kaTTu jEsinAvu
Sahityam
Pallavi
kaTTu jEsinAvu rAma¹ bandu
Show Word Meanings
O Lord Sri Rama! You have bonded me as the ‘Slave of Rama’.
Anupallavi
maTTu mitamu lEnaTTi dEvatA²
matamulalO jorabaDudAmaNTE³ (kaTTu)
Show Word Meanings
matamulalO jorabaDudAmaNTE³ (kaTTu)
Even if I wanted to get into (any of the) innumerable paths of (other) Gods, (I could not do so because) You have bonded me as the ‘Slave of Rama’.
Charanam
mA matamulanu lalATamuna pitA-
mahuDu vrAya lEdanucunu mari mari
kAma⁴ madamulaku hitavanucu niS-
kAma tyAgarAjuku tOcE⁵ (kaTTu)
Show Word Meanings
mahuDu vrAya lEdanucunu mari mari
kAma⁴ madamulaku hitavanucu niS-
kAma tyAgarAjuku tOcE⁵ (kaTTu)
O Lord bereft of desires! It indeed occurs to this Thyagaraja that – (1) as Brahma (at the time of birth) has not ordained that such and such to be my path , and also (2) as they (other paths) are conducive to (harmful tendencies like) desire, arrogance etc, You have bonded me as the ‘Slave of Rama’.
Variations
- 3 jorabaDudAmaNTE – jorabaDudAmanna
- 5 tOcE – tOcu
References
- 1 rAma bandu kaTTu jEsinAvu – Sri Thyagaraja means the ‘bonded labour system’ which was prevalent in many parts of India. The person so bonded and their descendants become slaves of the creditor. Please refer to Government of India Act on the subject - [[http://nrcw.nic.in/shared/sublinkimages/58.htm Bonded Labour]]
- 4 kAma madamulaku hitavanucu – Sri Thyagaraja has, in many kritis, criticised those who make difference between different forms of worship. Therefore, it would not be correct to say that all modes of worship, other than that of Vishnu (Sri Rama), is conducive to development of desire etc. It is actually the motive which matters. In this regard, Srimad-Bhagavad-GIta, Chapter 3, Verse 9 is relevant.
Commentary
- 1 - The word ‘bandu’ may also be translated as ‘prisoner’, but in view of the preceding word ‘rAma’ (rAma bandu ), such a meaning may not be suitable.
- 2 dEvatA matamulu – the six modes of worship - Saiva, Vaishnava etc. However, in view of the fact that Bhakti is common for all the six modes of worship, it seems that Sri Thyagaraja implies other methods like ‘Karma Marga’ (see note below) and other esoteric forms of worship like ‘Kaula Marga’. This is substantiated by the words ‘kAma madamunaku hitavu ’ – conducive to desire and arrogance.
- 4 kAma madamulaku – the six internal enemies - Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya.