pallavi
cinna nADE nA 1ceyi paTTitivE
anupallavi
enna rAni(y)UDigamu kaikoni
entO 2nannu pAlanamu sEtun(a)ni (cinna)
caraNam
iTTi vELa 3viDanADudAm(a)nO
4ElukondAm(a)ni(y)encinAvO teliya
5guTTu brOvavE suguNa vAri nidhi
goppa daivamA tyAgarAja nuta (cinna)
pallavi
cinna nADE nA ceyi paTTitivE
Isn't it that You held (paTTitivE) my (nA) hand (ceyi) even in my child-hood (cinna nADE)?
anupallavi
enna rAni-UDigamu kaikoni
entO nannu pAlanamu sEtunu-ani (cinna)
Accepting (kaikoni) my numerous (enna rAni) (literally uncountable) services (UDigamu) (rAniyUDigamu),
isn't it that You held my hand even my child-hood assuring (ani) me (nannu) much (entO) that ‘I shall look after' (pAlanamu sEtunu) (sEtunani)?
caraNam
iTTi vELa viDanADudAmu-anO
ElukondAmu-ani-encinAvO teliya
guTTu brOvavE suguNa vAri nidhi
goppa daivamA tyAgarAja nuta (cinna)
However, at this (iTTi) moment (vELa), I do not know (teliya) what You have decided (encinAvO) (literally thought) –
whether (anO) to abandon (viDanADudAmu) (literally ‘let’s abandon’) (viDanaDudAmanO) or (ani) govern (ElukondAmu) (literally ‘let’s govern’) (ElukondAmaniyencinAvO) me; please protect (brOvavE) my honour (guTTu), O Ocean (vAri nidhi) of virtues (suguNa)!
O Excellent (goppa) Lord (daivamA)! O Lord Praised (nuta) by this tyAgarAja! isn't that You held my hand even my child-hood?
Notes
Variations - (Pathanthara)
2 – nannu – ninnu : The words 'pAlanu sEtunu' (I shall protect) are that of Lord. The word 'entO' is not that of Lord. If the word 'entO' is not there, 'ninnu' could be added to the words of Lord 'ninnu pAlanamu sEtunu' (I shall protect You) – accordingly, 'ninnu' could be correct. However, as 'entO' is present, it (entO) has to be added to 'nannu'. Therefore, 'ninnu' may not be appropriate. Such problems arise in many kRtis because SrI tyAgarAja mixes direct and indirect speech freely.
4 – ElukondAmani – Elukondumani : It is an 'either – or' situation. 'encinAvO' is common for both situtations – 'viDanADudAmani encinAvO – ElukondAmani encinAvO'; however, SrI tyAgrAja has shortened the first option as 'viDanADudAmanO'. Accordingly, 'ElukondAmani' is appropriate.
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References
3 – viDanADudAmanO – 'whether to abandon'. In the kRti 'gAravimpa rAdA' – rAga ghaNTA, SrI tyAgarAja states 'konna sati rUpameTlunnA guNamunna celi celimi vIDaranna' - 'no matter how the look, of a women gotten in marriage, is, if she is virtuous, one would not leave her companionship'.
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Comments
1 - ceyi paTTitivE - The words 'ceyi paTTu', though may mean 'hold hand', it specifically signifies marriage. As seen from all the books, the traditional meaning given to these words in this kRti seems to be 'hold hand'. Accordingly, it has been adopted here. However, it would be more appropriate to translate the pallavi as 'Isn't it that You married me even in my child-hood?' Accordingly, this kRti is sung in 'nAyikA' bhAva (kAntAsakti – 'love of Lord as that of a wife' - as per definition in the nAarada bhakti sUutra.
5 – guTTu – this word generally means 'secret'. However, there are additional meanings – 'honour', 'reputation', 'public esteem'. In view of the ensuing word 'brOvavE' (protect), 'honour' and similar meanings are appropriate here.
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