SONGS
FROM SAINT TYAGARAJA *
Who
can be happy if he Has no peace
Of mind, O Lotus-eyed?
Not
he who from the senses knows release,
All
passions having died!
Nor
e’en a Vedantin, his soul
at ease,
True
knowledge though his guide!
What
though he has children and friends, prosperity,
What
though he spend his days in prayer and austerity?
What
though he has all sacred books studied,
Learnt
well their inner meaning deep buried?
What
though he has performed yajnas and
other rites,
Far-famed
as one that has attained spiritual heights?
Sri
Raghava, O king of kings,
Protector
of the pious,
In
whose praise Tyagaraja sings,
Peace
is Thy gift most glorious!
Slave
of your slaves I call myself,
But
O of what avail?
Him
that hath not power or pelf–
Aye,
these your love doth fail!
You’ve
lowered me in my peers’ estimate:
You
love me not, saying “That is your fate!”
The
want of praise no anger stirs in you;
That
you stand by your devotees–is it true?
What
lure can mantras or tantras hold
To
him who has his mind controlled?
For
him who knows his body is not he
What
need for tapas of austerity?
For
one who knows Thou art omnipresent
How
can life’s various stages be different?
For
one who knows life is an illusion,
Does
he desire women, Dasaratha’s son?
For
one who from his being all evil cast
Aside,
what cares he for the present or the past,
O
flawless form perfect, O king of kings,
In
whose praise Tyagaraja enraptured sings?
O
Thou whose couch the
Why
breakest Thou my heart with anxieties?
I’ve
heard how Thou did’st speed to save
The
elephant king in peril grave!
An
endless garment how Thou gayest
To
save the honour of Draupadi,
Jewel
of womankind; Ramdas, the bravest
Of
men, from prison how Thou set free!
How
Thou did’st plough the seas among
For
Sita’s sake Thy fame doth prove!
O
praised one of Tyagaraja’s song,
O
Rama, bless me with Thy love!
* I. Saantamu leka sowkhyamu ledu
II.
Nee daasaanudaasudanani
III.
Manasu swaadheenamaina
IV.
Ksheera saagara sayana