Saturday, February 24, 2024

Kancha Dalayatakshi Kamakshi

Partial translation of the famous krti Kancha dalayatakshi by Muthuswami Dikshitar

Kancha Dalaayataakshi Kaamakshi
Kamalaa Manohari Tripura Sundari

O Kamakshi, with eyes shaped like lotus petals full
O most beauteous of three worlds, Kamala*s delightful

Kunjara Gamane 
Manimanditha Manjula Charane


Your gait, having an elephant's ponderous majesty
With feet, adorned by jewelry gem studded, full of beauty

Maamava Shiva Panchara Sukhi Pankajamukhi
Guruguha Ranjani Duritha Bhanjani Niranjani 

She is verily like Siva, a parrot in (heart's) cage (refers to our atma in hrd chakra)
Blooming lotus like radiance
With mystical lore dalliance
Darkness removing brilliance.
Of spotless pure salience


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

JagadAnanda kAraka


In this panca ratna kRti ‘jagadAnanda kAraka’ composed in rAga nATa (tALa Adi), SrI tyAgarAja praises Lord Sri Rama

pallavi
jagad-Ananda kAraka
jaya jAnakI prANa nAyaka

anupallavi
gagan(A)dhipa sat-kulaja 
rAja rAj(E)Svara
suguN(A)kara sura sEvya 
bhavya dAyaka
sadA sakala

Hail the World's joy giving source
Hail the Lord of Janaki's life force

That Sun, king of the skies,
Whose lineage, much venerable
The Lord, king of kings, for
His incarnation deemed suitable

He, the fount of auspicious virtues
Worshipped by all the celestials
Who grants abundant fortunes
Which is complete and eternal















Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Sri Venkatesa Stotram - translation


(1) KamalA-kucha-chUchuka-kumkumathO
niyathAruNithaathula nIlatanO !
KamalAyatha-lochana !LOkapthE !
Vijayee bhava ! VenkatasailapathE ! 

From Shri's bosom the vermillion rubs red
Upon the body of the Lord of bluish hue
With eyes like lotus petals, to That 
Universal Lord of Venkata Hill, May victory be due

(2) sachathurmukha shaNmukha panchamukha
pramukAkhila dhaivatha mouLimaNE !
SaraNAgathavathsala ! SaaranidhE !
ParipAlaya maam VrushasailapathE ! 

Above the Gods - four, six and five headed  (Brahma, Kartikeya and Hanuman respectively), 
To That Head of all the Gods,that essence of opulence,
Who protects every seeker of refuge
May That Lord of Vrisha Hill, be my ultimate defence

(3) athivElatayA thava dhurvishai-ranuvEla kruthair-aparAdha sathai:
bharitham thvaritham VrushasailapathEparayaa krupayaa paripaahi HarE !

Having committed a hundred crimes
Trembling I come to the One difficult to approach
Carrying this burden I hasten to your feet
O Lord of Vrsha Hills, forgive me beyond all reproach.



Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Key purpose - Gita

 वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिता: । बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागता: ।। १० वीतरागभयक्रोधा: 

Freed from attachment, fear, and anger मन्मया: absorbed in Me माम् Me उपाश्रिता: taking refuge in ज्ञानतपसा by the fire of knowledge पूता: purified बहव: many मद्भावम् My Being आगता: have attained. 

10. Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained My Being.

Chapter 4, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, translated by Swami Tapasyananda


Saturday, March 5, 2022

Ab to hai tumse har khushi - song from Abhimaan 1973

 

Ab to hai tumase har khushi apani

Tumape marana hai jindagi apani


Jab ho gaya tumape ye dil diwaana

Fir chaahe jo bhi kahe hamako jmaana

Koi banaaye baaten chaahe ab jitani


Tere pyaar men badanaam dur dur ho ge

Tere saath ham bhi sanam mashahur ho ge

Dekho kahaan le jaaye bekhudi apani


Translation isn't exact, but I have tried to carry the meaning and spirit behind the words, while ensuring a poetic strain


Now rests with you all my happiness 

Your life's station is my sole address


Now that my heart is mad in your love

Doesn't matter whatever they say above

What effect then has any duress


My love for you has earned me notoriety 

Being with you has brought much infamy

Let's see it leads now to what mess


The lyrics are sweet and okay, but real steal for me is the music of S D Burman, it simply makes one feel nostalgic,  it pulls one to the past, to those sweet days gone by of innocent, maddening love. 

Just after Lataji beautifully sings the first stanza in high pitch straightaway tugging at our heart strings, then Burman Saab brings in some heavy, somber, deep stringed instrument  .... it's like train taking you inexorably back in time. There's some connection to Bengal or Assam in that stringed music. 

Then again a vocal interlude by Lataji before she sings the second stanza. It's so seamlessly melding from one to other and you have already embarked on the musical journey that Burman Saab and Lataji have planned for you. My only complaint is that this  beautiful nostalgic journey is so short, just 3 stanzas. I was in for a longer ride..

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Principles to follow ever

 May my mind be peaceful and content,

Hence let it not be provoked to anger,

Let me be humble and always willing to learn from others,

Let me never attack anyone in body, mind and speech,

Let me uphold my principles resolutely,

Let me not disrespect anyone whatever be their identity - by caste or religion, colour or creed, by language or gender,

May I never unnecessarily lose my strength and power by going against the above tenets,

May I be willing to sacrifice my own needs to bring people together, to make people tolerant of each other,

May I be pure in thought, word and deed,

May I utter good speech at all times and not that which causes discontent to others,

Protect me O Lord as I am a helpless child of Yours.













Friday, December 10, 2021

Shiva Tāṇḍava Stotram - 15

pujāvasāna-samaye daśa-vaktra-gītam
yaḥ śambu-pūjan-paraṃ paṭhati pradoṣe |


At the end of worship rituals, this Ravana's song the one who sings
After finishing the worship of Śiva, one who recites in the evenings

tasya sthirāṃ ratha-gajendra-turaṇga-yuktām
lakṣmīm sadaiva sumukhiṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ || 15 ||

By him is steady wealth, power, vehicles and all prosperity obtained
Lakṣmi always looks kindly upon him, Śiva's Blessings who has gained