pallavi
intakanna telpa taramA jagad-
ISvara nE nIk(i)taramA 1nItO (inta)
caraNam
caraNam 1
nITi lOni 2rAjIvamurA rAma
ninnu nammi bratuku 3jIvamurA (inta)
pallavi
intakanna telpa taramA jagad-
ISvara nE nIku-itaramA nItO (inta)
Is it possible (taramA) to tell (telpa) You (nItO) more than this (intakanna), O Lord (ISvara) of the Universe (jagat) (jagadISvara)? Am (nE) I alien (itaramA) to You (nIku) (nIkitaramA)?
caraNam
caraNam 1
nITi lOni rAjIvamurA rAma
ninnu nammi bratuku jIvamurA (inta)
O Lord rAma! Like a fish (rAjivamu) (rAjIvamurA) living only in water (nITi lOni), this jIva (jIvamurA) survives (bratuku) trusting (nammi) You (ninnu).
Is it possible to tell You more than this, O Lord of the Universe? Am I alien to You?
Notes
Variations - (Pathanthara)
1 – nItO – nAtO. In the present context, ‘nAtO’ does not seem to be appropriate. Therefore, ‘nItO’ has been adopted.
5 – karuNE – karuNa. In view of ‘mayamE’ appearing in second line of this caraNa (see note below), ‘karuNE’ has been accepted.
7 - mayamE – mAyamE. As ‘mayamE’ seems to appropriate, the same has been adopted.
8 – mUrti – kIrti : mUrtE - kIrtE. As ‘mUrti’ and ‘kIrti’ are appropriate, the same have been adopted.
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References
4 - cAtaka – bird Cucculus melanoleucus – said to subsist on rain drops.
6 - rAja yOgamu – A configuration of the planets, denoting the highest prosperity and honor to one born under its influence – (Source - Tamil Dictionary). A constellation under which princes are born or a configuration of planets etc at birth denoting a person destined for kingship – (Source – Monier’s Sanskrit Dictionary). Generally, one of the astrological predictions when the person is destined to receive a windfall. For more information on – rAja yOga
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Comments
2 - rAjIvamu – Means 'blue Lotus Flower'- and 'a species of fish – Cyprinus niloticus'; looking at other similes used by SrI tyAgarAja in the subsequent caraNas , to my understanding, this word should be translated as ‘fish’ and not ‘lotus’ because, it is the fish – and not Lotus - which will die the moment it is out of water. Though lotus may also wither away after some time, ‘fish’ seems to be more appropriate.
3 - jIvamurA – means ‘person’ and not life – in the same way as jIvAtmA.
7 – nI mayamE – tanmayata – absorption in the object.
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