Notes

Variations - (Pathanthara)
¹ – sItA –sITa.
⁴ – akhaNDa vRttito – akhaNDa bhaktito : In all the books, it is given as 'akhaNDa vRttitO'; only in the book of TKG, it is given as 'akhaNDa bhaktitO'; in the same book, 'akhaNDa vRttitO' is given as an alternative. While 'akhaNDa vRtti' is 'advaitic', 'akhaNDa bhakti' is 'dvaita'. Whatever may have been the final opinion of SrI tyAgarAja, he has sung many kRtis which brings out his advaitic leanings notwithstanding his bhakti. For example, please refer to kRti 'dvaitamu sukhamA' – rAga rIti gauLa. Therefore, this cannot be taken as normal pAThAntara but an interpolation. As 'akhaNDa vRttitO' is given in all the books, 'akhaNDa bhaktitO' is to be taken as an interpolation.
⁵ – vIri – vAri.
¹¹ – cEyi paTTi dayanu brOcunO – cEyi baTTE dayanu jUtunO.

Top

References
⁴ – akhaNDa vRtti - akhaNDa vRtti “The mental ‘thought’ that occurs at the moment of realization, when Brahman is effectively ‘known’ is called akhaNDAkAra vRRitti but ... this is not a knowing as such but the mind ‘taking on the form of the undivided.’”
Also refer to - panca daSi - Chapter 5 and song of Tamil Saint tAyumAnavar regarding akhaNDAkAra yOgAnubhUti

Top

Comments
General – In some books, the statements in caraNas 1 to 5 are attributed to a ‘darSana’ (vision) which SrI tyAgarAja had.

² – valvalu diddi – lakshmaNa is stated to be always busy carrying out the orders SrI rAma; when he goes near the Lord, he makes up his garments to be presentable.

³ – caNDa Satrughna – Satrughna is considered a terror to his enemies.

⁶ – dharma artha kAma mOksha – pursuit of all these, for their own sake, results only in rebirths for enjoyment of the fruits thereof. The great telugu composer and devotee of Lord venkatESvara – annamAcArya, in his kRti ‘nAnATi batuku’ says - tegadu pApamu tIradu puNyamu – meaning ‘the sins will not abate and the merits would not be exhausted’. For the complete song, please visit the web site -

⁷ – mOksha –SrI tyAgarAja considers even mOksha to be of lesser value because, in that state, the distinction of Lord and devotee vanishes and, consequently, the devotee cannot express his devotion to the Lord. See note also.

Top
⁸ – marmamu – SrI tyAgarAja has not spelt out the ‘nature of secret’; However, from the context, it is clear that devotion to Lord is both the path and the goal – and that is the secret. This is what nArada bhakti sUtras say on devotion –

amRtasvarUpA ca || 3 ||

“And in it own intrinsic nature, Divine Love is nothing less than the immortal bliss of freedom (Mukti) itself, which comes unsolicited by the grace of God and by self-sacrifice.” (Translation by Swami Tyagisananda) nArada bhakti sUtras

⁹ – dAnamu – In view the four-fold purushArtha – dharma, artha, kAma and mOksha specified, this word ‘dAnamu’ seems to stand apart. Therefore, in my humble opinion, this may not refer to ‘gift’ or ‘donation’. This word has another meaning – ‘dividing’. It has accordingly been translated.

¹⁰ – indra Sarmamu – indra is always worried of losing his status to a more meritorious person.
Top