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#SanskritThruQuotes
For today, I picked a much-loved stotra which is not set to any particular chandas. It is the Śrī Raghuvīra Gadya of Śrī Vedānta Deśika. The definition of gadya is that it does not follow a particular chandas.
For today, I picked a much-loved stotra which is not set to any particular chandas. It is the Śrī Raghuvīra Gadya of Śrī Vedānta Deśika. The definition of gadya is that it does not follow a particular chandas.
In this short creation, Śrī Deśika has addressed Rāmacandra with various adjectives which take us through the story of the Rāmāyaṇa as well as acquaint us with the excellences of the Lord. I present here but three such addresses of Śrī Deśika.
The stuti starts thus:
जय जय महावीर!
Hail! Hail the Great Vīra!
The longest address is this one (and read it fast, if you can!)
जडकिरण-शकलधर-जटिल-नटपति-मकुट-तट-नटनपटु-विबुधसरिद्-अतिबहुल-मधुगलन-ललित-पदनलिन-रज-उपमृदित-निजवृजिन-जहद्-उपलतनु-रुचिर-परम-मुनिवर-युवति-नुत!
जय जय महावीर!
Hail! Hail the Great Vīra!
The longest address is this one (and read it fast, if you can!)
जडकिरण-शकलधर-जटिल-नटपति-मकुट-तट-नटनपटु-विबुधसरिद्-अतिबहुल-मधुगलन-ललित-पदनलिन-रज-उपमृदित-निजवृजिन-जहद्-उपलतनु-रुचिर-परम-मुनिवर-युवति-नुत!
The short translation is - One Who has been praised by Ahalyā. But see how Ahalyā has been described!
He Who is bowed down (-नुत) to by the beautiful (-रुचिर-) one who is the wife (-वर-युवति-) of the great sage (-परम-मुनि-), as also the one who gave up (-जहद्-)
He Who is bowed down (-नुत) to by the beautiful (-रुचिर-) one who is the wife (-वर-युवति-) of the great sage (-परम-मुनि-), as also the one who gave up (-जहद्-)
her body that was the stone (-उपल-तनु-) through getting rid (-उपमृदित-) of her own pāpa (-निज-वृजिन-) because of the touch of the dust (-रज-) from the charming (-ललित-) lotus-feet (-पद-नलिन-) from whence flowed the voluminous (-अतिबहुल-) flood of nectar (-मधु-गलन-)
of the River of the Gods(=Devagaṅgā)(-विबुध-सरिद्-) who was an adept at dancing(-नटन-पटु-) amidst the locks on the crest(-मकुट-तट-) of the King of Dancers(=Naṭarāja/Śiva) with matted locks(-जटिल-नटपति) who wears a piece (-शकल-धर-) of Candra (जड-किरण- = he whose rays are cool)
This mindblowing adjective is a single, compounded word and has 84 syllables! And it is a veritable tongue-twister!
Next one I picked is when Hanumān returns from Laṅkā and gives the good news that he has seen Sītādevī. Śrī Rāma embraces Hanumān and gives His all.
Next one I picked is when Hanumān returns from Laṅkā and gives the good news that he has seen Sītādevī. Śrī Rāma embraces Hanumān and gives His all.
अपार-पारावार-परिखा-परिवृत-परपुर-परिसृत-दवदहन-जवन-पवनभव-कपिवर-परिष्वङ्ग-भावित-सर्वस्व-दान!
He Who felt (-भावित-) He has given His all (-सर्वस्व-दान) through the embrace (-परिष्वङ्ग-) to the Best of the Vānara-s (-कपिवर-), who is the son of Pavana (-पवन-भव-),
He Who felt (-भावित-) He has given His all (-सर्वस्व-दान) through the embrace (-परिष्वङ्ग-) to the Best of the Vānara-s (-कपिवर-), who is the son of Pavana (-पवन-भव-),
and who is the speediest (-जवन-) as well as the one who was the forest fire (-दव-दहन-) that encircled (-परिसृत-) [the whole] of the City of the Enemies (=Laṅkā)(-पर-पुर-) that was surrounded (-परिवृत-) by the moat (-परिखा-) that is the boundless ocean (अपार-पारावार-).
Observe the repeated usage of 'र’ sounds and 'व’ sounds to convey the fineness of feeling.
Another one is from the युद्धकाण्ड describing how Rāvaṇa was defeated the first time, when he came, full of rage, to face Śrī Rāma.
Another one is from the युद्धकाण्ड describing how Rāvaṇa was defeated the first time, when he came, full of rage, to face Śrī Rāma.
Will not post the word to word translation but leaving it to you to relish the harsh notes that convey the क्रोध.
कटु-रटद्-अटनि-टङ्कृति-चटुल-कठोर-कार्मुक-विनिर्गत-विशङ्कट-विशिख-विताडन-विघटित-मकुट-विह्वल-विश्रवस्तनय-विश्रमसमय-विश्राणन-विख्यात-विक्रम!
कटु-रटद्-अटनि-टङ्कृति-चटुल-कठोर-कार्मुक-विनिर्गत-विशङ्कट-विशिख-विताडन-विघटित-मकुट-विह्वल-विश्रवस्तनय-विश्रमसमय-विश्राणन-विख्यात-विक्रम!
To round it off, here is a musical rendering of the Bālakāṇḍa portion by Abhishek Raghuram (from the movie Vedānta Deśika - lead role played by Dushyanth Sridhar). Enjoy!
#JaiShreeRam
#JaiShreeRam
