Tyagaraja submits an application for a job with Rama through this poem. Tyagaraja, inspired by Hanuman, now applies to the same post as Hanuman, the servant of Rama. Even though this keerthana does not mention Hanuman, Tyagaraja actually refers to Hanuman's characteristics and describes the ecstacy which Hanuman experiences, by seeking those characteristics from Rama as a part of the job benefits, :).
It is popularly known that Hanuman is an incarnation of Shiva himself. Shiva is called Tyagaraja, the King of sacrifices. So in every poem of his, Tyagaraja, when the poet ends with "Tyagaraja", the poet is actually refering to Shiva and at the same time expressing his own feelings.
Click here for Balamurali Krishna's rendition of the song
బంటు రీతి కొలువీయ వయ్య రామ
Bantu reethi koluviyyavayya rama
Word-Word:
బంటుbantu= servant; రీతిreethi=like/ way; కొలువీయవయ్యkoluviyyavayya(koluvu+iyyava+ayya)=(job+give+sir)give the job, Sir; రామrama= Rama
Meaning:
Servant-like job, give me Sir, Rama!
Discussion:
Please give me the job of a servant with you O Rama!
తుంట వింటి వాని మొదలైనమదాదుల గొట్టి నేల కూలజేయు నిజ
Thunta Vinti Vani modalaina mada
dula gotti nela koolajeyu nija
Word-Word:
తుంటవింటి వానిthuntavintivani(thunta+vintivani)= (mischievious+archer) Cupid; మొదలైనmodalaina= start with, etc.;
మదాmada=arrogance/lust;
Meaning:
Cupid's started arrogance etc.
to hit and shatter down to ground, such truthful/sincere....(servant post...)
Discussion:
Modalaina has two meaning. One is "start with", the other is "etc.".While most of the translations take the meaning of "modalaina" as etc./others, I think the context actually means "start with". There are more than one reason for that. Firstly, if it were etc., that would mean that Tyagaraja would have meant to shatter Cupid along with the arrogance down to ground. Cupid is not evil, it is the lust that overpowers love that is evil . So Tyagaraja would not have refered to shattering Cupid but to the lust.
Tyagaraja here says that the lust and other vices is started by Cupid, the mischievious archer. "A sincere servant can hit that lust and shatter it to ground. To such a sincere servant post, I apply". It is this sentence that suggests that Hanuman is refered. Hanuman is known to be a Chaste Celibate. So Tyagaraja is refering to the main characteristic of Hanuman. It is as if Tyagaraja is asking Rama to appoint him as servant, and by default Rama's servant is known to have shattered lust to ground. Tyagaraja is indirectly seeking strength to shatter lust.
రోమాంచమనే, ఘన కంచుకము
రామ భక్తుడనే, ముద్రబిళ్ళయు
రామ నామమనే, వర ఖఢ్గమి
విరాజిల్లునయ్య, త్యాగరాజునికే
Ramanchamane ghana kanchukamu
rama bhakthudanu mudra billayu
Rama namamane vara khadgami
Virajillunayya Tyagarajunike
Word-Word:
రోమాంచమనేromanchamane(romanchamu+ane)= goosebump causing joy+as said/like, ఘనghana= great; కంచుకముkanchukamu= armour;
రామrama= rama; భక్తుడనేbhakthudane(bhakthudu+ane)= devotee+as said;ముద్రmudra= seal;బిళ్ళయుbillayu= coin;
రామrama=rama; నామమనేnamamane(namamu+ane)= name+as said/like; వరvara= boon; ఖఢ్గమిkhadgamu= sword;
విరాజిల్లునయ్యrajillunayya= will shine/suit, త్యాగరాజునికేtyagarajunike= to Tyagaraja only;
Meaning:
Goosebump rising joy, which is like the great armor;
"Rama's devotee" saying seal coin;
Rama's name which is like a boonful sword
(all these) will shine/suit only Tyagaraja
Discussion:
Here Tyagaraja describes what benefits Rama's servants get as soon as they are appointed. It is a common practise, especially for King's servant to be given an armor, a royal seal and a sword as part of the job. So Tyagaraja indirectly pleads that he be bestowed with hair-rising-Joy as armor that makes one oblivious to any inflicted pain, the official seal of a "devotee" tag that gets respect, and finally the sword of Rama's name that can destroy strongest of internal spiritual enemies. He finally says that "all these servant costume will suit only Tyagaraja". Another reason for me thinking that Hanuman is refered is the Universal fact that no devotee is greater than Hanuman in devotion. Tyagaraja uses the word " ONLY". Thus suggesting Hanuman.
I would appreciate comments and suggestions regarding the translation.
References:
[1]http://www.shivkumar.org/music/bantureethi.pdf
[2]http://tyagarajakeertana.blogspot.com/2012/05/tyagaraja-keerthanas-bantu-reethi.html
[3]Paluri Shankarnarayana" Telugu to English Dictionary"
