It was mentioned in one of the earlier articles that Tyagaraja used episodes from Ramayana story in many krutis. He derived these stories from various sources like the aadhyaatma raamaayaNa, etc. Therefore, we often find that these krutis tell us of some interesting but little known aspects of the story. I posted one such kruti (maa jaanaki ceTTa baTTagaa) last week. This week we'll look at two more krutis in the same theme.


kaapinaaraayaNi rAgaM, Adi tALaM

sarasa saama daana bhaeda danDa catura
saaTi daivamevarae, broevavae //sarasa

parama Saambhava agraesaruDanucu
balku raavaNuDu teliyalaeka poeye //sarasa

hitavu maaTalemtoe baaga balkitivi
satamugaa nayoedhya nittu nanTivi
nata sahoedaruni raaju jaesi raaka
hatamu jaesitivi tyaagaraaja nuta //sarasa

A summary in English :
Rama, you are well skilled in the four approaches of overcoming the enemy, namely, saama (diplomacy), daana (bribe), bhaeda (split) and danDa (force). Which other Lord to compare to you, please guard over us.
Even Ravana, the self-proclaimed great devotee of Siva, could not understand this about you. You spoke very diplomatically (1). You even offered Ayodhya itself (2). To anoint VibheeshaNa as the king, you finally used force to finish his (VibheeshaNa's) brother off.

Notes: (1) Rama sends Angada as his ambassador to Ravana's court. Rama's message carried by Angada is considered to be the epitome of ambassadorship, at least in those days. (2) This is the little known part. When Vibheeshana sought Rama's protection, Rama proclaimed that Vibheeshana will be the king of Lanka soon. Sugreeva pointed out to Rama that this will be difficult if Ravana agrees to Rama's embassy at the last minute. Apparently Rama proclaimed that if such a situation arises, he will give up his own Ayodhya to Ravana so as to keep his promise to Vibheeshana. Of course, that did not come to pass.

cArukESi rAgaM, Adi tALaM

aaDamoeDi galadaa rAmayya, maaTa //laaDa

toeDu neeDa neevae yanucunu bhakti
gooDina paadamu baTTina naatoe maaTa //laaDa

caduvulanni delisi SaMkarAMSuDai
sadayuDaaSuka saMbhavuDu mrokka
kadalu tammuni balka jaesitivi gAkanu
tyaagaraaju yaaDina maaTa //laaDa

A summary in English :
O Rama, are you indisposed to talk to me?
To me, who believes that you are his only comfort, and in devotion touched your feet, are you indisposed to talk?
When Anjaneya, the one who had learned all knowledge (1), the personification of Siva's energy (2), that son of Vayu addressed you for the first time on the Citrakoota mountain, you made your brother speak to him (3) in stead of replying him yourself. So, when humble tyaagaraaja speaks to you, are you indisposed to talk to me?

Notes: (1) Anjaneya had been tutored by the Sun god in his youth in all knowledge. (2) Anjaneya was conceived from Siva's energy. (3) This is the gem in this kruti. Anjaneya approaches the brothers in the guise of a human, to inquire who they are, if they are friends or foes. Rama notices Anjaneya approaching from a distance. Rama also notices that Anjaneya is a subordinate to someone else. As a King, he maintains the etiquette by making his brother reply to Anjaneya when he addressed them. Tyagaraja gently prods Rama that being such a stickler for etiquette is not proper for so generous a Lord, especially towards his devotee.