proddunḍagānē dīpamu demmanē sāmiki
3. nanabōḍi vinumamma! nāpai cāla prēmacē
   tana dantamuna nā yadharamu nokki
   monasi māṭāḍitē mōvi viḍuvavalenani
   yanuvuna cē saiga lāḍucunna sāmiki
4. mādirākṣi vinumamma! mā muvvagōpaluḍu
   nidurincina kaugali vadalīnani
   padari śayyamīda duppaṭi kongulu nālugu
   mudamutō gaṭṭigā muḍigonumanu sāmiki

1. The lord who always slept
   with his head on my breasts
   is—ayyayyo!—now sick of me.
2. His eyes fixed, unblinking, on my face,
   he would say,
   “When dusk falls, your face, alas,
   will be hidden in the dark,”
   and then ask me, in broad daylight, for a lamp.
3. Biting my mouth in love play,
   since to talk would be to let go,
   my lord would speak only
   with his hands.
4. Lest in sleep
   his embrace should loosen,
   he would ask me to tie down
   the four corners of our blanket.

Ayyayyo, he’s now sick of me

Translated by Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman, from When God is a Customer

— N. Mandalaparthy

This Monday (Nov. 20) we will read a Malay syair with Nadine.

Ada kepada suatu hari,
Sakit saudagar laki isteri,
Adalah kiranya tujuh hari,
Tidak bergerak kanan dan kiri.

Saudagar tahu akan dirinya,
Hampirlah mati kepada rasanya,
Lalulah memanggil akan anaknya,
Dicium kepala dengan tangisnya.

Katanya wahai cahaya mataku,
Tinggallah tuan buah hatiku,
Hampirlah mati gerangan aku,
Baiklah tuan tingkah dan laku.

Serta harta aku tinggalkan,
Tuan seorang yang menyukakan,
Sampai habis semua diterimakan,
Faedahnya akan diberikan.

Jikalau tidak anakku berakal,
Harta pusaka di manakan kekal,
Habis harta badan tinggal,
Laksana perahu bersauh tunggal.

Kerana harta tiada berguna,
Jikalau tidak akan sempurna,
Sekalian itu habislah fana,
Hanyalah tinggal badan merana.

Budi dan bahasa janganlah lupa,
Muliakan olehmu ibu dan bapa,
Mana yang datang padamu berjumpa,
Janganlah lambat tuan menyapa.

Kerana adat orang berbeza,
Tiada memandang harta dan benda,
Tegur dan sapa itu yang ada,
Itulah penambah di dalamnya ada.

There was a day,
A merchant couple fell ill,
The count was seven days,
That they neither moved left nor right.

The merchant knew about his state,
It seemed he was close to dying,
So he called his child,
And crying, kissed his head.

“Oh light of my eyes,” said he,
Sir, you’ll be alone,
I’m near death I fear,
Please sir, keep good behavior.

And I will leave my wealth,
Only you who enjoy it,
Will receive it completely,
And so its benefit will be given.

If you aren’t clever my child,
Wealth will never last,
Wealth gone, the body will remain,
Like an anchored boat, alone.

Riches are useless,
Otherwise they would be enough,
But the ephemeral will finish,
Leaving only the body in anguish.

Please don’t forget courtesy and grace,
Ennoble your mother and father by your conduct,
Whenever someone comes to meet you,
Don’t delay, sir, to greet them.

People’s customs differ,
Some don’t look at wealth and possession,
Cordial meeting and greeting, that’s what there is,
That’s the true increaser of what is inside.

— Nadine Faisal

Here is a link to the text we will read with Talia: Rāmabhadradīkṣita’s Śṛṅgāratilakabhāṇaḥ

Rāmabhadradīkṣita’s Śṛṅgāratilakabhāṇaḥ;

#metoo selections

(ongoing readings with and advice by Whitney Cox)

71 (Śārdūlavikrīḍita)

tais taiś cāṭu-vacobhir ārdra-hṛdayām ānīya śayyāgṛhaṃ
savyājaṃ śayane niveśya ca kṛte kāñcī-guṇa-sraṃsane |
pāṇibhyām api nīvibandham acirād ācchādayantyā bhiyā
tanvyās tat-prathamā niṣedha-madhurā dhanyo giraḥ śroṣyati ||

71

leading this tender-hearted girl to the bedroom
with such and such flatteries,
He’ll get her in bed with some pretext
as he loosens the thread of her belt
afraid, she’ll quickly cover her garment’s knot with her hands–
this lucky bastard will listen to her words,
which are new to this,
Sweetened by her attempts at warding him off.

53 (Śārdūlavikrīḍita)

kiṃ vedâdhyayanena kiṃ nu tapasā kiṃ kṛcchra-cāndrāyaṇaiḥ
kleśaḥ pratyuta tena mā cara sakhe mūḍhopadiṣṭān vidhīn |
rantuṃ kiṃtu nirodhi-hasta-valaya-pratyupta-ratnâṅkura-
-cchāyā-pūrita-nimna-nābhi-sudṛśāṃ nīvīṃ rahaḥ sraṃsaya ||

53

the hell with studying the veda,
the hell with austerities,
the hell with the painful moon-fast–
These only cause pain.
Don’t follow, my friend, these rules taught by fools.
Rather, to enjoy yourself,
Loosen, once you get them alone, the belts of beautiful women,
Their deep navels filled with lights from the gems set in the bangles on their hands
which try to stop you.      

142 (Puṣpitâgra, or aupacchandasika)

nava-nakha-pada-ramya-kaṇṭha-mūlaṃ rada-pada-danturitâdhara-pravālam |
ramaṇa-lulita-candana-stanâgraṃ kimapi gṛṇāti vapus tavâpadānam ||

Your throat beautified with fresh nail marks,
Your coral lip toothed with traces of bites;
on the tip of your breast– sandal paste, disheveled by your lover;
your body announces just what excellent work you’ve been doing…

kiṃ bravīṣi— “nâham asmi bhājanaṃ bhāva parihāsasya” iti/

Nipuṇika: i myself am no object of your joke, sir.

(vihasya) kiṃ na jāne tava vaidagdhyam/

Bh: (laughing) don’t I know of your skills?

143 (śikhariṇī)

divā vā naktaṃ vā divasa-viratau vâpy uṣasi vā
girau vā gehe vā vana-taru-tale vā sarasi vā |
jaḍaṃ vā dhīraṃ vā taruṇam api vā vṛddham api vā
vilajjā-līlābhir nanu ramayasi tvaṃ nipuṇike ||

Whether it’s day or night
evening or the crack of dawn
on the mountain or in the cave,
under a forest tree, or at the lake,
Whether the man be stupid or clever, young or old–
you always manage to pleasure him with your shameless tricks,
don’t you Nipunika, you clever girl?

Kiṃ bravīṣi —
bhāva, bibhemi viśṛṅkhalād bhavato vāg-jālāt |

Nipunika: Sir, I am terrified of your uncensored speech traps.

119 (Śārdūlavikrīḍita)

ratna-syūta-nicola-garbhita-kucâbhoga-skhalad-bhūṣaṇaṃ
gharmâmbhaḥ-kaṇikârdra-patra-makarī-ramyânanâmbhoruham |
lolâpāṅga-niruddha-kāmijanatā-nīrandhra-pārśvaṃ vadhūr
eṣā nṛtyati nṛtta-deśika-karâsphālokta-tāla-kramā ||

An ornament wobbles on the curves of her breasts,
held in a case embedded with jewels;
Her beautiful lotus-face is painted with henna,
wet with her drops of sweat;
Her lovers, swarming around her,
are held back by her playful sideway glances.
This young woman is dancing,
following the beat of her dance teacher’s clapping hands.

atha tu citralekhām anumanyase, tadānīm–

124 (Śārdūlavikrīḍita)

vāmâṅka-sthitayā rahastvad urasi nyastaikavakṣojayā
kiṃcid vakrita-kaṇṭhanâli-viṣama-vyālambi-hāra-srajā |
nâbhīmūla-vilekhibhir nakhamukhair udbodhitânaṅgayā
vaktraṃ te cibuke gṛhītam anayā vāmā-bhruvā cumbyatām ||

But then again, if you choose Citralekhā, then —

124

lying on your left hip in private
her one breast placed on your chest,
her necklace unevenly hanging down her neck,
which is somewhat turned sideways,
her desire aroused by the tips of your nails,
scratching beneath her navel.
May this woman of beautiful brows, gripping your chin,
kiss your face.

Here is a tentative translation of the pada as it is given in The Wishing Stone of Nightly Songs followed by Radhamohan Thakur’s Sanskrit commentary in his Padamritasamudra (The Ambrosial Ocean of Songs):

(৭)

(মুগ্ধার মিলন-ভীতি)

ভাটিয়ারী

1. পরিহর এ সখি তোহে পরণাম।
   হাম নাহি যাওব সো পিয়া-ঠাম॥
2. অনেক যতন করি করাওলি বেশ।
   বান্ধিতে না জানিয়ে আপন কেশ॥
3. ইঙ্গিতে না জানিয়ে কৈছন মান।
   বচনক চাতুরি হাম নাহি জান॥
4. কবহু না জানিয়ে সুরতক বাত।
   কৈছে মিলব হাম মাধব সাথ॥
5. সো বর-নাগর রসিক সুজান।
   হাম নব-নাগরী অলপ গেয়ান॥
6. ভনয়ে বিদ্যাপতি কি বোলব তোয়।
   আজুক মিলন সমুচিত হোয়॥ ১৯

1. parihara e sakhi tohe paraṇāma |
   hāma nāhi yāoba so piẏā-ṭhāma ||
2. aneka yatana kari karāoli beśa |
   bāndhite nā jāniẏe āpanā keśa ||
3. iṅgite nā jāniẏe kaichana māna |
   vacanaka cāturi hāma nāhi jāna ||
4. kabahu nā jāniẏe surataka bāta |
   kaiche milaba hāma mādhava sātha ||
5. so vara-nāgara rasika sujāna |
   hāma nava-nāgarī alapa geẏāna ||
6. bhanaẏe vidyāpati ki bolaba toẏa |
   ājuka m[ī]lana samucita hoẏa || 19

1. Friend, leave your entreaties,
   I will not go to this lover.
2. You had me dressed up so carefully,
   but I can’t even tie my own hair.
3. I can’t read signs, I’ll make a fool of myself.
   I do not know witty speech.
4. I never learned anything about love making,
   how could I go meet with Mādhava?
5. He is a true man about town, a skilled connoisseur,
   I am new and rather ignorant in this domain.
6. Vidyāpati says: “What can I tell you?
   Today is the right time to meet him.”

Text of the song given in the Padāmr̥tasamudra no. 132 with Rādhāmohan Ṭhākur’s Sanskrit commentary:

suhaï-rāga-vr̥hadekatālī-tālau |

tataḥ pūrvokta-mohadaśāṃ śrutvā svābhāvika-rati-janita-paramārdra-cittāpi mugdhācaraṇaṃ saphalaṃ kurvatī gūḍha-rūpeṇa tatra nija-gamanaṃ vyañjayanty api spaṣṭa-rūpeṇa tad-ucitaṃ parihara e sakhī ityādi-vākyam āha |

Then, after hearing about [Kr̥ṣṇa’s] state of bewilderment mentioned before, although her heart is melting due to natural arousal, she behaves like an unexperimented woman, and even if, secretly, she suggests that she will herself go [meet with Kr̥ṣṇa], openly, she says what befits [an unexperimented woman like] her: Friend, leave…

1. parihara e sakhi tohe paraṇāma |
   hāma nāhi yāoba kāhnuka ṭhāma || dhru ||

e sakhi: etad vākyaṃ parihara tyaja | parihara e sakhi tohe paraṇāma | hāma nāhi yāẏaba so piẏā-ṭhāma || iti dr̥ṣṭa-pāṭhasya saṅgatārthānabhidhānād eka-pustaka-dr̥ṣṭatvāc ca lipikara-pramādajatvaṃ bodhyam |

1. Friend, leave those requests,
   I will not go meet with Kāhnu.

Friend: Leave—abandon—such speech. Friend, leave such requests, I will not go to this lover: because of the lack of relevant meaning in this context and because I saw [this reading] in one book only, I shall consider it a mistake due to some copyist’s carelessness.

2. vacanaka cāturī hāma nāhi jāna |
   iṅgita nā bujhiẏe nā jāniẏe māna ||

vacana-cāturyādikaṃ na jānāmi, ataḥ kathaṃ tena sākaṃ milanaṃ karomi? nanu paramacaturāsi tvam | adhunaiva kaṭākṣeṇa tvayā kiṃ kiṃ cāturyaṃ na prakāśitam | athavā tat tiṣṭhatu | vāgyuddhārthaṃ gamanaṃ na |

2. I do not know witty speech,
   I can’t read signs, I ignore what’s proper.

I ignore witty speech and the rest, hence how could I meet with him? No, you are very clever. Just recently, what cleverness haven’t you displayed with your side-glances? So, leave this nonsense. You are not going [to him] for verbal sparring.

3. sahacarī meli banāẏata beśa |
   bāndhite nā jāniẏe āpanā keśa ||

ata āha: bāndhite nā jāni āpana keśa-ityādikam | tasmād ati-bālikāvasthā mama |

3. My friends together dressed me,
   I can’t even tie my own hair.

Then she said: I can’t even tie my own hair, etc. From this [we understand:] “I am still a very young, unexperienced girl.”

4. kabhu nāhi śuniẏe surataka bāta |
   kaichane milaba mādhava sātha ||

surata-vārtā kadācid api na śrutā | tasmād viphalaṃ gamanam |

4. I never heard about love-making,
   how could I meet with Mādhāva?

She (or I) never heard about love-making. So, going there would be in vain.

5. so nava-nāgara rasika sujāna |
   hāma abalā ati-alapa-geẏāna ||

nanu tvad-darśanenaiva tat-pīḍā-nivr̥ttiḥ | surataṃ vināpi taj-jātīya-sukhaṃ ca bhaviṣyatīty ata āha: so nava-nāgara-ityādikam | sa rasiko’tas tasya sukhaṃ bhaviṣyati | mama tena kim?!

5. He is a true man about town, a skilled connoisseur,
   I am a weak, ignorant girl.

No, no, merely seeing you will put an end to his pain. Even without making love, from this (i.e. meeting in person with you) he will experience pleasure. Thus, she says: He is a true man about town, etc. He is a connoisseur, he will find his pleasure; but what good does it do to me?!

tasmād adhunālpajñānāyā vacanādi-cāturyābhāvān mān-hānir bhaviṣyati | paścād avaśyaṃ miliṣyāmīti dhvanitam |

Now, because I am ignorant and lack cleverness in speech etc., this will only bring shame upon me. Which implies: “Later, I will meet him for sure.”

6. vidyāpati kaha ki bolaba toẏa |
   aba ki milana samucita hoẏa || 132

vidyāpatir ahaṃ tvayi kiṃ kathayāmi, tasya daśā śrutvāpi yad etat kathayasi | kiṃ tu śr̥ṇu | adhunaiva milanaṃ samyag ucitaṃ bhavati | anyathā kiṃ prayojanam || 132

6. Vidyāpati says: “What can I tell you?
   Now is the right time for you to meet him.

Me, Vidyāpati, what can I tell you if, even after hearing about his state, you say such things? But listen: now is indeed the proper, right time to meet him. There is no need to consider other options.

— Th. d’Hubert