Kapali

Ragam: Mohanam

Talam: Adi

Composer: Papanasam Sivan

Version: T Rukmini

Meaning: (Courtesy: Sujatha, https://sujamusic.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/kapali/)  

 

pallavi

kApAli karuNai nilavu pozhi vadana madiyan oru

 

anupallavi

AbAla gopAlam Azhi shUz dalattavarum

bhUpAlarum ashTa dik pAlarum poTrum adbhuta

 

charaNam

madi punal aravu konDrai tumbai arugumattai punai mAsaDaiyAn

vidi talai mAlai mArban uritta kariya vempuliyin tOluDaiyAn

adira muzhangum uDukkaiyum tirushUlamum angiyum kurangamum ilangiDum kaiyyAn

tudi migu tirumEni muzhudum sAambal tulanga edir mangaiyar manam kavar jagan mOhana

 

Meaning: (Courtesy: https://sujamusic.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/kapali/ and R Shankar: https://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4126 )

 

In the pallavi, the composer describes the presiding deity of mylApUr (kapAlI) thus: He is the handsome (vadana - face, madiyan - like the moon - a handsome, charming man) one (oru) that grants/gives liberally/showers in abundance (pozhi) compasssion (karuNai) on his devotees on a permanent basis (nilavu).

His compassion (karuNai) pours (pozhi) like moonlight (nilavu), his face (vadana) is like a moon (madiyan) (=handsome), the one who holds a skull (kApAli).

 

In the anupallavi, the poet continues to describe him as the amazing/wondrous (adbhuta) one that is praised (pORRum/pOTrum) by one and all: by children/cowherds (Ap(b)AlagOpAlam), those (avar) who inhabit this land/earth (talam) that is surrounded (SUr) by the seas (Azhi), kings (bhUpAlar) and the deities/demi-gods that gaurd (pAlakarum) the eight (asTha) directions (dik).

The marvellous (arpuda) one who is worshipped by (pOtrum) by the young (bAla) cowherd gOpAlam) (= Krishna?), those from the place (dalattavar) surrounded (shUzh) by the ocean (Azhi), the kings (bhUpAlar) and the keepers (pAlar) (= deities) of the eight (ashta) directions (dik).

 

In the caraNam, SrI sivan goes on to describe him as the one whose matted locks (mASaDayAn) bear (punai) the moon (madi), the gangA (punal - river), and is adorned by konrai, tumbai, and unmattai (Umattai) flowers as well as the sacred aRuk(g)am grass, and a snake (aravam). He is the one whose chest (mArban) is adorned by a garland (mAlai) of heads (talai), one of which is brahmA's (vidhi) fifth head[1]. He wears garments made of skin (tOluDayAn) stripped (uritta) from an elephant (kariyin) and tiger (vempuli). He is the one who holds in his many bright/shining (ilangiDu) hands (kaiyAn) a drum (uDukkai) that sounds (muzhangum) very loudly (adira), a trident (triSUlam), the sacred fire (ank(g)i), and a deer (kurank(g)am). Even the ashes (SAmbal) that cover his skin (tirumEni) all over (muzhudum) seem to shine (tulangum) with the divine lusture that lights him up (dyutimigu) so much so, that this enchanter (mOhana)[2] of the world (jagam) captures (kavazh) the hearts/minds (manam) of women (magaiyar) who cross his path (edir).

He whose matted hair (masadaiyAn) is adorned (punai) with the moon (madi), the river (punal) (=Ganga), the snake (aravu), kondrai flower (=Indian laburnum, a yellow flower), tumbai flower (=leucas, a white wildflower), arugam grass and Umattai flower (=datura, a purple flower). He whose chest (mArbAn) is adorned by a garland (mAlai) of Brahma’s (vidi) head (talai), he who wears a skin (tOluDaiyAn) skinned (uritta) from a dark (kariya) [alternate : kariyin=of an elephant) mighty tiger (vem puli) . With his hands (kai) shining (ilangidum) with a drum (uDukkai) which makes a startling (adira) loud noise (muzhangum), a trident (tirushUlam), fire (angi) and a deer (kurangam). Worship well (tudi migu) the One who enchants the world (jagan mohana),  his sacred body (tiru mEni) shining (tulanga) with ashes (sAmbal), who captures the heart of (manam

kavar) the women (mangaiyar) who come before him (edir).

 

Pallavi:

 

Kapali Karunai Nilavu Pozhi Vadana madiyanoru

 

His compassion (karuNai) pours (pozhi) like moonlight (nilavu), his face (vadana) is like a moon (madiyan) (=handsome), the one who holds a skull (kApAli).

 

    1           2            3                4                          5           6            7            8

G ; ; ;      P ; ; ;      R ; S ;     S D S R  |               G ;  ; ;     DP DP   R ; S ;     S D S R                  ||

Ka           paa         li   - -      -  -   -   -                 Ka           paa  - - -  li   - -     -  -   -   -

 

G ; rgP   ; gp DP R ; S ;     ; ; ; ;        |               P D S – D   D P - P G    - G G D  P    - G R S R            ||

Ka           - paa      li   - -      -  -   -   -                 Karunai Ni la vu  Pozhi   Vadana ma   diyanoru

 

G ; rgP   ; gp dsdp R ; S ;   ; ; ; ;        |               P D S – D   D rs – dp D    - pd rs D P    - G dp  gr   sr ||

Ka           - paa ---   li   - -    -  -   -   -                 Karunai Ni la vu  Pozhi   Va- da- na ma   diya- no- ru-

 

srgpdS,   ; dp D P  R ; S ;   ; ; ; ;        |               P D S – D   D rs – dp D    - pd rs D P    - G dp  gr   sr ||

Ka           - paa ---   li   - -    -  -   -   -                 Karunai Ni la vu  Pozhi   Va- da- na ma   diya- no- ru-

 

srgpdS,   ; dp D P  R ; S ;   ; ; ; ;        |               sr G  rs    R  sd S   dp D    pd   rs   sd dp  pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka           - paa ---   li   - -    -  -   -   -                 Karu nai-Ni la- vu Po-zhi Va- da- na ma-di-ya-no- ru-

 

srgpdsrg   rs- dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;    |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka               - paa ---    li   - -  -   -   -                 Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

GR S ;    ;  dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;         |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka-   -       paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                      Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

Gr- Dp -r S -dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;      |               RD S ;    ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;  ||

Ka-   -          paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                   - - - -

 

 

Anupallavi:

 

AbAla gopAlam Azhi shUz dalattavarum

bhUpAlarum ashTa dik pAlarum poTrum adbhuta

 

In the anupallavi, the poet continues to describe him as the amazing/wondrous (adbhuta) one that is praised (pORRum/pOTrum) by one and all: by children/cowherds (Ap(b)AlagOpAlam), those (avar) who inhabit this land/earth (talam) that is surrounded (SUr) by the seas (Azhi), kings (bhUpAlar) and the deities/demi-gods that gaurd (pAlakarum) the eight (asTha) directions (dik).

 

 

The Kapaali who is praised by children/cowherds (Ap(b)AlagOpAlam) ..

 

    1           2            3                4            5         6            7            8

G ; ; P    ; ; D ;      S ; D- S   ; ; S ;    |  ; ; ; ;    ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;        ||

A     paa      la       Go  -  paa     lam

 

The Kapaali who is praised by children/cowherds (Ap(b)AlagOpAlam), and those (avar) who inhabit this land/earth (talam) that is surrounded (SUr) by the seas (Azhi),..

 

    1           2             3               4             5              6             7                  8

G ; ; P    ; ; D ;      D ; ; - G    R ; G ; |  SR G , p  RS ; S   SD Srs SD     DP D ;       ||

A     paa      la       Go  -  paa     lam    A-   zhi-  Shu- zda  la – Tta- -     va- rum

 

dpG  ; P ; ; D ;      D ; ; - G  R ; G ;   |  SR G , p  RS ; S   DS Rgr RS  Srs SD     DP               ||

A       paa     la      Go  -  paa     lam    A-   zhi-  Shu- da  la – Tha- -    va- --     rum-

 

Pd Srs sd  rs S   DP  D ;  D ; ; - G   R ; G ;     |  SR G , p  RS ; S   DS Rgr RS  Srs SD     DP               ||

A    - - - -  paa--  - -  la - Go  -  paa  -   lam      A-   zhi-  Shu- da  la – Tha- -    va- --     rum-

 

… the remarkable One (Adbhuta) praised (Potrum) by kings (bhUpAlar) and the deities/demi-gods that guard (pAlakarum) the eight (asTha) directions (dik).

 

    1           2             3                  4                        5                   6                   7                  8

D ; ;  S   ; ;  Srg     rs D ; D   , s -dp    D  ;    | D rs   sd s d    D P  dp G    GR  - ; d p   , g R   S ;           ||

Bhu—paa – la--  rum -  A      - shta- Di       kpaa—la- - -   rum- Po- -    trum-   A-     dbhu- ta

 

D ; ;   S  rG,  rsS  rsS D ; D   , s -dp    D  ;    | Rgr - S rs  D sd  P dp – dp G ; -d p   , g R   S ;             ||

Bhu - paa –    la--  rum -  A      - shta- Di       kpaa   la- -  rum- Po- -    trum-   A-     dbhu- ta

 

 

Chitta Swaram:

G ; ; P    G R S R    D ; ; - S    P D S R            | G ; ; - G    D  P  G R         G ; ; - S D P G R                 ||

G ; ; G    P D S R    D ; ; -  D   R S D P           | D ; ; -  G   R S D P            G ; ;  - S D P G R                ||

 

srgpdsrg   rs- dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;    |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka               - paa ---    li   - -  -   -   -                 Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

GR S ;    ;  dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;         |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka-   -       paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                      Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

Gr- Dp -r S -dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;      |               RD S ;    ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;  ||

Ka-   -          paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                   - - - -

 

 

Charanam

madi punal aravu konDrai tumbai arugumattai punai mAsaDaiyAn

vidi talai mAlai mArban uritta kariya vempuliyin tOluDaiyAn

adira muzhangum uDukkaiyum tirushUlamum angiyum kurangamum ilangiDum kaiyyAn

tudi migu tirumEni muzhudum sAambal tulanga edir mangaiyar manam kavar jagan mOhana

 

 

In the caraNam, SrI sivan goes on to describe him as the one whose matted locks (mASaDayAn) bear (punai) the moon (madi), the gangA (punal - river), and is adorned by konrai, tumbai, and unmattai (Umattai) flowers as well as the sacred aRuk(g)am grass, and a snake (aravam). He is the one whose chest (mArban) is adorned by a garland (mAlai) of heads (talai), one of which is brahmA's (vidhi) fifth head[1]. He wears garments made of skin (tOluDayAn) stripped (uritta) from an elephant (kariyin) and tiger (vempuli). He is the one who holds in his many bright/shining (ilangiDu) hands (kaiyAn) a drum (uDukkai) that sounds (muzhangum) very loudly (adira), a trident (triSUlam), the sacred fire (ank(g)i), and a deer (kurank(g)am). Even the ashes (SAmbal) that cover his skin (tirumEni) all over (muzhudum) seem to shine (tulangum) with the divine lusture that lights him up (dyutimigu) so much so, that this enchanter (mOhana)[2] of the world (jagam) captures (kavazh) the hearts/minds (manam) of women (magaiyar) who cross his path (edir).

 

 

He whose matted hair (masadaiyAn) is adorned (punai) with the moon (madi), the river (punal) (=Ganga), the snake (aravu), kondrai flower (=Indian laburnum, a yellow flower), tumbai flower (=leucas, a white wildflower), arugam grass and Umattai flower (=datura, a purple flower).

 

 

P    P  P  P   P D S-  D  ; P –  p  d s d   P –G G R   |   G dp    G R    S , r  G rg        P ; ; ;      ; ; ; ;        ||

Madi punal A ra vu Kondrai Thon--  dai A -ruvum  Mathai Punai Maa- shadai     yaaN

 

D    P  D G   P D rsS-  D  ; P –  p  d s d   P –G G R   |  G dp    G R    S , r  G rg     P ; ; ;      ; ; ; ;        ||

Madi punal A ra vu Kondrai Thon--  dai A -ruvum    Mathai Punai Maa- shadai   yaaN

 

He whose chest (mArbAn) is adorned by a garland (mAlai) of Brahma’s (vidi) head (talai), he who wears a skin (tOluDaiyAn) skinned (uritta) from a dark (kariya) [alternate : kariyin=of an elephant) mighty tiger (vem puli) .

 

 

PG    P   D   S ;    S – D   ; P –  P D   S – D D P            | G    dp  G R     S, r  G P    D ,p R S  ; ; ; ;      ||

Vithi Thalai Maa lai Maar ban U ri  tha  Kariyin          Vem pu- li yai   Tho-ludai  - - - yai   - - - -

 

PG    P   D   srgr   S – sd sd P –  P D   rsS – D D P       | G    dp  G R     srsr  G –pd sd P  R S  ; ; ; ;   ||

Vithi Thalai Maa lai Maar ban   U ri  tha    Kariyin      Vem pu- li yai   Tho-lu dai -- -   yai - --          - - - -

 

With his hands (kai) shining (ilangidum) with a drum (uDukkai) which makes a startling (adira) loud noise (muzhangum), a trident (tirushUlam), fire (angi) and a deer (kurangam).

 

S D P G    R     G     P ds   D   P     G   dp dp gr S S D  |  S , r G     R  R , p P     G  P , d S D D ; ; ; || (RDS;)

Adi ra mu zhangum Udu   kai yumThi ru -  shu- lamumAngiyum Kurangamum Elan gidikaiyal

 

G R S D    P   D     R S  D P     G  dp   dp gr S S D  |   S , r G      R  - R , p     P    G  - P , d S D RDS;  ||

Adiramuzhangum Udu  kaiyumThi ru --shu-  lamum Angiyum  Ku ranga mum E   lan gidikaiyal

 

G R S - gr    rs     D  R S  D rs     D P   dpdp gr S sd |   S , r G      R  - R , p     P    G  - P , d S D D ; ; ; ||

Adiramuzhangum Udu kaiyumThi ru --shu-  lamum Angiyum   Ku ranga mum E   lan gidikaiyal

 

Worship well (tudhi migu) the One who enchants the world (jagan mohana),  his sacred body (tiru mEni) shining (tulanga) with ashes (sAmbal), who captures the heart of (manam kavar) the women (mangaiyar) who come before him (edir).

 

P G  P D   S R S , r   G   pg    R S S R    S – D   | D , gr  S    D    D , r s    D -P      P ,  sd  P  -G    G  dp gr sr||

TudhimiguThirumen  ni mu- zhudum Sham bal Thu lan gai ya   dir Mangai-yarMa namKavar   Ja gan Mohana

 

Chitta Swaram: (2nd speed)

 

G ; ; P    G R S R    D ; ; - S    P D S R            | G ; ; - G    D  P  G R         G ; ; - S D P G R                 ||

G ; ; G    P D S R    D ; ; -  D   R S D P           | D ; ; -  G   R S D P            G ; ;  - S D P G R                ||

 

srgpdsrg   rs- dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;    |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka               - paa ---    li   - -  -   -   -                 Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

GR S ;    ;  dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;         |               sr gp g- rs  r  - ds rg  r rs   d  - pd   srs  sd p - pg dp gr   sr ||

Ka-   -       paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                      Karu -  nai-Ni la- vu - Po-zhi Va- da-  na-madi-ya-no- ru-

 

Gr- Dp -r S -dp D P  R ; S ; ; ; ; ;      |               RD S ;    ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;        ; ; ; ;  ||

Ka-   -          paa ---   li   - -  -   -   -                   - - - -