Lyrics and meaning - gopi gopala lala

Place to go if you want to ask someone identify raga, tala, composer etc or ask for sāhitya (lyrics) or notations or translations.
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krishnaa
Posts: 958
Joined: 13 Sep 2007, 20:22

Lyrics and meaning - gopi gopala lala

Post by krishnaa »

The meaning of this composition follows the request of lakshman Uncle... I am very sorry for the delay.

Lyrics
gOpi gOpAla lAla rAsamaNDalamAhi tAta dEhi dASuDanga niratata gatimAhi
dhrima dhrima dhrima dhrimamrdanga jhana nananana rUpa ranga
dhrkiTa dhrkiTa tAlatangaukaTata rasa nAhi
rAdhA mukha sharada candapUnjata jala sama ghananda
shrI bhraja canda laTaka laTakaharada mukuTa chAhi
tatta tatta sugaragAda sa riga ma pa dha nI ghaDADa
aura pradahi prahlAda sangadampati atikAla
sahita sahita yamuna nIrEgaga mrga jaga maga sharIra
dhana nanda kEtu mAra bhalibhali jAya sUradAsa rAsa sugati pArayE

Here is my trial on the meaning...

gOpi gOpAla lAla rAsamaNDalamAhi tAta dEhi dASuDanga niratata gatimAhi
The cowherd damsels (gopI) together with young gopAla, dance (niratata) in (mAhI) rhythm (gati) amidst (mAhI) the divine arena (rAsamanDala).

dhrima dhrima dhrima dhrima mrdanga jhana nananana rUpa ranga
dhrkiTa dhrkiTa tAlatanga ukaTata rasa nAhi
The drums (mRdanga) make rhythmic sounds dhrimi dhrimi and the colours(ranga) of their beauty (rUpa) sprinkles all around. As the dance continues, the ambrosia of rasa ceases (nAhI) to impair (ukaTata)

rAdhA mukha sharada canda pUnjata jala sama ghananda
shrI bhraja canda laTaka laTaka hArada mukuTa chAhi
Sri radha's face (mukha) resembles that on the full moon(canda) of the winter season (sharada). The beauty of the crown (mukuTa) and pearl strings (hAra) of the moon (canda) of Braja [ie braja canda = krishna] is oozing (laTaka laTaka) from his form.

tatta tatta sugaragAda sa riga ma pa dha nI ghaDADa [ i dont understand this line]
aura pradahi prahlAda sangadampati atikAla
The divine couple (dampati) together (sanga) provide (pradahi) immense pleasure (prahlAda) to the hearts of all others (aura) through their amazing artistic moves (ati kalA)

sahita sahita yamuna nIrE khaga mrga jagamaga sharIra
dhana nanda kE kumAra bhalibhali jaya sUradAsa rAsa sugati pArayE
Along (sahita sahita) with the waters (nIra) of river Yamuna, other enities (sharIra) like the birds (khaga) and animals (mrga) are also overwhelmed (jagamaga). The poet SurdAs merrily (bhali bhali) glorifies (dhana, jaya) the son (kumAra) of Nanda and this wonderful rAsa.

There are quite a few words that I dont understand, but I have tried to show the overall meaning.

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: Lyrics and meaning - gopi gopala lala

Post by Lakshman »

Thanks krishnaa. Great effort!

classicallover
Posts: 374
Joined: 21 Nov 2010, 00:05

Re: Lyrics and meaning - gopi gopala lala

Post by classicallover »

This song is sung every time a divyanama sankeertanam is held in the bhajan sampradaya.

Krishnaa's meaning given for the pallavi may not be wrong but not very appropriate. The lines mean that the gopis and Krishna dance in circles romantically ( raasamaNDala ) relentlessly without interruption ( niratata gatim ) with Krishna in the centre of each circle. The dance pattern is canonical with the gopis in the centre and krishna(s) dancing around them in circles.

The dance is set to the beats of the drums resounding with endless jatis which never fails to capture the imagination of the spectators. This results in the flashing of myriad colours by the colourfully dressed gopis.

The beauty of Krishna's dance is embellished by the numerous necklaces hanging ( laTaka laTaka ) from his neck and the crown, which is witnessed by the moon faced Radha.

From times immemorial ( ati kaala ) the divine couple ( sanga dampati ) have been dancing with immense pleasure accompanied by the singing of swaras by others.

On the banks of the yamuna, all the birds and deer ( mrga ) also dance with joy which is very merrily envisioned by the devotee Suradas glorifying the deeds of the son of Nanda.

The same scenery has been envisioned almost similarly and very concisely by Tyagaraja in his Kedaragowla kriti, VenugaanalOluni , especially in the charaNam :

" vikasita pankaja vadanalu, vividha gatulalaaDaga ; okarikokaru karamulaniDi Orakannula juuDaga ;
shukaravamulu gala taruNulu sogasugaanu paaDaga ; sakalasurulu tyaagaraaja sakhuni vEDaga vachchi || veNu || "

asharaj
Posts: 105
Joined: 25 Apr 2010, 07:51

Re: Lyrics and meaning - gopi gopala lala

Post by asharaj »

Tks very much for the quick response

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