SriKantha Neyeda

Ragam: Bhavapriya

Talam: Deshadi

Tyagaraja

Version: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Pallavi:

Sri Kantha Niyada Balaadi Bala

Chelaganga Leda ? Vaada ?

Anupallavi:

Paakaarinutha Neevaari Balaa Balamunu Deliyagaleda ?

Charanam:

Kaka Daityu Neka Sharamuna Neya

Kanjajaskamai Varagaleda ?

Srikara ! Dvijullai Daari Neruga Leni

Chintha Neeku Dochademi ? Tyagaraajanutha!

MEANING:

Lord (“kaantha”) of Sri! Are you (“nee”) not (“leda?”) the proud possessor (“yada”) of the two mantras (“chelangaga”) – “Bala” and “Ati Bala” praised (“nutha”) by Indra (“paakaari”) ? Don’t (“ledemi?”) you know (“deliyaga”) the strength (“bala”) and weakness (“abala”) of your (“nee”) devotees (“vaari”)?

Did not a mere blade of grass (“saramuna neya”) wielded by you turn into a mighty weapon Brahmastra (“Kanjaja astra”), and pursue (“neka”) the offending cow, Kaakaasura (“Kaka Daitya”)? One who bestows (“kara”) wealth (“sri”)! Where (“docha demi”?) is your (“neeku”) concern (“chinta”) for those born as BHUSURAs (“dvijulai”), yet ignorant of the righteous path (“daneruga”)?

[Word-by-word meaning: Jayasri Akella]

Pallavi:

Sri Kantha Niyada Balaadi Bala Chelaganga Leda ? Vaada ?

Sri: Lakshmi, Prosperity

Sri Kantha: Oh husband of Lakshmi.

Nivu: You

Niyada: With you

Balaadibala = Bala+Atibala

Bala: Spell or charm

Ati: Over, beyond, exceed

Bala and Atibala: The two mantra's taught to Rama and Lakshmana by Viswamitra.

Chelagu: To flourish, to resound, break forth. (also to appear, to happen)

Chelaganga: flourished, resounded

ledu: Not present.

Leda?: Is it not present?

Vaadu: Argument.

Vaada? : Are you arguing with me?

[Lord (“kaantha”) of Sri! Are you (“nee”) not (“leda?”) the proud possessor (“yada”) of the two mantras (“chelanganga”) – “Bala” and “Ati Bala”]

; ; ; P ,d N ; D | P ; ; P P P P ; ||

Sri -- Kan - tha Ni - - ya da Ba laa

P P M - P ,d N ; D | pdnd pm- P P pm pdns ||

di Ba la Sri -- Kan - tha Ni - - - ya da Ba laa

r s n d pm - P mdp-p mg-G | R , s ; - G ; rg M – ; ||

di -- Ba la - Che la-- ga - - nga Le - - da ? - Vaa- - -

D nd pm – P mdp-p mg-G | R , s ; - G ; rg M – dn ||

da ? - - - - Che la-- ga - - ncha Le - - da ? - Vaa- - -

Srs nd pm

da ? - - - -

Anupallavi:

Paakaarinutha Neevaari Balaa Balamunu Deliyagaleda ?

Paakaari = Paakaha + Ari.

Paakaha : A giant named Pakaha

Ari : A foe

Paakaari : Indra, The slayer of paakaha, a giant.

Nuta: to be praised by

Nee: You /your

Vaari: People

Neevaari: Your people / devotees

Balaabalamu: bala + abala

balamu: Strength

abala : weak.

Balaabalamunu : Strengths and weakness

Teliyuta: To know

Teliyagaleda? (transformed to 'D'eliyagaleda in the song): Don't (you) know?

[One praised (“nutha”) by Indra (“paakaari”: slayer of Paaka)! Don’t (“ledemi?”) you know (“deliyaga”) the strength (“bala”) and weakness (“abala”) of your (“nee”) devotees (“vaari”)?]

; ; ; P ,d N ; N | S , s ; ; ; ; ; ; ||

- Paa -- kaa - ri nu tha - - - - --

ns nd pm- P ,d N ; N | S , s ; dn S , p dn S ||

- Paa -- kaa - ri nu tha - - - - --

, s nd pm- P ,d N ; N | S , s ; S , r G ; R ||

- Paa -- kaa - ri nu tha - Nee - - vaa - ri

S , n d p - P ,d N ; N | S , s ; S , r G ; R ||

Ba -la - - Paa - - kaa - ri nu tha - Nee - - vaa - ri

G , m ; - G M pm G R | S ,s ; sr sn –sr sn -ns ||

Ba- laa - Ba la mu- - nu De-li - ya- - - ga- - - le-

nd- pm pd

- - da ?- - -

Charanam:

Kaka Daityu Neka Sharamuna Neya

Kanjajaskamai Varagaleda ?

Srikara ! Dvijullai Daari Neruga Leni

Chintha Neeku Dochademi ? Tyagaraajanutha!

Daityudu : Demon

Kaki : Crow

Kaka daityu: A demon crow (kakasura)

eka: (transformed to Neka in the song) : One

sharamu: reed or grass. an arrow

veyu : to throw, to cast

Sharamunaneya: to throw a single arrow / grass blade.

Kanja: Lotus

Kanjaja: Born from lotus, God Brahma

Astra: weapon/arrow

Kanjajastra: Brahmastra

Kanjajastramai: become Brahmastra

Varagalinchu: to shine or glitter

Varagaleda: Didn't it shine?

[When you tried to slay kakasura with a single grass blade, didn't it become brahmastra and shined?]

[Did not a mere blade of grass (“saramuna neya”) wielded by you turn into a mighty weapon Brahmastra (“Kanjaja astra”), and pursue (“neka”) the offending cow, Kaakaasura (“Kaka Daitya”)? ]

; ; ; - P P , p ; P | P , p ; pm mdp – p m g- G ||

Ka ka Dai - tyu Ne-ka -Sha- ra-- mu - - na

R , s ;- N G , r ; S | N ; ; s r G G G M ||

Ne-ya - Kan ja – ja - ska mai- - Va- ra ga le -

Srikara: Vishnu

Dvi: Two

Dvijulu: Born twice, brahmins.

Daari: Path (to salvation)

leni: Not, no.

Eruga: To know.

Eruga leni: Not knowing.

Chinta : worry, thought

Neeku : to you

tochademi: Why didn't it strike? (Why can't you understand?)

[Oh Lord Vishnu, why can't you understand the worry of us, who despite being brahmins, are ignorant of the (right) path for salvation?]

[One who bestows (“kara”) wealth (“sri”)! Where (“docha demi”?) is your (“neeku”) concern (“chinta”) for those born as BHUSURAs (“dvijulai”), yet ignorant of the righteous path (“daneruga”)?]

P ; ; - P p D-n ; N | S , s ; ; ; ; ; ; ||

da ?- - Sri ka- ra ! – Dvi jul lai - - - - - -

nsnd pm P p D-n ; N | S , s ; dn S , p dn S ||

- - - - - - Sri ka- ra ! – Dvi jul lai - - - - - -

, snd pm P p D-n ; N | S , s ; S R G ; R ||

- - - - - - Sri ka- ra ! – Dvi jul lai - Daa ri Ne - ru

S , n dp-P p D-n ; N | S , s ; S R G ; R ||

ga Le - ni Sri ka- ra ! – Dvi jul lai - Daa ri Ne - ru

G , m ; - G M pm G R | S ,s ; sr sn – s r s n -n s ||

Le – ni - Chin tha Nee- - ku Do cha -de- -mi? Tya- - ga raa-

nd- pm pd-

- ja nu- - tha!