evarikai yavatAramu

dEvamanOhari mizra cApu tyAgarAja telugu kRti

Sahityam

Pallavi

evarikai¹yavatAramettitivO
ippuDayina delupavayya rAmayya

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For whose sake did you incarnate - Please let me know atleast now, O Rama!

Anupallavi

avaniki rammani pilacina
maharAjevaDO² vAniki mrokkeda rAma

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Whoever is that person who called You to come to this Earth - I salute him.

Charanam

vEda varNanIyamau nAmamutO³
vidhi rudrulaku mElmiyagu rUpamutO
mOda sadanamagu paTu caritamutO
muni-rAja⁴ vESiyau tyAgarAjanuta (evarikai)

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With a name that is described in Vedas, With a form superior to even Brahma and Rudra and others, With an impeccable character which is an abode of bliss (for those who read Your story), and Donning the garb of Raja-Rishi, O Lord praised by Tyagaraja

Renditions

Commentary

¹ The great Harikatha exponent Sri TS Balakrishna Sastrigal in his Thyagaraja Ramayanam states that Sri Tyagaraja implies Ravana in this kRti as the person responsible for making the Supreme Lord to incarnate as human being.
² Sri Tyagaraja’s Bhakti towards Sri Rama is so great that even His (Sri Rama’s) enemy (Ravana) deserves mention because but for Ravana, the incarnation of Sri Rama would not have materialized.
The greatness of Ravana, in terms of his prowess, is well known. But he was also known as womanizer. However, in case of Sita, the way he conducted himself, is an intrigue seen in the background of his reputation as a womanizer. Considering the fact that Ravana physically touched the Devi and carried her on his lap, it really confounds one as to why he desisted from molesting her; but prayed for her consent to be his consort, for a whole year. It does not fit into the character of a womanizer. Also from today’s standard, this is inconceivable. Therefore, it is certain that Ravana knew what he was doing.
Ravana is no ordinary king. He is well-versed Vedas. He is a great musician. He recited sAma Veda on his Veena sacrificing his ten heads one by one to please Lord Siva. In his kingom Veda Adhyayana was very much prevalent as is seen by Anjaneya during his sojourn of Lanka. For a king who sent his spies to Dandaka forest to find out about Sri RaAma, it is very astonishing that he just looked on when Sri Rama and his army was building causeway over the ocean. Looking from this angle, Ravana was indeed waiting for Sri Rama to redeem him.
Therefore, there is no surprise that Sri Tyagaraja calls Ravana a great person (Maharaju) for having brought Sri Rama to the Earth.
³ The purport of these words is not very clear. Whether the name ‘rAma ’ is mentioned in the Vedas or whether the two syllables ‘rA’ - ‘ma’ have been specifically extolled therein, is not known. However, please refer to the [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/2952/mantra3.html discourse of Kanchi Paramacarya Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati on ‘tAraka nAma’ ].
⁴ Sri Tyagaraja is reflecting the words uttered by Sri Rama Himself in response to Kaikeyi’s words commanding Him to leave for forest – Srimad-Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter 19 refers –
“I do not desire to live in the world as a slave to material gains. Know me to be devoted to immaculate righteousness like RSis.”

‘‘‘Variations’’’

Pallavi and Charanam - In some books, at the end of pallavi and charaNa, the word ‘nI’ is given (nIvevarakai).
Anupallavi - mrokkeda – mrokkenu.