raghunAyaka

raghunAyaka¹, nI pAda-yuga
rAjIvamula nE viDajAla zrI
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O best among Raghus! Your pair of lotus-feet, I cannot let go of.
aghajAlamula pAradOli nan-
nAdarimpa nIvE gatigAdA² zrI
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To drive afar my accumulated sins And care for me, aren’t you the only refuge?
bhavasAgaramu dATalEkanE
palu gAsibaDi nI marugu jEriti
avanijAdhipa, zritarakSaka,
Anandakara, zrI tyAgarAjanuta
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Unable to cross the worldly ocean, After much pain, your shelter did I reach, Husband of Earth’s daughter, Protector of those approaching you! Maker of joy, Praised by Tyagaraja!

Usually nAyaka means “chief, lord.” But it also refers to the “central pearl of a necklace.” Here, Rama is described as the central one of the chain of Raghu-dynasty rulers.

The word kAdu means “no.” kAdA is the question-tag “no?”, as in “You are my refuge, no?” kAdA becomes gAdA on sandhi.

  • [http://www.sangeethapriya.org/~hariharan/sanjay/03-Sanjay-2007Ramanavami-Live/02%20Raghunayaka%20-%20Hamsadhwani.mp3 Sanjay Subrahmanyam] (sangeethapriya.org)