TRanslation of Carnatic music krithis

[ramya475]

For the past few years I have been translating Karnatik music Krithis in to English and putting in the following web sites:-
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/gi.htm
http://translationsofsomesongsofcarntic ... gspot.com/
http://www.celextel.org
So far I have translated 110 Telgu Krithis, 65 Kannada Krithis , 162 Tamil Krithis, 142 Sanskrit Krithis , 13 Hindi Krithis and 42 Wedding songs.
The most recent was a collection of songsa written in Tamil by Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi and Sri Neelakanta Sivan
P.R.Ramachander

[RaviSri]

There are so many mistakes in the listings and in the translations. The first few kritis are but just a few examples. The correct spelling I hve given brackets.

Anyayamu Cheyakkura (sEyakurA)
Adhi kathu Manasaa (kAdu bhajana)
Darini thelusu kondi (koNTi)
Dasani thodi deve (chani tODi tEvE)
Daya leni prathu kemi (bratu)
Devathi deva Sadashiva (dEvAdi)
Dudukkugula (duDukugala)
Edula Kappaduthu (eTula gApADutuvO)
Eeva sutha nee vandi deivamu (eevasudhA nIvaNTi deivamu)

First of all, don't take kritis and translations from websites. Most of them have a lot of mistakes. Refer to books. C.Ramanujachari's 'Spiritual Heritage of Thyagraja' and S.Parthasarathi's book for Thyagaraja kritis, Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini and Sundaram's Iyer's 'Dikshitar Keertanamala' for Muthuswami Dikshitar and S.Ramanathan's book for Shyama Sastri. For special kritis like the Navavaranams, even Sundaram Iyer's book has mistakes in translations. You need to consult Sanskrit and Sri Vidya scholars before you can even attempt to translate. Similarly with Pancharatnams too you have to take utmost care.

If you want I can help you with translations of some of the important kritis.

[RaviSri]

'Being wicked, which rich man’s son can save me?'

The above is your translation of the pallavi of the Gaula Pancharatnam, 'Dudukugala'.

The right translation is 'Which prince will protect an evil-minded person like me?' It is Thyagaraja's prayer to Rama to protect him.

There might be many such indirect appeals, allusions etc. The subtle meaning will also have to be studied. One has to be very careful while translating the Trinitys' songs. There are innumerable conondrums in them.