P-251-T0-P-301
P-251-TO-P-301
“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
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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
"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.
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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"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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262
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“RANIDI RADU” (Manirangu)
What will not come will not come, be one a Sura or an
Asura; what will not go will not go, be one even a Brahman ;
(otherwise), Devendra would not have had the body he
had: the Rakshasas would not have been deprived of Amrita;
the holy sages of Dandaka would not have been subjected
to the cruelties of Rakshasas:
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“SITAMMA MAYAMMA" (Lalita)
Sita is my mother and Raima is my father; Hanuman,
Lakshmana, Garuda and Satrughna, Brahma, Bharata and
-others are my brothers; Paramesa, Vasishta, Parasara,
Narada, Sounaka, Suka, Indra, Goutama, Ganesa, Guha,
Sanaka and all true Bhágavatas are all. my close relations.
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" NIVEGANI NANNU” (Bilahari)
Who is there but you to protect me? You are my father
and mother, giving me all that I desire and protecting me
with utmost kindness. You are the precious treasure earned
by: my forefathers by virtue of their austerities. You are the
fruit of my worship, in countless past births, with quantities
of flowers.
You are the water-bearing cloud to quench the fire of
the sins of your devotees; You are the cloud of Satchid&-
nanda which graces the hearts of angels, yogis and sages,
You are the merit which one derives from a bath in the
celestial river (Gangà) which is the holiest of rivers.
You are the saving mantra (tàraka) that has been
solemnly proclaimed to Brahmi and others by Tyagaraja
as the highest.
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“NAGUMOMU GALAVANI" (Madhyamávati)
You, the-ever smiling captivator of my mind, the Hero
of the Universe, the Lord of Siti, the God of Gods, the ex-
guisitely beautiful one, the repository of wisdom, the one
who has the sun and the moon as his eyes, the sun that
dispels the darkness of ignorance, the cne with stainless
form, the destroyer of all sins, the great one that blesses
one with the Purushárthas from Dharma to Moksha !
Fully enlightened by Jnana, I shall time and again
worship you according to to the prescribed methods.
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"LAKSHANAMULU GALA" (Suddhasaveri)
Why don't you come and make a Pradakshinam of Sri
Rama, who has all the thirty-two Lakshanas (auspicious
signs). He has in his stomach the whole universe; he is
the discriminating Lord; he is the initiating Guru of all;
he reveals himself to those who are thoroughly well-versed
in the Vedas; he protects devotees, who have received
proper training and can earn the approbation of congrega-
tions of the wise; he becomes the intimate friend of the
cultured who worship him through Bhajana; he ig the
universal witness and the prop of Ty&garája.
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“KADALU VÄDU GADÉ" (Náráyanagoula)
Sri Ráma is immutable but His stories are numerous:
He is the primal cause and yet he is without beginning and
end. He never indulges in false fabrications (Kalpanas), but
everything that he wills gets accomplished: He rests quiet
on the bed of Adisesha and yet He has become the object
of Tyågaraja's adoration.
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“NAJIVADHARA” (Bilahari)
Oh, the prop of my life, the fruit of my penance, the bril-
liance of my eyes, the fragrance of my nose, the embodi-
ment of the letters of the Name that I chant, You are the
flower of my worship.
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“NARADA GÁNALOLA" (Atana)
Oh, Protector of Devotees! Oh, one of incomparable
virtues! Without you, which embodied being can ever get
on? Without you, what vegetation can sprout? Without
you can there be any rain? Without you how can Tyága-
raja sing the song of your Gunas ?
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“NIKE TELIYAKAPOTE” (Anandabhairavi)
If you yourself do not know it, what could Ido? You,
as the prop of the Universe, do not know the burning state
of my mind; what can I do? 1 have been meditating on your
blessed feet solely to be able to see you wherever my eyes
fall, to feel like speaking to you whomsoever I speak to, to
visualise you wherever my vision goes, to worship you
wherever I may worship:
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“SARVALOKA DAYANIDHE” (Huséni)
Oh, Rama, the Supreme Being who is merciful towards
the whole universe! Ihave realised that you are the Lord
of the five elements, the One that came down on the earth
and wedded Sit& and areno other than the One who is
absorbed in mystic slumber on the ocean. You have blessed
the solar race by being born in it; Oh! You who are lauded
by Siva! You are the One who had Hanuman for his service:
You are infinite, beyond name and form: You are the giver
of Jnana, Vairágya and Bhakti. You are beyond the Vedas:
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KOLUVAIYUNNADE” (Devagandhari)
Kódandapàni is in court. Let all pure-minded souls with
excellent conduct and with loving desire come and have
the darsanam. Having partaken of the good offerings placed
before him, along with 515, Bharata and others, dressed in
golden garments and feeling delighted at the Vedic chant-
ings by Sanaka, blessing the devotees, with sweet scents
pervading the whole atmosphere, celestial dancing girls
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272
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dancing before him, Parásara, Narada and other devotees
singing his praises, Indra, Brahma and others worshipping
him lovingly with bodies thrilled, the beautiful Lord is
resting on Adisesha. Siti smearing the body with sandal
paste, Kédandap4ni is sitting in court, granting solely to
the faithful, with his side-glances, the boons that they seek
and, with Ty&gar&ja handing pan to the Lord every now
and then.
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“PAHI KALYANARAMA" (Kapi)
Protect me, Oh auspicious Rama, of sanctifying excel-
lences! Youare the prop of my life; youare the fruit of
my penance, the strength of my body, the wealth of my
family, the source of my auspiciousness, the bliss of my
mind, the source of my happiness, my joy, the charming
dress that I put on; the captivator of my heart; my beauty ;
my blessedness; my dispassion; my life; my youth; the
essence of the Vedas and the Agamas ; beyond the reach of
the Rakshasas; the prop ofthe three worlds; my pearl
necklace; the God of Gods; the negation of the wicked;
the supreme Brahman; the destroyer of sins; beyond con-
ception; divine incarnation; the highest; beyond Maya;
hidden in the ocean ; the friend of TyAagaraja:
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“NENARUNCHERA NAPAINI” (Simhaváhini)
Oh Rama! Show your mercy in full measure to me:
Am 1 not your servant? You are the protector of the
devotees: When I, who have reposed my full faith in you
as my mother, father, guru, God, am in great distress, why
do you not show me the way out? You are the repository
of all virtues:
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“RAMA RAMA NIVARAMUGAMA” (Anandabhairavi)
Oh Siti Rama! lover of the devout! Are we not your
own ? Come softly with your golden clothes and ornaments
dangling: Oh fulfiller of the cherished desires of great
devotees! Oh repository of mysterious divine Glory, come!
Come with your Kidanda: Come, you great Hero whose
sight is a feast to the eyes: Come to show me your sm iling
lace; Let your loving blessing be with me always to pro-
tect me; Come Oh One of Cupid's beauty, the root of
bliss! Come, I desire to prostrate before you. Oh
Govinda, One who has neither beginning nor end, one who
is known through the Vedas and to Siva! Ihave become
yours: Quickly come: Oh gracious one! Oh embodiment
of Truth, endowed with all good qualities! Oh Infinite,
come to bless Tyagaraja.
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"BHAJANA PARULA KELA” (Suruti)
Oh Mind! Where is the need for fear of Yama for
real devotees of Rama who apportions their respective
Positions to Brahma, Siva and Indra, of Rama worship-
ped by Tyagar4ja, the servant of the Lord who protected
the elephant, and for those desireless souls who are able
277
to visualise in the lotus of their hearts the Lord who fills
the numberless worlds and pine in worshipping him with
unbounded love ?
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NIJAMUGA NIMAHIMALU (Sahina)
© Rama! There is none who would speak out in truth
your glory.
- They simply ask one to do Bhajana (not knowing that
the difference between what they say and real devotion is
like the difference between an elephant and a goat, a lion
and a jackal); they, the (supposed) great ones who always
??8 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
give the mother of their mind to the libertines called Senses,
are adepts in earning money and do not frequent the
company of the good souls:
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"TATVA MERUGA" (Garudadhwani)
Is it possible to realise the truth ? Is it possible to
realise the great truth? Is it possible to realise the great
truth that you Ráma are the meaning of the greataffirmation
“That thou Art”? Is it possible for one so long as one is
caught up in struggle with Tamasic and Rajasic gunas to
realise the truth of the Vedas and Sástras ?
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"TANALONE DHYANINCHI" (Dévagandhari)
Oh Rama! One must meditate within his own self and
become one with you; He must realize the seat of his self
in the cave of his body: That very moment, he will know
your truth and grasp it firmly:
As long as Man is under the sway of the My of I, he
wil not know in which direction he is dragged. His past
karma will operate strongly and not even Brahma can undo
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280 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS
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it: The worldly tendencies will dominate; and for ages such
people will not be inclined to place right value on intros-
pection ; nor will they be in a position to realize that there
are higher stages of happiness than what can be derived
through senses:
Oh Lord! You are sporting with the five elements and
you are enjoying bliss eternally, stretching yourself on
your bed of Adisesha.
You will assuredly hold Tyágaràja by the hand and
protect him.
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"PARAMATMUDU" (Vágadhiswari)
Know all well how Paramátmá, the Lord, shines in glory
in everything, in Hari, Hara, Devas, human beings and in the
innumerable worlds; He shines in all the species of crea.
tion, made of the five elements, fire, air, earth, water and
ether, like animals, birds, mountains, trees and even in the
good and the bad and always in holy devotees like
Tyáàgaràja:
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"E TAVUNARA” (Kalyani)
Which is your place of abode? You are not easily
to be found, however closely you are searched for. Is
289 / qyAGARAJA KIRTANAS
itin the feminine forms of the deity like Sita, Gourl and
Sarasvati or is it among the five elements of earth, water,
fire, air and ether or in the innumerable worlds or among
the Trinity ?
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“BHAKTI BICHCHAMIYAVE" (Sankarabharanam)
Rama is above salvation, Universal Sakti and Trimurtis:
See above page 192
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"ÉMANI POGADUDURA” (Viravasantam)
How can I praise you? Oh Rama the indweller of the
Universe! You have assigned Tamasa Guna to Siva, Rájasa
Guna to Brahma and made Indra haughty:
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"MANASA SRI RAMACHANDRUNI" (Isamanõhari)
Oh Mind! Do not forget Sri Ramachandra! Don't be
careless. Refer to the third and sixth chapters of Valmiki
Ramayana (to know that he is the supreme) ' He has
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284 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAB
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assigned the duties of Creation, Preservation and Destruc-
tion to the Trinity as being of a lower order and contenta
himself with the work of fulfilling the desires of the good
devotees:
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“NADA SUDHARASAMBILANU " (Arabhi)
The Nectar of Nada, which is the basis of all Vedas,
Puranas, Agamas and Sástras, has taken human form (in
Rama); the seven swaras have become the seven bells of
the bow ; the Ragas have become the bow itself; the styles
Dura, Naya, Desya, have become the three strings of the
bow ; the steady pace has become the arrow, the melodious
apt variations of phrase have become his speech; singing
in devotion has become his very fortune:
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“GITARTHAMU" (Surati)
Oh Mind! Behold! Here in Rima you have both the
full significance of the Git& (Vedanta) and the bliss of Music.
This is well known to Hanumàn, who constantly wor-
ships the blessed feet of Sitápati; he has a thorough mas-
tery of the secret of the various creeds centering round
Hari, Hara, Bhaskara (Sun), Time, Karma, etc.; he has taken
286 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
the form of the foremost ` among monkeys; he is adored by
Indra; he is the protector of Tyágar&ja and is ever happy
in being all these;
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“NI DAYACHE RAMA” (Yadukulakámbhóji)
By your grace, I have attained the everlasting bliss:
Your physical constitution is of the Essence of Nada Brahma;
you are one of soft words; your ornamentis pure musical
sound; the words of Tyágaràja are your excelent garment:
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"SAMAJA VARAGAMANA" (Hindólam)
Oh bewitching Lord, shininq like a beacon light on the
mountain of NÀda of the seven swaras born of the Pranava
which is the source of all Vedanta! Oh adept in the Nectar-
like music born of the SAma Veda! Oh you who resorted to
the Yáàdava Race, who delighted in the playing of the flute,
protect me, Oh Lord of magnificent gait, ‘the Sun who
makes the lotus of goodmen's heart blossom | Oh celebrated
Lord who transcends time !
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NADATANUMANISAM” (Chittaranjani)
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I bow to Sankara, the embodiment of Nada, with my
mind and body. To Him, the essence of blissful Sàmaveda,
the best of Vedas, I bow every time. To Him, who is de-
lighting in the art of seven Svaras, Sa- Ri-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha- Ni,
born of His five faces, Sadyojata etc, I bow; to Him, the
destroyer of Kala, the protector of pure-hearted Tyagaraja,
I bow.
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" NANU BROVAKANU" (Sankarabharanam)
Oh Rama! I will not leave hold of you, unless and
until you protect me. I have secured you to rid myself of
my impurity, just as a man searching for a lost trifling coin
comes by a precious jem, just as one expecting ragi-gruel
comes by nectar, just as an exhausted swimmer finds a float
for his hold and rest, justas a pilgrim starting for Tirtha
finds it in front of him, just asa woman, about to lose her
modesty, comes by a cloth; Oh you incomparable friend |
I have conceived you as the spirit of the scriptures.
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“VADDANUNDUNADE” (Varali)
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Oh Lotus-eyed one easily accessible to Tyagarsjal To
be with youis best, Oh incomparable Lord of mirrorlike
face and enchanting limbs! 1 shall worship you with flowers
of gold, shall do devout service to you, decorate you and
embrace you. I shall dance before you, entertain you with
charming talk and music and feel happy. You are the
embodiment of Satvaguna. My mind is firmly fixed in you
and does not go out anywhere: I shall thus have my
heart's desire gratified:
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“NIVE NANNEDA JESITE" (Sowráshtra)
If, knowing my mind, you yourself abandon me, to
whom shall I complain ?
I have worshipped you thinking that my desires will be
fulfilled, and you harass me; itis not proper; what is my
crime? you protect me, now and here.
. Thave been attracted to you, knowing that the Lord
Siva himself has been constantly praising that devotion to
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299 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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Rima is ihe best type of devotion and seeing that true
devotees are all in rapture over your Sakti. Ihave taken a
resolve always to keep the company of the good and the
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“BHUVINI DASUDANE” (Sriranjani)
Have I uttered anything false in the great desire of
being your servant ?
ave Itaken to the bypaths, seeking men devoid of
knowledge ? Protect me,
Bthüyi- Bhdva— Sthira- Bhakti 293
Great weal or woe, I have not given way to grief: Well
treated or ill-treated by my compeers, I have held fast to
your blessed feet as my sole refuge:
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"VIDAJÁLADURÁ" (Janaranjani)
Listen, Oh Rama! It is not possible for my mind to let
go its hold on your holy feet, though it may be tossed about
in a state of distress caused by entertaining unrealizable
desires. Whatever tasks I might undertake, whatever
unseeable sights 1 might see, I have regarded them all as
yourself and felt delighted that I did so.
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DHARANU NI SARIDAIVAMU" (Varali)
I have not found in this Universe a God like you: Oh
Raghuvara! Do you hesitate still to be my prop? Pray,
protect me and show me your grace: Your blessed feet are
the sole object of my meditation and your mercy is my
wealth and eternal bliss.
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NENARUNCHINANU (Malawi)
I have fixed my mind on you, on your holy feet, as you
are the sole upholder of everything in the Universe, Oh you
wind that sweeps away the cloud of heinous sins! For
the sake of maintaining my family and children, I cannot
bring myself to be so hard-hearted as to learn and adopt
the deceitful modes and talks of this wicked age:
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"CHALLAGA NATO" (Végavahini)
Pray, deign to bless me by lisping a few gentle words
to me. Oh Lord! The Protector of the good! I am irresis-
tably attached to you in my heart. Do not take note of my
faults: You have found use even forthe serpentas your
bed.
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"NI VERA KULA DHANAMU" (Bégada)
You alone are my family wealth. You alone are ever my
life: 118 my fault that I have not known this till now: Pray,
forgive and bless me: Oh Lord Rama! Oh repository of
Supreme Bliss! Oh the highest! Oh self-shining One!
feet - '???????????????' - ???
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"KORIVACHCHITINAYYA" (Bilahari)
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Oh Kodandapàni! King of kings! I have come to you
with intense longing in order that my eyes may feast on your
superbly beautiful form and that my mind may have the
rare treasure of your Grace to meditate upon, and also on
account of the fact that you are replete with countless good
qualities;
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"SAMUKHANA NILVA" (Kokilavarali)
Is it given to anybody but Mahátmas, like Sità, the
daughter of ever-forgiving Mother Earth, and Lakshmana to
have the rare privilege of being in the blessed presence of
the Lord ? Even Brahma and other Devas and Dik-pálakas,
who could not have the fortune to see Him in the Milk
Ocean had to join together and pray hard to achieve it:
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300 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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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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