Meaning for rAsa vilAsa by Swathi Thirunal

[keeths]

rAsa vilAsa. rAgA: kAmbhOji. Adi tALA.

P: rAsa vilAsa lOlO lasati bhavAndEva
A: bhAsura kALindIparisarE madhuvanE
C1: kEsha bhAra nibaddhakEki barhO nikAmam pEshala maNi bhUSa
pItavasana shAli nAshayanniha kusumAshugamadam kAntyA kEshavOmrdu
vihasa vadanOmunigEyakIrti ramala mUrti rati pAlanO jagati
2: madhunAtura gOpikAmaNDala madhyagatO madamanupamam dAsAm
muraLiravENa dishantadatula gAnamudita lOla mauliriha padayuga vilasan-
navamaNi nUpura bhavya nAda vijita hamsaninadO ramAramaNa
3: vividhanarmAlApana vITitA nacumbana pravitata bhujAshlESAdi
vilAsa shataira hO vivasayannamum yaduvIra gOpIsancayam divisamupAgata
nirjara sannuta divya shOba jalajanAbha sharaNAgatAdhi hara

Its not there in the swathi thirunal website

[prashant]

The second charana is usually sung [just a tip for those who might attempt a translation]. KVN Sir's niraval in this song was just amazing.

[smala]

A sparkling gem from Swathi Thirunal centered on the rAsa lilA ----

Rasa Vilasa...The seat or home of the Rasa Lila....the rasa-lila, poem appears in the midst of the Bhagawata Purana's description of the lila (divine play) of Krishna, just as the flute playing cowherd and his young love, Radha, reach adolescence. As the autumn moon turns full, Krsna's love for all of the milkmaidens (gopis) of the village reaches its peak, with the sound of his magical flute's fifth note he beckons the Vraja gopis and Radha, in particular, to come, meet with him in the forest bowers to dance and celebrate their joyous love. In response there is this one night of Divine enchantment for all the young maidens and Radha who are completely enraptured with Krishna's association, his music and dance and his attention to each one of them. It is said Krishna created a magical scene taking on as many forms as there were gopis, each thinking that she had Krishna's special association without realizing the larger Divine play.

Till someone comes up with a word-to-word translation, here is something from TK Govinda Rao..................

Oh Lord, you thoroughly seem to enjoy yourself in the RASA-dance.

In MADHUVANA situated on the banks of river KALINDI

Your rich tresses are adorned with peacock plumes, your person is adorned with gem studded ornaments, you are wearing yellow silk. The beauty of your form subdues the pride of Cupid. You have a smiling countenance. Your glory is sung by sages. Oh KESAVA! You are the personification of purity and divinity on earth.

Oh RAMARAMANA! You are dancing amidst the cowherd damsels, who are overwhelmed with the sentiment of love. You give them immense joy by playing the flute. You also nod your head and show your appreciation of their music while dancing with them by tapping your feet. The jingling sound of your glittering, gem studded anklets surpasses the chirping of swan. You tease those maidens by various ways; by offering TAMBULA-betel leaves, kissing them and extending your arm outwardly to embrace them. By all these amorous games you enchant them and drown them in ecstacy.

Your dance performance wins the adulation of celestials who have assembled above in the sky. Oh most exquisitely beautiful JALAJANABHA! one who obliterates the sorrows of those who surrender unto you! You are rejoicing in RASA dance!

[keeths]

Thanks a lot Prashant and Shyama Priya.It's a lovely song.Please someone provide me with a word to word translation

[keeths]

Anyone??

[Rajani]

dEva - O Lord!
bhavAn - You
lasati - are resplendent,
rAsa vilAsa lOlO - eager for the dance/sport of Rasa!

bhAsura kALindI parisarE - in the shining banks of Kalindi (Yamuna).
madhuvanE - in the Madhuvana forest.

kEsha bhAra nibaddha kEki barhO - (You are) with a peacock feather affixed to your hair,
nikAmam - abundantly, to the heart's desire,
pEshala maNi bhUSa - wearing delicate gems ,
pItavasana shAli - with a yellow silk garment,
nAshayan - destroying
iha - here
kusumAshuga-madam - the pride of Manmatha
kAntyA - with (your) radiance.
kEshavO - (you are) Kesava,
mrdu vihasa vadanO - with a gentle smile on your face,
munigEyakIrti r - one who is worthy of the Rishis' praises
amala mUrti r - the one whose form is immaculate,
ati pAvanO - immensely purifying,
jagati - on this earth.

Notes:
bhavAn is a respectful form for "you".
the visarga becomes the "r" in munigEyakIrtir etc

[Rajani]

C2:
ramAramaNa - O Lord of Lakshmi!
gOpikAmaNDala madhyagatO - Standing amidst the circle of Gopikas
madanAtura - who are smitten by love,
dishan - giving
madam anupamam - incomparable intoxication
tAsAm - to them
muraLiravENa - with the music of the flute,
tadatula gAna - (and) with their matchless singing,
mudita - joyous ,
lOla maulir - shaking (your) head (in approval),
iha - here ,
vijita hamsaninadO - surpassing the sound of swans
bhavya nAda - with the lovely sound
navamaNi nUpura - of your gem-filled anklets,
padayuga vilasan- that shine at your twin feet.

[Rajani]

C3
yaduvIra - O brave scion of the Yadu dynasty!
nirjara sannuta - O one praised by the Devas
divi samupAgata - assembled in the sky!
divya shOba - O one of divine radiance!
jalajanAbha - O Padmanabha!
sharaNAgata Adhi hara - O remover of distress of those who have surrendered!

ahO - Oh wonder!
vilAsa shatair - With hundreds of charming acts -
vividha narmAlApana - various sweet words,
vITi dAna - giving tambulam,
cumbana - kisses,
pravitata bhujAshlESa - embraces with extended arms,
Adi - etc.
vivaSayan - making (them) overcome/enchanted ,
amum - this
gOpIsancayam - group of Gopikas, ( you are resplendent, eager for the sport of Rasa)

[rshankar]

Great, Rajani!

[keeths]

Thank you Rajani!

[aaaaabbbbb]

Rajani,

Matchless, superb interpretation.

[Rajani]

Thank you Ravi and SAvitri ji . Keeths - happy to help!

[Sachi_R]

Rajani-ji,
It is so enjoyable and educative to read your translations!
I just learnt a new word, कुसुमाशुग!



Just to add my 2 paise, in Samskrita there is a respectful address with the word भवान्. Then the person is not treated as मध्यम पुरुष but प्रथम पुरुष for conjugation. So this composition is addressing Krishna with all those adjectival clauses.

PS:
In one place the there is a typo - shoba for शोभ

[Rajani]

Thank you Sachi Sir. Yes , Bhavan is treated as third person and not second person ( somewhat like Your Highness etc. which too use third person).

Request Keeths to make note of the error - shOba instead of shObha. I am unable to edit my post.

[rshankar]

Rajani/Sachi:

कुसुमाशुग = कुसुम + आशुग, right? आशुग as in arrow, right? So, this will be the same as अलर्शर and सुमसायक, right?

[Rajani]

Yes Ravi. Though alar-sara may said to be mani-pravaalam , since alar is a Tamil+Malayalam word for flowers.