My sons Atulyateja and Aditya have an ear for music. Interestingly, they love carnatic and hindustani alike. They must have developed this during their stay in US. They love that popular Tyagaraja kriti "సామజవరగమన !......". They must have heard it being sung by a sanskrit knowing vocalist. They asked me as to what exactly the words in the composition mean. They of course, could make out that it is in the praise of Lord Krishna. What puzzled them was the opening phrases saamajavaragamana etc. I thought it was necessary to explain them every word of the kirtana which has become popular after its insertion in a box-office hit telugu movie.
I am of the opinion, that there is always a marked difference between the renditions of the language knowing and not knowing singers. It is in everybody's knowledge as to how the works of Tyagaraja are distorted by certain artists who do not know what exactly they are singing. This is a problem when one does not know the language; the mood and emotions of the pause, stress, tone, tenor, gravitas of the phrases intended by the author elude the singer. Hence, the necessity of knowing the letter and spirit of the literature.
It is quite revealing that my survey has shown that a great majority of the people who sing this sanskrit kriti do not know the entire meaning of this great work of Tyagaraja. People simply fall in love with the spirit of the number and get swept by the current of the rhythm; and the ingrained love for the deity extolled therein does the remaining thing. Surprisingly, many thought that it is in Telugu. Often the lovers of these kritis are under the false impression that they know their meaning at least in summary, if not word for word. It appears they hardly check with their elders, gurus or peers.
Tyagaraja is fond of employing complex samasas (compounds). All his works are replete with long sanskrit compounds. His style has very little Telugu usage. And, it is used only for conjugations. Otherwise, the whole composition reads like a conglomeration of sanskrit words and phrases.
The other day, as I could not find an authentic translation on net, I thought it would be a good act on my part to make an attempt to translate the famous "सामाजवरगमन !.....". The result is here for your examination. First the text:
సామజవరగమన! సాధుహృత్ సారసాబ్జపాల!
కాలాతీత! విఖ్యాత! సామజవరగమన!
సామనిగమజసుధామయ! గానవిచక్షణ! గుణశీల!
దయాలవాల! మాం పాలయ, సామజవరగమన!
వేదశిరోమాతృజసప్తస్వర! నాదాచలదీపస్వీకృత!
యాదవకుల! మురళీవాదనవినోదమోహనకర!
త్యాగరాజవందనీయ! సామజవరగమన!
सामजवरगमन ! साधुहृत्सारसाब्जपाल !
कालातीत! विख्यात! सामजवरगमन !
सामनिगमजसुधामय! गानविचक्षण ! गुणशील !
दयालवाल ! मां पालय, सामजवरगमन !
वेदशिरोमातृजसप्तस्वर ! नादाचलदीपस्वीकृत !
यादवकुलमुरलीवादनविनोदमोहनकर !
त्यागराजवन्दनीय ! सामजवरगमन !
It may be noted here that all the compounds are in vocative case addressing the Lord (sambhodana prathama vibhakti), except the only verb "paalaya". The word "maam" is an accusative (dwiteeya vibhakti). This information greatly helps the reader in appreciating the composition. Experts say that in hindustani tradition, music and literature (meaningful words) that is, svara and sahitya are generally in the ratio of 90:10. But, I am told that the ratio is 50:50 in carnatic traditions. This arrangement makes the need for understanding the lyrics almost compulsory in order to relish the composition comprehensively.
We shall first parse the words of this kirtana and note down their meanings.
saamaja = an elephant; vara=the best; gamana=movement/gait; saadhuhrit=the hearts of the saints; saarasaabja=the lotuses born out of the ponds; paala=ruler; kaalaateeta=one who is beyond the time; vikhyaata=the celebrated/well-known; saamanigama=hymns of saamaveda; ja=born; sudhaamaya=full of nectar; gaana=music/singing; vichakshana=skillful; gunasheela=possessing all virtues; dayaa=compassion; aalavaala=reservoir; maam=me; paalaya=please save/ protect; vedashiromaatrija=that emanated from the fountainhead of vedas; saptasvara=seven notes of the science of music; naada=the sound/cry; achala=mountain; deepa=the light/beacon; sweekrita=acknowledged; yaadavakula=born into the clan of yadus; muraleevaadana=playing flute; vinoda=entertaining; mohanakara=fascinating; tyaagarajavandaneeya=worthy of being worshipped and glorified by Tyagaraja.
Oh Lord Shri Krishna ! you are the one whose gait is as elegant as that of a stately elephant. You are the ruler of the lotuses born in the lakes of the hearts of saints; you are beyond the conditions of time and space. Oh Lord you are the most celebrated and glorified (in this universe). You are full of nectar born from the hymns of samaveda. You are the master of song and melody. Oh Lord, you are the embodiment of all virtues; you are the repository of compassion and grace. Please do protect me, save me (from the entanglements of this material world). Oh Lord, you are the seven notes of music that emanate from the head of the vedic lore. You are acknowledged as the beacon of the mountain of sound/voice. You are a descendant of yadava dynasty. You are a great fascinator through the entertainment of your flute-playing. You are therefore, Oh Lord, always glorified and worshiped by Tyagaraja.
I sincerely hope that the above rendering shall help the lovers of this kriti in appreciating the meaning of the words used herein. Having learnt the meaning of each word and understood the letter and spirit of the kirtana, you may now rock in the melody of hindola raaga, the equivalent they say, in hindustani is raag malkauns.
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