pallavi
E nOmu nOcitimO 1celulam(E) dAnam(o)sagitimO
anupallavi
SrI nAthu koluv(a)mare 2celulu cekkiLLu(n)ottucunu
mAnaka mOv(A)nucu candr(A)nanu 3hRdayamuna(n)unca (E)
caraNam
caraNam 1
4strI ratnamulu manamu celulu SrI mincu yauvanamu
vArija lOcanuDu 5celulu pAlAye gada(v)amma
6kOrikal(I)DEranu yadu vIruni kanulAra jUDan(E)
pallavi
E nOmu nOcitimO celulamu-E dAnamu-osagitimO
O Friends (celulamu)! What (E) (celulamE) austerities (nOmu) did we observe (nOcitimO); what (E) donations (dAnamu) did we offer (osagitimO) (dAnamosagitimO)!
anupallavi
SrI nAthu koluvu-amare celulu cekkiLLu-ottucunu
mAnaka mOvi-Anucu candra-Ananu hRdayamuna-unca (E)
O Friends (celulu)! We got the audience (koluvu amare) (koluvamare) of kRshNa - Consort (nAtha) (nAthu) of lakshmI (SrI)!
What austerities did we observe and what donations did we offer in order to seat (unca) Him - Moon (candra) Faced (Anana) (candrAnanu) - in our hearts (hRdayamuna) (hRdayamunanunca) by pressing cheek to cheek (cekkiLLu ottucunu) (cekkiLLunottucunu), and further (mAnaka) (literally not desisting), kissing His lips (mOvi Anucu)!
caraNam
caraNam 1
strI ratnamulu manamu celulu SrI mincu yauvanamu
vArija lOcanuDu celulu pAlAye gada-amma
kOrikalu-IDEranu yadu vIruni kanulAra jUDanu-(E)
O Friends (celulu)! We are (manamu) jewels (ratnamulu) among women (strI) whose youth (yauvanamu) surpasses (mincu) that of lakshmI (SrI);
Isn’t (gada) (gadavamma) that kRshNa - Lotus (vArija) Eyed (lOcanuDu) has become ours (pAlAye)?
What austerities did we observe and what donations did we offer in order to behold (jUDanu) kRshNa - Hero (vIruni) of yAdavas (yadu) - to the satiation of our eyes (kanulAra) to the fulfillment (IDEranu) of our wishes (kOrikalu) (kOrikalIDErenu)!
Notes
Variations - (Pathanthara)
1 – celulamE dAna – This is how it is given in all the books. This would be split as ‘celulamu+E dAna’ or ‘celula+m+E dAna’. If it is ‘celula’, then it would mean ‘of girls’, whereas, here it is an address - ‘celulu’ as given in all other places. It is, however, not clear whether ‘celulamu’ is a correct form of group addressing.
2 – celulu cekkiLLu – celula cekkiLLu. As given in all the caraNams, it should be ‘celulu’ here also. Further, in the present context, in view of the words ‘candrAnanu hRdayAnanunca’ (to seat the Moon Faced in the heart), it should be ‘celulu’ and not ‘celula’. If it is taken as ‘celula’, the whole meaning will change – that kRshNa was pressing his cheeks with those of the girls – which is not correct as per the story. It is the gOpis who were taking the initiative; kRshNa plays a passive role.
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2 – cekkiLLu(n)ottucunu (cheek to cheek) – cekkiLLu nokkucunu (pinching the cheeks). In the books, the meaning derived is 'juxtapose our cheeks'. In view of the ensuing word ‘mOvAnucu’ (kissing the lips), it should be ‘ottucunu’ (cheek to cheek) and not ‘nokkucu’ (pinching). Therefore, ‘cekkiLLunottucunu' has been adopted.
3 – hRdayamunanunca – hRdayAnanunca.
4 – strI ratnamulu - SrI ratnamulu. As ‘strI ratnamulu’ is appropriate in the present context, the same has been adopted.
5 – celulu pAlAye – celula pAlAye. In all the caraNas, it is given as ‘celulu’ (addressing form). Accordingly, ‘celulu pAlAye’ has been adopted. However, ‘celula pAlAye’ is also appropriate. In that case, ‘celula’ would be translated as ‘of girls’. In the other case, these words (of girls) are implied.
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6 – kOrikalIDEranu – kOrikalIDErenu. In the first instance, it would be translated as 'to the fulfillment of desires’ and joined to pallavi; in the second instance, it would be translated as 'our desires have been fulfilled’. The first version seems to be appropriate, in keeping with the rest of caraNams.
7 - sangatigAn(a)ngamulu - sangatigAn(a)ngamunu.
8 – cengaTanu – cengaTlanu.
9 – rEgaganu – rEganu. In the present context, ‘rEgaganu’ seems to be appropriate.
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References
Comments
This kRti is part of the dance-drama ‘nauka caritraM’ – The Boat Story.
Background - The gOpis meet kRshNa at the yamunA river and contemplate travel in a boat. kRshNa says that it is not within the capacity of women to steer boat and says he will do the job; however, gOpis do not believe Him and think that He is up to some trick. After Lord convinces them, they all travel in the boat. kRshNa sports with each one of the gOpis individually (taking so many forms). In this kRti, gOpis are wondering as to what austerities they performed in order to enjoy like this with the Lord.
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