Rama Katha
Composition by Tyaagaraaja
About
Title: Rama Katha
Composer: Tyaagaraaja
Language: Telugu
Ragas: Madhyamavati
Talas: Madhyadi
Sources:
- karnatik.com
- Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org): Notation (HTML)
- Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org): Notation (PDF)
- Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org): Class recording (MP3)
- Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org): Class recording (MP4)
Lyrics
pallavi
rama katha sudharasa panam oka rajyamu cesune
anupallavi
bhamamani janaki saumitri bharatadulato bhumi velayu sita
caraNam
dharmaddakhila phaladame manasa dhairyananda saukhya niketaname karma bandha jvalanabdhi navame kaliharame tyagaraja vinutudagu
Notation
From Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org)
Pallavi:
rAma kathA sudhArasa pAnam oka rAjyamu cEsunE
Anupallavi:
bhAmAmaNi jAnaki saumitri bharatAdulatO bhUmi velayu sItA
Charanam:
dharmAddakhila phaladamE manasA dhairyAnanda saukhya nikEtanamE
karma bandha jvalanAbdhi nAvamE kaliharamE tyAgarAja vinutuDagu
Meaning: (Courtesy: V. Govindan, Tyagaraja Vaibhavam)
Gist
O My Mind! To drink the nectarine juice of story of SrI rAma - praised by this tyAgarAja- who shines on the Earth along with jAnaki,
lakshmaNa, bharata and others, is equal to (ruling) a kingdom.
(a) it indeed bestows the fruits of purushArtha;
(b) it is the veritable abode of courage, bliss and comfort;
(c) it indeed is the boat which enables one to cross the flaming ocean of Worldly Existence – bound by actions;
(d) it indeed is the destroyer of the (evil effects of) kali yuga.
Word-by-word Meaning
P: To drink (pAnamu) the nectarine (sudhA) juice (rasa) of story (kathA) of SrI rAma is equal (jEsunE) to (ruling) a kingdom
(rAjyamu).
A: To drink the nectarine juice of story of SrI rAma, who shines (velayu) on the Earth (bhUmi) along with jAnaki - a jewel (maNi)
of women (bhAmA), lakshmaNa - son of sumitrA (saumitri), bharata and others (AdulatO) (bharatAdulatO),
is equal to (ruling) a kingdom.
C: O My Mind (manasA)!
It indeed bestows the fruits (phalada) (phaladamE) of purushArtha – all those (akhila) beginning with (Adi) dharma
(dharmAdyakhila);
it is the veritable abode (nikEtanamE) of courage (dhairya), bliss (Ananda) (dhairyAnanda) and comfort (saukhya);
it indeed is the boat (nAvamE) which enables one to cross the flaming (jvalana) ocean (abdhi) (jvalanAbdhi) of Worldly Existence
– bound (bandha) by actions (karma);
it indeed is the destroyer (haramE) of the (evil effects of) kali yuga;
to drink the nectarine juice of story of SrI rAma – the Lord praised (vinutudagu) by this tyAgarAja - is equal to (ruling) a kingdom.
Pallavi:
rAma kathA sudhArasa pAnam oka rAjyamu cEsunE
Meaning: To drink (pAnamu) the nectarine (sudhA) juice (rasa) of story (kathA)
of SrI rAma is equal (jEsunE) to (ruling) a kingdom (rAjyamu).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
sn P ; ns R–SR; ; ; ; -pm R ; S ; | sn P ; ns R – S R ; | ; ; ; -pm R; S; ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - -
sn P ; ns R – S R M rmP N pn pm R-RS | snrs np-ns R – S R M | rmP N pn pm R-RS ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - rA- - - ma- - ka thA - - - - su- dhA - -
sn Srs np ns R – S rmpn srmr srsn- pnpm rmrs |; p N- n S ; ; n S n | P ; mpnp pmR R S ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - - - ra sa pA- - - nam -- o--- ka - - - -
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
sn rs np- ns R - S R M rmP mpN pnsn pmR | R ; RS ; ; rm rm | pn-pmR rs ; ; ; ; ||
rA- - - jya - mu cE - - - - - - - su - - nE - - - - - - -- ---- -- --- - ---
sn Srs np ns R – S rmpn srmr srsn- pnpm rmrs | ; p N- n S ; ; n S n | P ; mpnp pmR R S ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - - - ra sa pA- - - nam -- o--- ka - - - -
sn rs np- ns R - S R M rmP mpN pnsn pmR | R ; S ; mrpm nppm | R ; S ; rmpm rmrs ||
rA- - - jya - mu cE - - - - - - - su - - nE - - - - - - -- ---- -- --- - --- ----
sn Srs np ns R – S rmpn srmr srsn- pnpm rmrs | ; p R- n S ; ; n S n | P ; mpnp pmR R S ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - - - ra sa pA- - - nam -- o--- ka - - - -
sn rs np- ns R - S R M rmP mpN pnsn pmR | R ; S ; ;; ;; | ; rppm R R;S; ||
rA- - - jya - mu cE - - - - - - - su - - nE - - - - - - -- -- -- --- - -- --
Anupallavi:
bhAmAmaNi jAnaki saumitri bharatAdulatO bhUmi velayu sItA
Sahityam: bhAmAmaNi jAnaki saumitri
Meaning: ... along with jAnaki - a jewel (maNi) of women (bhAmA), lakshmaNa - son of sumitrA (saumitri),
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P ; rs – N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - S | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; S; ; ; ||
bhA - - mA - - ma- Ni - - - - jA- - na ki - - - - - sau - - mi- - - - - - tri - - -
rsnp rs – N ; ; N ; nPn S; S ; ; - sr | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; R; ; ; ||
bhA - -- mA - - ma- Ni - - - - jA- - na ki - - - - - sau - - mi- - - - - - tri - - -
; rsnp rs –N ; ; N ; nPn S; S ; ; - sr | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; R ; ; ,m ||
bhA - -- mA - - ma- Ni - - - - jA- - na ki - - - - - sau - - mi- - - - - - tri - - -
rsnp ; rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - R | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; nsrm srM ||
bhA - -- mA - - ma- Ni - - - - jA- - na ki - - - - - sau - - mi- - - - - - tri - - -
rsnp ; rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - R | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; R; ; ; ||
bhA - -- mA - - ma- Ni - - - - jA- - na ki - - - - - sau - - mi- - - - - - tri - - -
Sahityam: bharatAdulatO bhUmi velayu sItA
Meaning: bharata and others (AdulatO) (bharatAdulatO),... SrI rAma, who shines (velayu) on the Earth (bhUmi) with sItA
M , R , R ; mr - R S N ; – S rm R S – N S | R S – R N S P N M | P ; P np M pm R S ||
bha ra tA - - - du - la - tO-- - - - - bhU- mi - ve- la - yu - - - - -- - -
M , R , rppm R ; - R S N ; – S rm R S – N S | R S – R N S P N M | P ; P np M pm R S ||
bha ra tA - - - du - la - tO-- - - - - bhU- mi - ve- la - yu sI- - - - - tA-
sn Srs np ns R – S rmpn srmr srsn- pnpm rmrs | ; p R- n S ; ; N , r | snP- mpnp pmR R S ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - - - ra sa pA- - - nam -- o--- ka - - - -
sn rs np- ns R - S rmpn srmr sr sn pnpm R ; | R S ; ; ; rppm R | R ; S ; ; ; ; ; ||
rA- - - jya - mu cE - - - - -- su - nE - - - - -- -- -- -- - -- - - -- --
Charanam:
dharmAddakhila phaladamE manasA dhairyAnanda saukhya nikEtanamE
karma bandha jvalanAbdhi nAvamE kaliharamE tyAgarAja vinutuDagu
Sahityam: dharmAddakhila phaladamE manasA
O My Mind (manasA)! It indeed bestows the fruits (phalada) (phaladamE) of purushArtha – all those (akhila) beginning with (Adi)
dharma (dharmAdyakhila);
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P ; , m- M R S – R M P N – PM RMRS |nSn ;S RS-;R | PM R; S ; ; ; ||
Dhar - mA - - dya - khi- la - pha - - la na- - mE - - ma na - sA -- --
P ; , m- M R S – R M P N – PM R M R S | n S n ; S R S - ; R | rppm R-R ; S ; ; ||
Dhar - mA - - dya - khi- la - pha - - la na- - mE - - -ma na - - sA - - - -
Sahityam: dhairyAnanda saukhya nikEtanamE
it is the veritable abode (nikEtanamE) of courage (dhairya), bliss (Ananda) (dhairyAnanda) and comfort (saukhya);
R M R – M P ; - P ; SN P M R M R S | r M , -mr-M ; P P ; | nnM ; mp N P ; ; ||
dhai-- ryA - - nan - - da - sau - - - khya ni- kE - - ta na- - - mE- - - - -
RMR–M P ; -M; N; PM R M R S | r M , -mr-M ; P P ; | nnM ; P ; ; ; ; ||
dhai-- ryA - - nan - - da - sau - - - khya ni- kE - - ta na- - - mE- - - --
Sahityam: karma bandha jvalanAbdhi nAvamE
it indeed is the boat (nAvamE) which enables one to cross the flaming (jvalana) ocean (abdhi) (jvalanAbdhi) of Worldly Existence
– bound (bandha) by actions (karma);
P ; rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - S | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; ; S S ; ; ; ||
Ka- - rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma mE - - -
P ; rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - S | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; S ; ; ; ||
Ka- - rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma- mE - - -
rsnp rs – N ; ; N ; nPn S; S ; ; - sr | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; R ; ; ; ||
Ka- - - rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma- mE - - -
; rsnp rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - sr | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; nsrm ; ; ||
Ka- - - - rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma- mE - - -
rsnp ; rs –N ; ; N ,r sn P n S ; S ; ; - R | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; nsrm srM ||
Ka- - - - rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma- mE - - -
rsnp ; rs –N ; ; N ; n P n S ; S ; ; - R | r s –ns , n-S R S – S rs | N ; S ; R; ; ; ||
Ka- - -- rma - - ban- dha - - - jva - - la nA- - - - - - - bdhi nA- - - ma- mE - - -
Sahityam: kaliharamE tyAgarAja vinutuDagu
it indeed is the destroyer (haramE) of the (evil effects of) kali yuga;
to drink the nectarine juice of story of SrI rAma – the Lord praised (vinutudagu) by this tyAgarAja - is equal to (ruling) a kingdom.
M,R,R ; mr - R S N ; – S rm R S – N S | R S – R N SP NM | P ; P np M pm R S ||
Ka li ha - - - ra - mE- tyA-- - - ga - rA- ja - vi - nu - tu - - - -- - - -
M , R , rppm R ; - R S N ; – S rm R S – N S | R S – R N SP NM | P ; P np M pm R S ||
Ka li ha - - - ra - mE- tyA-- - - ga - rA- ja - vi - nu - tu - Da- - gu - - - -
sn Srs np ns R – S rmpn srmr srsn- pnpm rmrs | ; p R- n S ; ; N , r | snP- mpnp pmR R S ||
rA- - ma- - ka thA - - - su- dhA - - - - ra sa pA- - - nam -- o--- ka - - - -
sn P ; - ns R-S RM rmpm R ,s ; pm R ; | ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | ;;;; ;;;; ||
rA- - jya - mucE - --- - -- - su - nE - -- -- ---- --- - ----
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Notes/References –
1 – bharatAdulatO - According to vAlmIki rAmayaNa, a half of vishNu became SrI rAma, a quarter
bharata, one-eighth each lakshmaNa and Satrughna; vAli, sugrIva, tAra, gandhamAdana, nala, nIla,
mainda-dvivida, sushENa, sarabha and hanumAn were the sons of indra, sUrya, bRhaspati, kubEra,
viSvakarma, agni, aSvini kumAras, varuna, parjanya and vAyu respectively; all other vAnaras are the
sons of other gods, Rshis etc. (Srimad-vAlmIki rAmAyaNa, bAla kANDa, Chapter 13)
5 – kali haramE - The following SlOka extolling singing the glory of Lord as a panacea for all the ills of
the current epoch – kali – is restated here by SrI tyAgarAja –
kalau kalmasha cittAnAM pApadravyOpa jIvinAM |
vidhikriyA vihInAnAM gatir gOvinda kIrtanaM ||
“In the kali, those of corrupted mind, those who live on ill-gotten wealth and those who live transgressing
duties as ordained in SAstras, can save themselves only by singing the glory of gOvinda (Lord).”
Comments
3 - dharmAdyakhila – purushArtha – (four-fold objects of human pursuit) righteous action (dharma),
wealth (artha), desires (kAma) and deliverance (mOksha).
4 - nAvamE – the name ‘rAma’ is called ‘tAraka nAma’ which enables one to cross of the Ocean of
Worldly Existence.