Shyamala Dandakam

[Rsachi]

Shyamala Dandakam by Mahakavi Kalidasa sung by DK Pattammal
Dear Rasikas,
Considering that Shyamala Dandakam by Kalidasa is (in my opinion) an unmatched prayer to Devi=Saraswati in Sanskrit for its imagery, poetic structure and phonetic beauty, and it has been sung so well by DKP perhaps 5 decades ago, I have taken the liberty of putting together a You Tube video with the scrolling text and the track I purchased at flipkart.com
I hope this is a good Navaratri treat for many.
Thanks
Sachi R

[mukta]

Rsachiji,
Thank you very much.I found this link for the meaning of Shyamala Dandakam.

http://prramamurthy1931.blogspot.in/201 ... glish.html

[Rsachi]

yes, I referred to that site.
this shloka is very revealing. what do you say, mukta-ji?
पाणिपद्मद्वयेनाक्षमालामपिस्फाटिकीं ज्ञानसारात्मकं पुस्तकं चाङ्कुशं
पाशमाबिभ्रती येन सञ्चिन्त्यसे तस्य वक्त्रान्तरात् गद्यपद्यात्मिका भारती निस्सरेत् । येन वा यावकाभाकृतिर्भाव्यसे, तस्य वश्या भवन्ति स्त्रियः पूरुषाः । येन वा शातकुंभद्युतिर्भाव्यसे सोऽपि लक्ष्मीसहस्रैः परिक्रीडते ।

If a devotee meditates on you as holding in your hands the crystal akshamala, the book of supreme knowledge, the goad and the rope, from his mouth will emerge all knowledge in the form of poetry and prose. If he meditates on you as having a red complexion, all men and women will be under his spell. If he meditates on you as having golden complexion, he will sport with thousands of Lakshmis (i.e. he will have immeasurable wealth).

[mukta]

What can a mere mortal say about this
immortal Devi Stuti of Mahakavi Kalidasa?