gandhamu puyyarugA
Sahityam
Pallavi
gandhamu puyyarugA¹ pannIru
gandhamu puyyarugA²
Show Word Meanings
gandhamu puyyarugA²
Gopis applied sandal paste;
they applied sandal paste mixed with rose-water.
Anupallavi
andamaina yadu nandanupai
kunda radana-liravondaga parimaLa (gandhamu)
Show Word Meanings
kunda radana-liravondaga parimaLa (gandhamu)
On the handsome son of the Yadu race,
the jasmine-toothed Gopis applied fragrant sandal paste such that it set firmly.
Charanams
tilakamu didderugA kastUri tilakamu didderugA
kalakalamani mukha kaLa kani sokkucu
palukula-namRtamu-lolikeDu swAmiki (gandhamu)
Show Word Meanings
kalakalamani mukha kaLa kani sokkucu
palukula-namRtamu-lolikeDu swAmiki (gandhamu)
[The Gopis] adorned the Lord with musk (mixed) tilaka;
bewitched by beholding the winsome lustre of His face,
they applied sandal paste to the Lord in whose words nectar oozes out.
cElamu kaTTerugA baGgaru cElamu kaTTerugA
mAlimitO gOpAla bAlulatO-
nAla mEpina vizAla nayanuniki (gandhamu)
Show Word Meanings
mAlimitO gOpAla bAlulatO-
nAla mEpina vizAla nayanuniki (gandhamu)
[The Gopis] draped the Lord with golden garments!
And on the large-eyed one who lovingly
tended cattle along with the cowherd-boys, (they applied…)
hAratu-letterugA mutyAla³ hAratu-letterugA
nArI maNulaku vAramu yauvana
vArakamosageDu vArijAkSuniki (gandha)
Show Word Meanings
nArI maNulaku vAramu yauvana
vArakamosageDu vArijAkSuniki (gandha)
[The Gopis] performed a pearl arati!
On the lotus-eyed one who offers eternal youth
as payment4 to the gems among women, (they applied…)
pUjalu sEyarugA manasAra pUjalu sEyarugA
jAjulu⁵ mari virivAjulu davanamu
rAjita tyAgarAja nutuniki⁶ (gandhamu)
Show Word Meanings
jAjulu⁵ mari virivAjulu davanamu
rAjita tyAgarAja nutuniki⁶ (gandhamu)
[The Gopis] performed Pujas wholeheartedly,
with jasmine, tuscan jasmine and mugwort;
On the effulgent one praised by Tyagaraja (they applied…)
Renditions
Variations
- 2 gandhamu puyyarugA - not repeated in some books.
- 3 hAratuletterugA – hAramuletterugA : hAratuletterugA - is appropriate.
- 6 tyAgarAja nutuniki – tyAgarAja nutunipai . If ‘tyAgarAja nutuniki ’ is correct, then it would be connected to ‘pUjalu sEyarugA ’; however if ’tyAgarAja nutunipai ’ is correct, then it would be joined with Pallavi ‘gandhamu puyyarugA ’.
Commentary
- ‘‘‘This is part of the dance-drama ‘Nauka Charitram’ – The Boat Story.’’’ Background - The Gopis meet Krishna at the Yamuna river and travel in a boat happily. In their excitement of meeting Krishna, Gopis become proud thinking that Krishna is their property. In order to remove their proudiness, Krishna creates a storm in the river and as the boat is tossed about, it develops a crack and water starts entering the boat. Krishna feigns illness and the Gopis become desparate as to how they would reach the shore and ensure safety of Krishna. In order to save the boat, listening to the words of Krishna, they take off their blouses to plug the hole. But, as these also were washed off, Krishna asks them to remove all their clothes to plug the hole in the boat. Even as these are washed away, they become desperate and surrender themselves to the Lord. Seeing their condition, the Lord takes pity on them and restores order and the Gopis get back their clothes. In their renewed joy, they celebrate by worshipping the Lord. Now, the song.
- 1 gandhamu puyyarugA – titalkamu didderugA – cElamu kaTTerugA – hAratulu etterugA – pUjalu sEyarugA – These verbs (puyyarugA etc.) cannot be adequately translated in English language. This is sort of wonderment.
- 3
mutyAla hArati
– normally Harati is performed with Kunkuma (vermilion) mixed with water wherein camphor is lighted. Here, the Harati is being performed with pearls.
- It is also a part of the Ekanta Seva of Lord of Tirumala introduced by a Yogini Venkamamba.
- 4 According to custom of Harati, the person to whom Harati is offered is supposed to give a payment to those performing it. In this case, the Lord offers eternal youth as the payment.
- 5 jAjulu virivAjulu davanamu – this could be joined either to the first line (of ‘worship’ – ‘pUjalu ’) or to the last line (of ‘shining’ – rAjita ). However, it is more appealing along with ‘pUjalu ’.