PEDA TIRUMALACHARYULU
198.
ఈ యీ యీ యీ యీ యీ
(I yI yI yI yI yI)
Commentary by CH S N Sreenivasa
Introduction: This poem by Peda Tirumalacharyulu seems effortless, yet it carries a mesmerizing rhythm and profound resonance. Crafting a poem from mere syllables is impressive but infusing it with meaning is commendable. However, achieving memorability requires true genius. The Annamacharya clan possesses such brilliance, transforming ordinary words into immortal songs. They belong to a realm beyond mortal reach, a class of unparalleled ingenuity.
In the poem, the poet reflects on his actions, realizing they lack significance despite outwardly praising the Lord. However, in a sudden moment of revelation, he discovers the Lord enshrined within the depths of his heart, embraced by Alamelumanga. Overwhelmed with ecstasy, he affirms that seeking refuge in the Lord is the only way to live.
అధ్యాత్మ కీర్తన: రాగిరేకు 75-3 సంపుటము: 15-431 |
ఈ యీ యీ యీ యీ యీ
యీ యీ యీరీతి నా గుణము నాయందే తగిలెను ॥పల్లవి॥ మనస్సుననే నినుఁ దలఁచి మాటలఁ గొసరుదును వొక్కొకపరి
వినయముతో నీకు వేవేలు మొక్కులు మొక్కుదును వొక్కొకపరి
ఘనంబగు భక్తిని బయలుకౌఁగిట నలముదును వొక్కొకపరి
తనియక వేడుకతోను దైవమా నినుఁ బొగడుదును ॥ఈయీ॥ జగత్తున నే నిను వెదకి సారెకు నవ్వుదును వొక్కొకపరి
పగటున నీ నామములు పాడుచుఁ జెలఁగుదును
తగులుచు నినుఁ బూజించి తగఁ బ్రియమునఁ జొక్కుదును వొక్కొకపరి
నిగమములను నిన్ను విని నీరజనాభా వెఱగందుదును ॥ఈయీ॥ అంతట నీ మహిమ గని అటు నీ దాస్యమె కొరుదును వొక్కొకపరి
చెంతల నీ దాసులఁ జూచి సేవ సేసి నిను నడుగుదును వొక్కొకపరి
అంతరంగము శ్రీవేంకటేశ అలమేల్మంగతోఁ బొడచూపితివి
సంతసమున నే నీ పాదములకు శరణుచొచ్చి నేబ్రదికితిని ॥ఈయీ॥
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Philosophical Poem Copper Leaf: 75-3 Volume: 15-431 |
I yI yI yI yI yI
yI yI yIrIti nA guNamu nAyaMdE tagilenu ॥pallavi॥ manassunanE ninu dalachi mATala gosarudunu vokkokapari
vinayamutO nIku vEvElu mokkulu mokkudunu vokkokapari
ghanaMbagu bhaktini bayalukaugiTa nalamudunu
vokkokapari
taniyaka vEDukatOnu daivamA ninu bogaDudunu ॥IyI॥ jagattuna nE ninu vedaki sAreku navvudunu vokkokapari
pagaTuna nI nAmamulu pADuchu jelagudunu
taguluchu ninu bUjiMchi taga briyamuna jokkudunu
vokkokapari
nigamamulanu ninnu vini nIrajanAbhA ve~ragaMdudunu ॥IyI॥ aMtaTa nI mahima gani aTu nI dAsyame korudunu
vokkokapari
cheMtala nI dAsula jUchi sEva sEsi ninu naDugudunu
vokkokapari
aMtaraMgamu SrIvEMkaTESa alamElmaMgatO boDachUpitivi
saMtasamuna nE nI pAdamulaku SaraNuchochchi
nEbradikitini ॥IyI
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Details
and explanations:
Word to
word Meaning: ఈ (I) = This; యీరీతి = this way; నా గుణము = my nature; నాయందే = in myself; తగిలెను = got entangled.
Meaning: Oh Lord!
My essence has become intertwined within myself. (Thus, I remain in ignorance)
Explanation and Commentary: Thus, we may imagine that the mind is like a ouroboros serpent eating its own tail. See the picture below belonging to the same period of Peda Tirumalacharyulu.
In the context of this verse "యీరీతి నా గుణము నాయందే తగిలెను" (yIrIti nA guNamu nAyaMdE tagilenu), let's examine its significance through the lens of Rene Magritte's surrealistic painting "The Birth of an Idol."
In this captivating image, we are
confronted with a tumultuous sea and a stormy sky. Atop a table rests what
appears to be a mannequin, crowned with a bilboquet resembling a chess bishop,
expressing bewilderment. Nearby, a blind staircase leads to nowhere, while
wooden planks with large cutouts and a mirror reflecting the turbulent sea add
to the surreal atmosphere.
The bilboquet, symbolizing our
thoughts born from acquired knowledge, connects to the mannequin, touching the
chaotic sea. The staircase, leading to a dead end, reflects the futility of all
pursuits. The mirror underscores the sense of unease, highlighting the
oppressive environment.
The holes in the wooden planks
represent the limitations and uncertainties of our gathered knowledge, implying
its unreliability. Consequently, like the perplexed bilboquet, we seek
stability amidst the challenges of the world. Many turn to God as a steadfast
reference point to navigate life's uncertainties.
Thus, the poet urges us to
transcend conventional thinking and seek meaningful solutions that go beyond
superficial engagements with the world, offering a deeper understanding of our
existence and purpose.
Now request readers to connect the chorus with the wording of the last stanza అంతరంగము శ్రీవేంకటేశ అలమేల్మంగతోఁ బొడచూపితివి / సంతసమున నే నీ పాదములకు శరణుచొచ్చి నేబ్రదికితిని (aMtaraMgamu SrIvEMkaTESa alamElmaMgatO boDachUpitivi / saMtasamuna nE nI pAdamulaku SaraNuchochchi nEbradikitini): From this Tirumalacharyulu is clear there is no other way to live life without surrendering to the Lord.
Word to word Meaning: మనస్సుననే (manassunanE) = in my mind; నినుఁ దలఁచి (ninu dalachi) = thinking of you; మాటలఁ (mATala) = గొసరుదును (gosarudunu) = ఏదేనొక వస్తువును దీసికొన్న దానికిచ్చెడు పెచ్చు, something extra given to attract; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = at one time; వినయముతో (vinayamutO) = with great humility/modesty; నీకు (nIku) = to you; వేవేలు (vEvElu) = thousands; మొక్కులు మొక్కుదును (mokkulu mokkudunu) = take vows; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = at other times; ఘనంబగు భక్తిని (ghanaMbagu bhaktini) = with great devotion; బయలుకౌఁగిట నలముదును (bayalukaugiTa nalamudunu) = I try to hold you in my embrace; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = sometimes; తనియక వేడుకతోను (taniyaka vEDukatOnu) = untiring delight and festivity; దైవమా నినుఁ బొగడుదును (daivamA ninu bogaDudunu) = O Lord! I keep praising you;
Meaning: Oh Lord! Within me, I constantly dwell upon
You. With utmost humility, I make countless vows to be by Your side, Lord. At
times, with profound devotion, I enfold Your presence in my embrace. With
unwavering joy, Oh Lord, I continue to sing Your praises tirelessly.
Explanation and Commentary: Peda Tirumalacharyulu's message is clear:
mere singing and praising of the Lord do not constitute true service. Genuine
service to the Lord requires unconditional submission.
In our current condition, praising
the Lord is likened to the surreal garden depicted in Rene Magritte's painting
"Oasis." In this desolate desert landscape, we see a table with trees
growing from it, some reaching towering heights that touch the clouds. This
oasis-like scene provides comfort to the weary desert traveller. However, upon
closer inspection, we realize that trees, especially ones of such extraordinary
height, cannot naturally grow from a tabletop.
Similarly, our actions of praising
the Lord may offer temporary solace, like an oasis in the desert, but they do
not lead to true liberation. Tirumalacharyulu emphasizes that genuine service
to the Lord entails complete surrender and submission, transcending superficial
acts of praise.
Word to word Meaning: జగత్తున (jagattuna) = in this world; నే నిను వెదకి (nE ninu vedaki) = I search for you; సారెకు (sAreku) = everytime; నవ్వుదును (navvudunu) = I laugh (in vain); వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = at one time; పగటున (pagaTuna) = proclaim; నీ (nI) = your; నామములు (nAmamulu) = names; పాడుచుఁ జెలఁగుదును (pADuchu jelagudunu) = get ecstasy in singing; తగులుచు (taguluchu) = to get hooked, to get engaged; నినుఁ బూజించి (ninu bUjiMchi) = by submitting prayers; తగఁ బ్రియమునఁ జొక్కుదును (taga briyamuna jokkudunu) = I get pleasantly intoxicated; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = At sometimes; నిగమములను (nigamamulanu) While studying Vedas; నిన్ను విని (ninnu vini) = hear about you; నీరజనాభా (nIrajanAbhA) = O lord Vishnu; వెఱగందుదును (ve~ragaMdudunu) = I am afraid of you;
Meaning: At times, I seek You in the world and
chuckle at my folly in wandering astray. Other times, I find ecstasy in
chanting Your names. I become entranced in reciting Your prayers, intoxicated
by their captivating beauty. Occasionally, as I hear about You in the Vedas, I
feel a sense of apprehension about facing You.
Explanation and Commentary: Continuing his stance, Tirumalacharyulu
asserts that endeavours such as fervently seeking God, loudly chanting the
names of the Lord, or acting out of fear do not lead to liberation.
Word to word Meaning: అంతట (aMtaTa) = everywhere; నీ మహిమ గని (nI mahima gani) = by witnessing your majesty and grandeur; అటు నీ దాస్యమె కొరుదును (aTu nI dAsyame korudunu) = I seek to be in your service; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = once a while; చెంతల (cheMtala) = besides you; నీ దాసులఁ జూచి (nI dAsula jUchi) = finding your servants; సేవ సేసి (sEva sEsi) = I serve them; నిను నడుగుదును (ninu naDugudunu) = to know about you; వొక్కొకపరి (vokkokapari) = at other times; అంతరంగము (aMtaraMgamu) = inner space (of my mind) శ్రీవేంకటేశ అలమేల్మంగతోఁ (SrIvEMkaTESa alamElmaMgatO) = Lord Venkestwara along with ALamelumanga; బొడచూపితివి (boDachUpitivi) = to become visible; సంతసమున (saMtasamuna) = in ecstasy; నే (nE) = me; నీ (nI) = your; పాదములకు (pAdamulaku) = your feet; శరణుచొచ్చి నేబ్రదికితిని(SaraNuchochchi nEbradikitini) = I could live by taking the refuge of your lotus feet.
Meaning: Everywhere, as I witness Your majesty and
grandeur, I yearn to be of service to You. I humbly serve Your devotees,
seeking to deepen my understanding of Your greatness. O, Benevolent Lord, upon
discovering Lord Venkateswara alongside Alamelumanga within my inner being, I
realize that I can only truly live by seeking refuge at Your divine lotus feet.
Explanation and Commentary: In this stanza, Tirumalacharyulu, upon discovering the presence of the Lord within his heart, affirms that the sole path to existence in this world is to seek refuge in Lord Venkateswara. As observed throughout the verses, he emphasizes that neither the quantity of praise nor the depth of knowledge about the Lord matters; what truly counts is genuine self-submission. All other actions, he suggests, only lead to the squandering of time.
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