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Similes
ennaDO rakshincitE-saurAshTraM
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja asks Lord to assure him that His grace would come, by citing three examples -
- sUrya sending aruNa, early in the morning, to assure people that he would surely rise.
- kAvEri sending Western breeze and making the springs well up, as assurance for her arrival soon.
- Lord rAma asking LakshmaNa to crown vibhIshaNa as the sovereign king of lankA.
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enta muddO - bindu mAlini
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja gives a simile about impossibility, of beholding the charm and elegance of Lord, by those who are besieged by the thoughts of lust -
- dutta pAla ruci teliyu sAmyamE!
- Much like jug, knowing the taste of milk!
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kanna talli - sAvEri
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja gives a simile why Lord's devotee need not worry -
- venna uNDa, nEtiki evaraina vesana paDudurA?
- Will anyone worry about ghee when there is butter?
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intakanna telpa - sAvEri
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja gives three similes for indispensability of the Lord for his life -
- nITi lOni rAjIvamu
- ghanamunu kOru cAtakamu
- rajanI ISu jUcu kumudamu
- Like a fish living only in water
- Like the cAtaka bird yearning for rain-cloud
- Like the white Lily looking forward for the moon (for blossoming)
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tera tIyaga - gauLipantu
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja asks the Lord to remove his inner screens of 'pride' etc. which hide darSan of the Lord. He gives the following similes -
- matsyamu Akali koni kAlamucE magnamaina rItini;
- accamaina dIpa sannidhini, marugu, aDabaDi, ceracinaTTu;
- iravondaga bhujiyincu samayamuna, Iga tagulu rItini;
- hari dhyAnamu sEyu vELa, cittamu, antyaju vADaku pOyinaTTu;
- vAguramu ani teliyaka, mRga gaNamulu vacci tagulu rItini.
- like fish hungrily plunging into the hands of death (by biting the bait);
- like a screen hindering clear, lighted sannidhi of the Lord by obstructing it;
- like while eating nicely, fly is found in the food;
- like while meditating on Lord hari, mind wandering to the locality of low people;
- like herds of animals coming and falling into snare without knowing it to be so.
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kAru vElpulu - kalyANi
In this kRti, SrI tyAgarAja states that 'kAru vElpulu nIku sari' (other Gods would not become to equal to You - rAma) and gives the following similes -
- kAruku jilakara sambAku - fine rice and coarse rice,
- diviTiki dIpamu - a lamp to a torch,
- kAvETiki kAluvala - canals to river kAvEri,
- tammi vairiki tArakala - stars to moon,
- kamma viltuniki kAnti narula - radiance of men to that of cupid and
- sAgaramunaku sarassu lake to an ocean.
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SrI rAma jaya rAma - varALi
In the kRti, SrI tyAgarAja uses two similes -
- to describe the nature of universe -
- tAmara Aku nIru vidhamu prapancamu; tatvamu kAdu;
- Universe is like (a) water (droplet) on lotus leaf’; it isn’t reality;
- to describe the difficultly in approaching the Lord -
- gajja muNDla mIda tagulukonna baTTa, grakkuna tIya vaSamA?
- accuga, bhavamuna tagulukonna madi, vaccunA nI vaddaku?
- Is it possible to quickly remove a cloth entangled on Fever Nut thorns?
- Exactly, can a mind entangled in the (ocean of) Worldly Existence come to Your proximity so easily?
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pAhi ramA ramaNa - varALi
In order to seek protection from SrI rAma, SrI tyAgarAja cites the following similes -
- ahaha ciluka kUna, brahm(A)stramunaku tagunA?
- cEti malle pUvu, guNDrAtiki Orva pOdu;
- dOsa paNDuku eTTu tOcunu inupa kaTTu?
- venna, katti debbaku OrcukonunA?
- talli taNDri brOvakuNTE, tanayuniki E drOva?
- Alas! Would a parrot chick deserve a missile of brahmA?
- Hand-held jasmine flower won’t bear a pestle.
- How would an iron clad feel like to yellow melon fruit?
- Would butter withstand a blow of dagger?
- What is the way out for the child, if the parents are not protecting him?
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ninnADanEla - kannaDa
In pallavi Sri tyAgarAja asks 'ninnADanEla' - why should You be blamed? Then, he gives similes in caraNas to indicate that God dispenses grace according to one's own karma -
- karmamunaku taginaTlu, kAryamulu naDucunu; Events happen according to one’s past actions;
- dharmamunaku taginaTlu, daivamu brOcunu; God dispenses (His grace) according to (merits and demerits of) one’s deeds;
- cittamunaku taginaTlu, siddhiyu kalgunu; Success results according to one’s will;
- vittamunaku taginaTlu, vEDuka naDucunu; Show runs according to the amount (of money) paid.
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tanayuni brOva-bhairavi
In pallavi, Sri tyAgarAja asks - 'tanayuni brOva janani vaccunO talli vadda bAluDu pOnO? 'Would the mother come to protect her child or would the child approach the mother?' Then he gives three similes in the caraNas -
- vatsamu veNTa dhEnuvu canunO? Would the cow go behind the calf?
- vAridamunu kani pairulu canunO? would the crops go looking for the cloud?
- matsya kaNTiki viTuDu veDalunO? would the paramour go to (the place of) his woman?
The answer to the three questions posed in caraNa are ‘no’ – the cow does not go behind the calf – the cow leads; crops do not go on the look out of clouds – the clouds come; the paramour does not go to the place of his beloved – she comes to him.
The implication is that the Lord should be benevolent to the devotee, otherwise any amount of effort by the devotee will not fructify.
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rAmA nIyeDa - kharahara priya
In pallavi Sri tyAgarAja asks the question - 'nIyeDa prEma rahitulaku nAma ruci telusunA? 'Can the taste of Your name be known to those who are devoid of love towards You?' Then, he gives three similes -
- kAmini vEsha dhAriki sAdhvI naDatalEmaina telusunA? Can anything about the behaviour of a chaste woman be known to an actor donning the robe of a woman?
- tana saukhyamu tAnerugakanorulaku tagu bOdhana sukhamA? Even without one self experiencing one's happiness, can appropriate advice to others produce happiness (to those who receive it)?
- ghanamagu puli gO rUpamaitE SiSuvuku pAlu kalgunA? If a terrific tiger puts on the garb of a cow, would even milk be produced for the child (or calf)?
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cEra rAvadEmi - rIti gauLa
In caraNa Sri tyAgarAja asks - 'talli taNDri lEni bAla tana nAthu kOru rIti palumAru vEDukoNTE pAlinca rAdA? - 'In the same manner as a young (married) woman, having no parents, would seek her husband, when I beseech You repeatedly, can’t You protect me?
When there is some tiff between husband and wife, if the wife has parents, she would threaten to go to her parents'. However, if she has no parents, she puts up with the husband. SrI tyAgarAja brings out that, the attitude of a true devotee should be like that of a parentless woman so that she can ever seek her husband – the Lord - whole heartedly. To a devotee, worldly attachments are like parents to a woman. Development of an attitude of 'destituteness' is what referred here. sItA's fire ordeal and her subsequent resentment-less attitude in joining SrI rAma is an example of such an attitude. This is true 'SaraNAgati' – prapatti.
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nannu viDici - rItigauLa
This kRti forms part of dance-drama 'prahlAda bhakti vijayaM'.
In anupallavi, prahlAda tells Lord - 'ninnu bAsiyara nimishamOrvanurA' - 'I shall not bear separation from You even for half a minute'.
Similes used -
- taramu kAniyeNDa vELa kalpa taru nIDa doriginaTlAyenI vELa; It is as if when there is unbearable heat, finding shadow of the celestial tree;
- abdhilO munigi SvAsamunu paTTi ANi mutyamu kannaTlAye; It is as if diving into sea holding breath and finding a perfect pearl;
- vaDalu tagiliyunna vELa goppa vaDa-gaNDlu kurisinaTlAyenu; It is as if when it is parched, there is heavy hailstorm;
- vasudhanu khananamu cEsi dhana bhANDamabbina rIti kanukoNTi; In the same manner as quarrying the earth and attaining a treasure trove, I discovered You;
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manasu nilpa - AbhOgi
In the kRti SrI tyAgarAja asks 'manasu nilpa Sakti lEka pOtE madhura ghaNTa virula pUjEmi jEyunu?' : If one does not have the capacity to restrain his mind, what will worship with sweet-sounding bell and flowers accomplish? Then goes on to give three similes -
- ghana dur-maduDai tA munigitE kAvEri mandAkiniyeTu brOcunu? - Being most arrogant, if one takes a holy dip, how can (river) kAvEri or (river) gangA save him?
- sOmidamma sogasu-gANDra kOritE sOma-yAji svargArhuDaunO? - Will the performer of sOma sacrifice become eligible for heaven if his wife desires a beau?
- kAma krOdhuDu tapambonarcitE kAci rakshincunO? - If a person given to desires (or lust) and anger, performs penance, will it (penance) protect him by fructifying?
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anyAyamu - kApi
In the kRti Sri tyAgarAja beseeches the Lord 'not to do injustice to him by refusing to relieve the probles created by his elder brother'. Towards this he cites three examples -
- jaDa bharatuDu jinka SiSuvunu-etti baDalika tIrcaga lEdA? Didn’t jaDa bharata relieve the fatigue of the frightened fawn by taking it into his fold? (Story of jaDa bharata - in brief)
- kaDalini munigina girini-oka kUrmamu kApADaga lEdA? Didn’t a tortoise save the mountain mandara which submerged into the sea? (Refers to kUrmAvatAra of Lord vishNu)
- puDamini pANDava drOhini dharma putruDu brOvaga lEdA? Didn’t yudhishThira save duryOdhana who had malice towards pANDavas? Dvaitana Incident
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ennALLu nI trOva - kApi
In caraNam 14, SrI tyAgarAja states 'pUlu-ammi bratikina vAru pullalu-amma pilva rAru' - Those who have been earning their livelihood by selling flowers, will not come to sell fire-wood even if invited.
By this simile, SrI tyAgarAja conveys that 'I have adopted the path of bhakti; I shall not change it even I am asked to do'. He further amplifies in the next caraNa, 'that would be slighting You if I stoop so' because there is delay in Lord's grace.
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mIvalla guNa dOsha-kApi
In pallavi Sri tyAgarAja states 'nAvallnE kAni, mIvalla guNa dOsham(E)mi?' - 'What is the fault because of You; rather, all faults are mine only'. Then he goes on to give three similes in caraNas.
- bangAru bAguga padivanne gAkuNTE angalArcucu battunADukOnEla? If the gold is not highly pure, why grumble and blame the goldsmith?
- tana tanaya prasava vEdanakOrva lEkuNTE anayayallunipai ahankAra paDanEla? If one’s daughter is unable to bear labour pain, why be angry with the son-in-law?
- E janmamuna pAtramerigi dAnambIka pUjinca maraci vElpulanADukOnEla? Having failed to give charity to deserving persons and having failed to perform worship of the Lord in any (of the previous) births, why blame the Gods (for one’s fate)?
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aDigi sukhamu - madhyamAvati
In pallavi Sri tyAgarAja asks 'aDigi sukhamulu evvaru anubhavincirirA?' - 'Has anyone ever enjoyed comforts by entreating You?'. Then he goes to give six examples in the caraNas.
- ASrayinci varamu aDigina sIta aDaviki pOnAye - sItA asked a boon, and she had to go to the forest;
- rakkasi ishTamu aDuganapuDE mukku pOye - SUrpanakha asked You to fulfill her desire (of being wife); she lost her nose;
- nArada mauni varamu aDuga vanita rUpuDAye - nArada asked for a boon (to know the nature of mAyA); he became a woman;
- Asinci durvAsuDu-annamu aDuga apuDE mandamAye - sage durvAsa asked (the pANDavas) food; he lost appetite;
- sutuni vEDuka jUDa dEvaki aDuga yaSOda jUDanAye - dEvaki desired to behold the spectacle of child-hood sports) of her son; but, it was yaSOda who happened to behold His sports;
- satulu-ella rati bhikshamu aDuga vAri vAri patula vIDanAye - gOpis asked for union with the Lord; but they had to abandon their respective husbands.