P-201 TO P-251
P-201-TO-P-251
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201
MOSABOKU VINAVÉ" (Gowlipantu)
Listen! don't deceive yourselí and do not give up the
company of the good. Don't deceive yourself without know-
ing Sri Rama who removes the distress of his servants. The
miseries caused to one by association with low people persist
almost eternally. If you have firm and full faith in the Lord,
all your desires will be fulfilled. Running after money and
women will only bring you trouble and restlessness in this
life and hereafter. Meditation on the Adorable One will lift
your mind to the divine. Hanging upon uncultured
moneyed men will lead you only to faults.
202
“VADERA DAIVAMU" (PantuvarAli)
He alone is God
who has earned the undying fame for all time for his
never-failing word :
who has incarnated on the earth with bow in hand to
destroy the mighty Rakshasas and protect Indra and other
Devas and all the good people of the earth;
who shines in the world with the great redeeming
name with which Lord Siva initiates people ignorant of the
right path, so that they may cross the ocean of Samsára and
attain salvation ;
who was born in the Solar race and, adored by Brahma,
earned the appellation of Sitapati to receive the worship
from Tyagar&ja’s hands.
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204 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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“UNDEDI RAMUDU OKADU” (Harikambhdji)
There is Rama, the one Lord; Oh mind! do ‘not get
needlessly ruined. He shines with brilliance in the heart
of the blazing Sun; He is free from Tamasa Guna: -He is
the soul of all Dharmas. He looks evenly upon all. He
bestows welfare: He is the beloved of Tyágará&ja.
=================================================
NIVANTI DAIVAMU” (Bhairavi)
Oh Rama! After deep mental reflection, I see it is
impossible for me to find another God like you. If one
wants to speak, one should speak about you; if one wants to
sing one must sing of you alone; if one wants to associate
with anybody, one must associate with you alone. I now
know your heart:
===================================
"SYAMA SUNDARA" (951788)
© Lord of beautiful swarthy limbs! You are the
embodiment of all power, you Ráma who shine in the world
as the Lord full of all excellences and devoid of the Tamo-
guna! who destroys the pride of the wicked demons, and
also sports in the hearts of the virtuous! You alone are my
favourite deity. Is Tyágaràja different from you?
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206
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“ RAGHUVARA NANNU” (Pantuvaráli)
Oh Raghuvara! Is it proper for you to forget me? Can
the parents, brothers and other relations of a woman stand
to her on the same focting as her husband? Can all the
ornaments which she wears stand on the same footing as
her Mangala Sütra? As the result of my meritorious deeds
in my previous birth, you have roused a desire in me and 1
have cherished deep love for you alone in my mind;
======================================
“RAMA EVA DAIVATAM” (Balahamsa)
Rama aloneis my God. Heis the destroyer of the
mental distress of devotees.
“RAMA NI SAMANA” (Khareharepriyà).
Rama! Who is there equal to you? You are the beloved
parrot in the cage of Sità's Bhakti. You are yourself gentle
in speech and have brothers whose words drip with honey.
You are Ty&qaraja’s family deity:
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208
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"VEREVVARE" (Surati)
Who else but you, Oh Sitápati, the prop of the
fourteen worlds, can ever be the refuge for all Devas,
Munis, Suka, Sanaka, Narada etc. and to Gods like Brahma,
Siva, Indra etc. and Tyagaraja ?
===================================
" TALLIDANDRULU" (Balahamsa)
Is there any God equal to you in the world? You had
parents only in name. Your abode is the milk ocean ; your
consort is Siti; Siva, Brahma, Indra, Sun, Moon and other
Devas serve you as Vánaras; Chakra and Adisesha have
become your brothers and are serving you.
====================================================
====================================
" MUMMÜRTULU" (Atina)
Listen to the beautiful and concerted praise of the
Trimürtis of Sri Rama’s gunas, which they found to
outweigh their own gunas in worth, on weighing them both
in the balance in a spirit of rivalry. Having. heard that he
===========================================
" KARUVELPULU" (Kalyáni)
No God of this Universe can be equal to you. To
compare any one of them to you will be like comparing
the fine quality of table rice to worthless chaff, the small
light to the torch, the channel to the river Kaveri, the stars
to the moon, the man to Manmatha, the lake to the sea.
===============================================
“ITARA DAIVAMULA" (Chayatarangini)
Is happiness possible of attainment through other gods,
Oh Rama! tome, whose mind, without harbouring any
prejudice against other faiths, is constantly and passiona-
tely in love with you?
Istand resigned in you, whether you, who know my
mind, protect me or neglect me. I have only to say that
this is just the time for you to treat me as yours:
912 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS
==
"MADILONA YOCHANA" (Kol&halam)
Ihave always regarded your Rama Avatàra as the
best of your ten Avatars
(See below)
============================================
"EVARIKAI AVATARAM" (Dévamanóhari)
For whom did you take this incarnation? Tell me now
at least, Oh Rama! I prostrate before the blessed one at
whose instance you incarnated, exhibiting both the aspects
of King and Rishi, with a name adored by the Vedas, with a
transcendantal form more glorious than those of Brahma
and Rudra and with heroic deeds full of bliss ?
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214
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"DORAKUNA" (Bilahari)
Will it ever be possible for even Brahmans and gods
who have only alittle Tapas to their credit, to have the
blessed privilege of such a Darsana as that of Hari being
rocked on Adisesha as his bed with Tumburu and Narada
singing the glory of his gunas, with Ambarisha and others
chanting his holy name and strewing jasmine flowers, with
beautiful celestial damsels dancing, with Brahma and Indra
standing on either side and proclaiming the divine glory
and with celestial women fanning with the jingling of their
ornaments, a darsana as that of the repository of all beauty
with his emarald-like body clad in shining golden garments,
with the colour of his foot-nails outshining the rays of the
moon; with brilliant anklets, with dazzling diamond rings
on his fingers, with pearl-garlands on his chest, with face
radiant with glowing ear-ornaments and charming smile,
curly forelocks, glossy cheeks, and with lovely tilaka on the
forehead, a darsana as that of Sri Rama seated on the golden
swing with Sità, the fulfiller of devotees’ desires, trans-
ported to ecstacy at the sight of the Lord, with great Rishis
standing bewildered unable even to praise his glories and
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216 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
=========================================
with Tyàgaràja; son of Rama Brahmam, singing before Him,
while the swing is moving.
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"ENDUNDI VEDALITIVO " (Darbh&r)
1 am at a loss to guess even your nativity and whence
you have come. Pray, let me know it now atleast: Your
beauty and qualites are a class by themselves and your
ways transcend the three Gunas: It is not likely that you
are from Sivalóka where even those who err slightly are
punished.
===
217
===
It may not be even Vaikuntham of Vámana, who decei-
ved Bali.
It cannot be the heaven of Brahma who spoke amo-
rously to his own daughter Sarasvati and had his head
chopped off by Rudra.
You are of the divine form, possessed of immeasurable
prowess, following Dharma, devoted to unfailing truth,
clothed with gentle words: .
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218 TYAGARAJA EIRTANAS
"INTANUCHU VARNIMPA" (Gundakriyà)
Is it possible even for Brahma, Indra and others to
describe your beauty, you, the father of the god of love?
Is it possible to describe the beauty of your benign look,
your charming face that surpasses the moon in splendour,
your sweet and soft words, your hand that blesseth and
your natural gunas? Even the Gods and the Vedas
and Saetras cannot have any conception of the glory of
your prowess, which easily subdues the haughty kings,
grown arrogant by securing boons from other gods as a
result of their terrible penances.
================================================
"MUDDU MÓMU" (Süryakàntam)
How did Sri Ráma's face of captivating beauty shine
when he blessed with His Darsan the devotees who had
been for long looking forward eagerly with panting hearts
tor His advent, and how did even the sages get enchanted
with it? Was it the effect of ardent worship of pure minded
Brahmans, or of penance done in previous births or the
Lord's own divine nature ?
------
220
----
“ENDU EOUGALINTURÁ" (Suddhadési)
Which portion of your body am I to embrace and how
am I to describe; O beautiful Rama whom Lakshmi has
treasured in Her heart? Your speech alone is speech; your
smile alone is smile; your brilliance alone is brilliance:
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"SRI RAMA PADAMA " (Amritavahini)
Oh Rama's blessed feet! It is enough if I secure your
grace. Come and makemy mind your abode. All the
great ones, Brahma, Sanaka, Sanandana, Indra and others
worship you. Taking compassion on the long repenting
Ahalya who had been cursed ‘into a stone, lying on your
way, you, as a hero, redeemed her. Bless me also similarly.
===========================================
??? ?
====================
? SANDEHAMUNU " (R&mapriyà)
Oh Rama! Pray, clear my doubt. Are your holy feet,
worshipped by Nanda, great, or are your elegant sandals
great? The great sages that worshipped your feet secured
Vaikuntham—your abode; but Bharata, who worshipped
your sandals, got you yourself.
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229
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" ALAKALALLA LADA" (Madhyamavati)
What rapturous enjoyment did Visvamitra have, gazing
on the waving of the curly forelocks playing on Rama's
face when he subjugated Máricha and when he broke
Siva’s bow understanding the direction of the gesture of
Visvàmitra's eye!
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""LAVANYA RAMA” (Rudrapriya)
Oh charming Rama! Bless me with your benign looks.
Your mental disposition, your charms and your methods
are unigue. Why should one seek protection from Tamasic
(lower) gods?
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" SOGASU JUDA TARAMA " (Kannadagowla)
Is it possible to see such beauty as that of your face
shining with glossy cheeks, your feet worshipped by Devas,
your hands that offer protection, your lip (nether) which
resembles*a ripe Bimba fruit, your chest adorned with
garlands of Vakula flowers, your smiles, your forelocks
and the brilliance of your eyes ?
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“MOHANA RAMA” (Móhana)
Oh! Rama of universally captivating beauty! Speak to
me sweetly; you are the foremost Lord: Your form has an
inexplicable attraction for me. Hearing the glory of your
human form all the Gods from Brahma downwards came
down to the earth and took in love the forms of birds, beasts
and monkeys and long enjoyed your Darsan with rivetted
eyes and ecstacy:
=============================================
"MARAVAKARA" (Dévagandhari)
Oh Mind! Don’t forget Rama of bewitching beauty,
his dignified bearing, his soft words, the brilliance of his
eyes, the disposition of the cloth across his body——
his graceful jerks, the jingling noise of his foot orna-
ments, the gloss of his cheeks, his bow, its ringing bells,
his floral abode, unimpeded Darsan, his hand, the rings on
the fingers, his golden swing, the consort by his side=
his arrows, golden garments, his chest adorned by
Lakshmi, his alerfness in protecting devotees.
I shall worship him with the lotus of my heart all my
lite.
=================================================
==================
“MERU SAMANA DHIRA" (Mayamalvagowla)
=======================================
Oh Rama, firm like the Meru mountain! Pray, come
tome so that I may feast my eyes with the captivating
beauty of your form - your graceful gait - your shining blue
body - the lovely curls on your forehead - the attractive
shape of your tilaka - your blooming cheeks - the brilliance
of your face - the golden jewels that adorn your neck.
==============================================
=================================================
" NI MUDDU MOMU" (Kamalà Monóhari)
Oh Lotusreyed Rama! Have compassion on me and
show me your beautiful face, shining like the Moon, to
cheer my heart; I shall instal you there.
It is only to wor-
ship you with ecstatic ardour; 1 shall never forget you
even in my dream: I am deeply drawn to you.
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??? TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
===================================
“PALUKU KANDA CHAKKERANU " (Navarasakannada)
The sweetness of his speech is sweeter than sugar
candy:
===============================================
“EMANI MATADITIVO" (Todi)
Oh Rama! How wonderful was your power of winning
people by sweet words, suited exactly to the mental dispo-
sition of each, softly, sternly, sweetly— parents, women,
servants, kings, munis, the famous Ashta Dikpalak4s, Suras,
Asuras, Moon, Sun,—so much so they felt bound to follow
the words !
=========================================
EVARICHCHIRIRA " (Madhyamavati)
Oh glorious Kodandapani! Who gave you your bow
and arrows? Were they with you when you were born?
Or, did you acquire them after coming down to the Earth ?
Your arrow,had the wonderful merit of getting multi-
plied into tens, hundreds and thousands, rushing in all
directions and destroying the enemies: When they were
aimed at the wicked KakAsura, even the Trimürtis drew
back from protecting him. When they were used on the
Samudra Raja, they killed all the Rakshasas of Drumakulya.
===============================================
230
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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.
=============================================
=============================================
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 ?
=================================================
======================================
"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?
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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================================
234
“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,
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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236
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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.
================================================
238
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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 ?
================
240 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
====================
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.
=======================================================
=====================================================
"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,
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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244
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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.
===================================================
===================================================
================================================
“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 -
====
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.
==================================================
============================================
"LEKANÀ NINNU” (Asávéri)
Otherwise, will they always be hovering along you, with
one heart and deriving everlasting bliss? Oh bestower of
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;
==================================================
“ 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.
================================================
====
248
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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:
===============================================
"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: ,
=================================================
SARASA SAMA DANA" (Kapinarayani)
Oh Rama! You are an adept in statesmanship and irt”
wielding the four expedients, conciliation (Sama), w inning
---
250
----
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:
=============================================
RAGHUVIRA RANADHIRA" (Huséni)
Come Oh! Hero of the Raghus; valorous in battle! the
destroyer of Parasur&ma's pride, the prop of (all) gods!
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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252
