हरि सर्वोत्तम । वायु जीवोत्तम | श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः
This beautiful Ugaabhoga of Shri Vyaasaraaja Tertha is a deeply introspective prayer of repentance and surrender to Lord Shri Krishna. Tradition associates it with a remarkable incident in which Lord Krishna appeared to Shri Vyaasaraaja and gently reminded him that, as a householder with Shri Lakshmi and His divine family, the Lord should be addressed with due reverence. Accepting the Lord’s affectionate correction, Shri Vyaasaraaja thereafter concluded His compositions with “Shri Krishna” instead of simply “Krishna.”
The translation and notes provided below attempts to preserve both the devotional intensity and the profound spiritual message of this wonderful composition, especially as rendered by Mysuru Shri Ramchandrachar in the video below.
देह जीर्णवायितु धनदाह जीर्णवागदु कृष्ण ।
The body (देह) has grown old and worn out (जीर्णवायितु), but the burning desire (दाह) for wealth (धन) has not grown old (जीर्णवागदु), O Krishna (कृष्ण).
- Without devotion and self-control, only the body grows, but the soul does not mature.
अय्या कण्णु किवि मंदवादवु हॆण्णु मण्णिनासॆ मंदवागदु कृष्ण ।
O Lord (अय्या), the eyes (कण्णु) and ears (किवि) have weakened (मंदवादवु), but the desire (आसॆ) for sensual pleasures (हॆण्णु) and worldly possessions (मण्णु) has not weakened (मंदवागदु), O Krishna (कृष्ण).
- हॆण्णु (woman) symbolizes all sense pleasures for both genders. SImilarly, मण्णु (earth) symbolizes all material wealth not just land.
कालु कै जवगुंदिदवु भोगलोलतॆ जवगुंदवु कृष्ण ।
The legs (कालु) and hands (कै) have lost their strength (जवगुंदिदवु), but the longing (लोलतॆ) for enjoyments (भोग) has not diminished (जवगुंदवु), O Krishna (कृष्ण).
- Without devotion to the Lord, physical ability fades but not attachment to worldly joys.
जरॆ रोगदिंद नॆरॆहॊरॆ हेसितु नन्न शरीरदल्लि हेसिकॆ इनितिल्ल ।
Through old age (जरॆ) and disease (रोग), my (नन्न) body (शरीर) has become revolting (हेसितु) to others (नॆरॆहॊरॆ), yet there is still no (इनितिल्ल) revulsion (हेसिकॆ) for living in it.
- Bodily looks are temporary while actually the purpose of the body is to do good deeds and serve Lord Almighty.
नन्न देह पापकोटिगळ माडिदरिन्नु ताप मनदॊळगिनितिल्ल ।
Though this body (देह) has committed (माडिद) countless (कोटिगळ) sins (पाप), still there is no (इनितिल्ल) remorse (ताप) within my heart (मनदोळगे).
- The mind is the master of the body, but shows no remorse for wasting precious opportunities in this lifetime.
हीगॆ संदु होयितु कालवॆल्लवु मुन्दणगति दारि तोरदु कृष्ण ।
In this way (हीगॆ) all my time (कालवॆल्लवु) has slipped away (संदु होयितु), yet You have not shown (तोरदु) me the path (दारि) to move ahead (मुन्दण गति), O Krishna (कृष्ण).
- The “path ahead” refers to progress towards liberation through the Lord’s grace.
अनादियिंद निन्नवनॆनिसिदॆ ऎन्न कुंदु निन्नदल्लवॆ कृष्ण ।
From primordial times (अनादियिंद), I have regarded myself (नॆनिसिदॆ) as Yours (निन्नव). My shortcomings (कुंदु) are therefore Yours to bear (निन्नदु), are they not?(अल्लवे).
- While this may seem like blaming the Lord and escaping one’s responsibility, it is a devout and necessary surrender since the Jeeva is eternally dependent on the Lord.
इन्नादरु दयदिन्द नोडि मन्निसबेकय्य सिरिकृष्ण ॥
At least from now on (इन्नादरु), look upon me (नोडि) with compassion (दयॆयिंद), forgive me (मन्निसबेक), O glorious Krishna inseparable from Lakshmi (सिरि-कृष्णा).
- Forgiveness and liberation comes only through His grace upon sincere repentance and devotion based on proper knowledge.
References
- Meera Subbarao: Deha Jirnavayitu Dhanadaha Jirṇavagadu Krishna
- Samyuktha Harshitha : When Krishna reproached Vyasa Raja
/Raghunath Rao/ “Do your Best … and leave the Rest … “
(All mistakes mine – all credit to Gurus and Acharyas )
|| sarvaṁ śrī kṛṣṇārpanamastu ||
