ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಕರ್ಣಾಮೃತಮ್, ೧:೧-೨೫

SRIKRISHNAKARNAMRUTAM ASHWASA ೧ (SLOKAS ೧-೨೫)

Srikrishna Karnamrutham

Srikrishna Karnamrutham is a beautiful devotional poem authored by Bilwamangala Swami, also known as Lila Shuka because of his descriptions of the leelas of Krishna in the same manner in which Suka described it to Parikshit.   Lila Suka has painted vivid word picutres of the leelas of Krishna as a child, as an adolescent boy and as a lover. The work contains ೩೨೮ verses in three aashwasas (or sargas, chapters). Throughout the book the undercurrent is loving devotion to Krishna who is regarded as the plenary incarnation of Mahavishnu, the purely sattwic aspect of brahman, the Ultimate reality.  It is said that Chaitanya mahaprabhu was acquainted with this work and he greatly appreciated it.

Given below are slokas ೧ to ೨೫ of the first ashwasa with a prosaic translation in English.  


ಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿರ್ಜಯತಿ ಸೋಮಗಿರಿರ್ಗುರುರ್ಮೇ
ಶಿಕ್ಷಾಗುರುಶ್ಚ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಶಿಖಿಪಿಂಛಮೌಲಿಃ
ಯತ್ಪಾದಕಲ್ಪತರುಪಲ್ಲವಶೇಖರೇಷು
ಲೀಲಾಸ್ವಯಂವರರಸಂ ಲಭತೇ ಜಯಶ್ರೀಃ|| ೧.೧||

Victory to my Guru Somagiri who is like Chintamani, the wish-fulfilling jewel, and Victory also to Lord Kirshna, my sikshaguru , who sports peacock feathers on his head and at whose feet, which are like the tender leaves of the wish-yielding tree, the Goddess of Victory experiences the sweet joy of playful swayamvara

ಅಸ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಸ್ತರುಣೀ ಕರಾಗ್ರವಿಗಲತ್ಕಲ್ಪಪ್ರಸೂನಾಪ್ಲುತಂ

ವಸ್ತು ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತವೇಣುನಾದಲಹರೀ ನಿರ್ವಾಣನಿರ್ವ್ಯಾಕುಲಂ
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ಸ್ರಸ್ತಸ್ರಸ್ತನಿರುದ್ಧನೀವಿವಿಲಸತ್ಗೋಪೀಸಹಸ್ರಾವೃತಂ

ಹಸ್ತನ್ಯಸ್ತನತಾಪವರ್ಗಮಖಿಲೋದಾರಂ ಕಿಶೋರಾಕೃತಿಃ || ೧.೨ ||

The Ultimate Reality (ವಸ್ತು ), Brahman,  exists in the form of an adolescent boy (Krishna)  who is flooded with flowers from the wish-yielding tree by the damsels of Heaven, who produces from his flute waves of melodious soothing music which puts one in a meditative mood, who is surrounded by a thousand gopis (milkmaids) holding on to their robes lest they slip off (while dancing around Krishna) and who is ready with mukti (liberation) on his hand for those who bow to Him ( in loving devotion).


ಚಾತುರ್ಯೈಕನಿಧಾನಸೀಮ ಚಪಲಾಪಾಂಗಚ್ಛಟಾಮಂಥರಂ
ಲಾವಣ್ಯಾಮೃತವೀಚಿಲಾಲಿತದೃಶಂ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಕಟಾಕ್ಷಾದೃತಂ|
ಕಾಲಿಂದೀಪುಲಿನಾಂಗಣಪ್ರಣಯಿನಂ ಕಾಮಾವತಾರಾಂಕುರಂ
ಬಾಲಂ ನೀಲಮಮೀ ವಯಂ ಮಧುರಿಮಸ್ವಾರಾಜ್ಯಮಾರಾಧ್ನುಮಃ || ೧.೩||  
                                           
We adore and worship that boy of dark blue complexion,  the very essence of the sweetness of all the worlds,  who is the most clever,  who is the repository of the height of playfulness, whose roving sidelong glances are pretty,  whose eyes are nurtured by nectarine waves of beauty, who is honoured by the glances of Goddess Lakshmi, who loves to play on the banks of Yamuna and who is the cause for the  incarnation of Kama (God of Love)

ಬರ್ಹೋತ್ತಂಸವಿಲಾಸಿಕುಂತಲಭರಂ ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಮುಗ್ದ್ಧಾನನಂ
ಪ್ರೋನ್ಮೀಲನ್ನವಯೌವನಂ ಪ್ರವಿಲಸದ್ವೇಣುಪ್ರಣಾದಾಮೃತಂ |
ಆಪೀನಸ್ತನಕುಡ್ಮಲಾಭಿರಭಿತೋ ಗೋಪೀಭಿರಾರಾಧಿತಂ
ಜ್ಯೋತಿಶ್ಚೇತಸಿ ನಶ್ಚಕಾಸ್ತು ಜಗತಾಮೇಕಾಭಿರಾಮಾದ್ಭುತಂ || ೧.೪||

May that wonderful and beautiful Light of the world (Krishna), whose locks are adorned with peacock feathers, whose face is sweetness and innocence personified,  who is on the threshold of youth, whose music from the flute is like nectar and who is surrounded on all sides and adored by ample-bosomed gopis( milkmaids), shine in my heart.


ಮಧುರತರಸ್ಮಿತಾಮೃತವಿಮುಗ್ದ್ಧಮುಖಾಂಬುರುಹಂ
ಮದಶಿಖಿಪಿಂಛಲಾಂಛಿತಮನೋಜ್ಞಕಚಪ್ರಚಯಂ |
ವಿಷಯವಿಷಾಮಿಷಗ್ರಸನಗೃಧ್ನುಷಿ ಚೇತಸಿ ಮೇ
ವಿಪುಲಲೋಚನಂ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಧಾಮ ಚಕಾಸ್ತು ಚಿರಂ  || ೧.೫||

May that  Light  (Krishna) with an innocent lotus-face and a smile sweet as nectar, beautiful  locks of hair sporting  peacock feathers and having wide large eyes, forever shine in  my heart which is driven by greed for sense objects which are like poisoned meat.


ಮುಕುಲಾಯಮಾನನಯನಾಂಬುಜಂ ವಿಭೋಃ
ಮುರಲೀನಿನಾದಮಕರಂದನಿರ್ಭರಂ |
ಮುಕುರಾಯಮಾಣ ಮೃದುಗಂಡಮಂಡಲಂ
ಮುಖಪಂಕಜಂ ಮನಸಿ ಮೇ ವಿಜೃಂಭತಾಂ ||  ೧.೬ ||

May the lotus-face of the Lord (Krishna,  with eyes resembling budding flowers and full of the nectar of the sweet notes from his flute and with soft cheeks shining like a mirror,
reveal itself in my heart.

ಕಮನೀಯಕಿಶೋರಮುಗ್ಧಮೂರ್ತೇಃ
ಕಲವೇಣುಕ್ವಣಿತಾದೃತಾನನೇಂದೋಃ|
ಮಮ ವಾಚಿ ವಿಜೃಂಭತಾಂ ಮುರಾರೇಃ
ಮಧುರಿಮ್ಣಃ ಕಣಿಕಾಽಪಿ ಕಾಪಿ ಕಾಪಿ || ೧.೭||

May  those little drops from the sweetness of that pretty form of the slayer of Mura (Krishna), whose moon-like face is enveloped by the sweet music of flute,  sweeten my words (speech)

ಮದಶಿಖಂಡಿ ಶಿಖಂಡವಿಭೂಷಣಂ
ಮದನಮಂಥರಮುಗ್ಧಮುಖಾಂಬುಜಂ|
ವ್ರಜವಧೂನಯನಾಂಚಲವಂಚಿತಂ
ವಿಜಯತಾಂ ಮಮವಾಙ್ಮಯಜೀವಿತಂ || ೧.೮||

Victory to my life as a poet devotee composing songs in praises of One who adorns himself with the plumes of peacock, the beauty of whose lotus face excels that of Cupid (Love god) and whom the belles of vraja entice by their sidelong glances.

ಪಲ್ಲವಾಧರಪಾಣಿಪಂಕಜಸಂಗಿವೇಣುರವಾಕುಲಂ
ಫುಲ್ಲಪಾಟಲಪಾಟಲೀಪರಿವಾದಿಪಾದಸರೋರುಹಂ|
ಉಲ್ಲಸನ್ಮಧುರಾಧರದ್ಯುತಿಮಂಜರೀಸರಸಾನನಂ
ವಲ್ಲವೀಕುಚಕುಂಭಕುಂಕುಮಪಂಕಿಲಂ ಪ್ರಭುಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ || ೧.೯||

I take refuge in the Lord who revels in the melodies of the flute held by his lotus hands at the lips resembling tender leaves, whose lotus feet mock at the redness of patala flowers in full bloom, whose sweet face shines by the lustre of his sweet lips and who is smeared with the kumkum from the pot like breasts of cowherd belles.


ಅಪಾಂಗರೇಖಾಭಿರಭಂಗುರಾಭಿ-
ರನಂಗಲೀಲಾರಸರಂಜಿತಾಭಿಃ
ಅನುಕ್ಷಣಂ ವಲ್ಲವಸುಂದರೀಭಿ-
ರಭ್ಯರ್ಚ್ಯಮಾನಂ ವಿಭುಮಾಶ್ರಯಾಮಃ || ೧೦||

We take refuge in the Lord who is worshipped every minute by pretty cowherd belles with their sidelong glances tinged by the sweetness of love sport.

ಹೃದಯೇ ಮಮ ಹೃದ್ಯವಿಭ್ರಮಾಣಾಂ
ಹೃದಯಂ ಹರ್ಷವಿಶಾಲಲೋಲನೇತ್ರಂ|
ತರುಣಂ ವ್ರಜಬಾಲಸುಂದರೀಣಾಂ
ತರಲಂ ಕಿಂಚನ ಧಾಮ ಸನ್ನಿಧತ್ತಾಂ || ೧೧||

May that indescribable effulgence lodge itself in my heart -  the effulgence which is the heart of joyful excitement, which has blissful roving wide eyes  and which is young and  is the darling of the pretty belles of Vraja.

.
ನಿಖಿಲಭುವನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಿತ್ಯಲೀಲಾಸ್ಪದಾಭ್ಯಾಂ
ಕಮಲವಿಪಿನವೀಥೀಗರ್ವಸರ್ವಂಕಷಾಭ್ಯಾಂ |
ಪ್ರಣಮದಭಯದಾನಪ್ರೌಢಿಗಾಢೋದ್ಧತಾಭ್ಯಾಂ
ಕಿಮಪಿ ವಹತು ಚೇತಃ ಕೃಷ್ಣಪಾದಾಂಬುಜಾಭ್ಯಾಂ || ೧.೧೨||

Let my mind always dwell on the lotus-feet of Krishna which are the playground of all beauty ( or all the wealth) in this world, which take away the pride of a forest of lotus flowers and which are proud of granting refuge to those who surrender themselves to them.


ಪ್ರಣಯಪರಿಣತಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಪ್ರಾಭವಾಲಂಬನಾಭ್ಯಾಂ
ಪ್ರತಿಪದಲಲಿತಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಹಂ ನೂತನಾಭ್ಯಾಂ|
ಪ್ರತಿಮುಹುರಧಿಕಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಪ್ರಸ್ನುವಲ್ಲೋಚನಾಭ್ಯಾಂ
ಪ್ರಭವತು ಹೃದಯೇ ನಃ ಪ್ರಾಣನಾಥಃ ಕಿಶೋರಃ || ೧೩||

May the form of child Krishna, the Lord of our lives, rise in our heart with matured love in the eyes -  eyes which are the source of all riches, which are beautiful at every step,  which appear newer and newer every day,  which seem to be larger than before every minute and which are full of kindness

ಮಾಧುರ್ಯವಾರಿಧಿಮದಾಂಧತರಂಗಭಂಗೀ-
ಶೃಂಗಾರಸಂಕಲಿತಶೀತಕಿಶೋರವೇಷಂ|
ಆಮಂದಹಾಸಲಲಿತಾನನಚಂದ್ರಬಿಂಬ-
ಮಾನಂದಸಂಪ್ಲವಮನುಪ್ಲವತಾಂ ಮನೋ ಮೇ || ೧೪||

Let my mind be inundated by the flood of bliss emanating from the boy Krishna whose cool form  which is like the ocean of sweetness with turbulent waves mixed with the sentiment of shringara and which has a moon-like face lighted up by a beautiful smile.    
ಅವ್ಯಾಜಮಂಜುಲಮುಖಾಂಬುಜವಿಮುಗ್ಧಭಾವೈ-
ರಾಸ್ವಾದ್ಯಮಾನನಿಜವೇಣುವಿನೋದನಾದಂ|
ಆಕ್ರೀಡತಾಮರುಣಪಾದಸರೋರುಹಾಭ್ಯಾ-
ಮಾರ್ದ್ರೇ ಮದೀಯಹೃದಯೇ ಭುವನಾರ್ದ್ರಮೋಜಃ || ೧೫||

May that effulgence (child Krishna) drenching the whole world,  with the beautiful  lotus face displaying different emotions while enjoying the sweet melodies from the flute, dance,  with soft lotus-like feet,  in my heart steeped in love (devotion)

ಮಣಿನೂಪುರವಾಚಾಲಂ
ವಂದೇ ತಚ್ಚರಣಂ ವಿಭೋಃ|
ಲಲಿತಾನಿ ಯದೀಯಾನಿ
ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಾಣಿ ವ್ರಜವೀಥಿಷು || ೧೬||

I salute the lotus feet of the Lord which are eloquent with the tinkle of gem-studded anklets and which leave their beautiful imprints on the streets of Vraja.



ಮಮ ಚೇತಸಿ ಸ್ಫುರತು ವಲ್ಲವೀವಿಭೋಃ
ಮಣಿನೂಪುರಪ್ರಣಯಿ ಮಂಜು ಶಿಂಜಿತಂ|
ಕಮಲವನೇಚರಕಲಿಂದಕನ್ಯಕಾ-
ಕಲಹಂಸಕಂಠಕಲಕೂಜಿತಾದೃತಂ || ೧೭||

May the sweet tinkling of the gem-studded anklets of the Lord of the Gopis reverberate in my mind;  tinkling which is sweeter than the cooing of swans in the forest of lotus flowers in Yamuna.
,
ತರುಣಾರುಣಕರುಣಾಮಯವಿಪುಲಾಯತನಯನಂ
ಕಮಲಾಕುಚಕಲಶೀಭರವಿಪುಲೀಕೃತಪುಲಕಂ|
ಮುರಲೀರವತರಲೀಕೃತಮುನಿಮಾನಸನಲಿನಂ
ಮಮ ಖೇಲತಿ ಮದಚೇತಸಿ ಮಧುರಾಧರಮಮೃತಂ  || ೧೮||

Lord Krishna plays in my captivated mind with His young, reddish, wide eyes, with  his body in a bristle by the embrace of the ample bosom of Rukmini, the sweet melody from his flute making the minds of hermits lose their concentration and His sweet lips dripping nectar.  



ಆಮುಗ್ಧಮರ್ಧನಯನಾಂಬುಜಚುಂಬ್ಯಮಾನ-
ಹರ್ಷಾಕುಲವ್ರಜವಧೂಮಧುರಾನನೇಂದೋಃ
ಆರಬ್ಧವೇಣುರವಮಾದಿಕಿಶೋರಮೂರ್ತೇ-
ರಾವಿರ್ಭವಂತಿ ಮಮ ಚೇತಸಿ ಕೇಪಿ ಭಾವಾಃ || ೧೯||

The melodies of the flute played by the  eternal child Krishna, whose sweet moon-like face is kissed, with excitement and joy,  by the half-closed eyes of the women of Vraja, creates in my heart such emotions as could not be described.

ಕಲಕ್ವಣಿತಕಂಕಣಂ ಕರನಿರುದ್ಧಪೀತಾಂಬರಂ
ಕ್ರಮಪ್ರಸೃತಕುಂತಲಂ ಗಲಿತಬರ್ಹಭೂಷಂ ವಿಭೋಃ
ಪುನಃ ಪ್ರಸೃತಿಚಾಪಲಂ ಪ್ರಣಯಿನೀಭುಜಾಯಂತ್ರಿತಂ
ಮಮ ಸ್ಫುರತು ಮಾನಸೇ ಮದನಕೇಲಿಶಯ್ಯೋತ್ಥಿತಂ || ೨೦||


May that form of the Lord as he rises from his bed of love sport with bracelets tinkling sweetly, the yellow robe held by hand  from slipping,  locks of hair dishevelled,  peacock feathers falling and his eagerness for another round restrained by the hands of the sweetheart.

ಸ್ತೋಕಸ್ತೋಕನಿರುಧ್ಯಮಾನಮೃದುಲಪ್ರಸ್ಯಂದಿಮಂದಸ್ಮಿತಂ
ಪ್ರೇಮೋದ್ಭೇದನಿರರ್ಗಲಪ್ರಸೃಮರಪ್ರವ್ಯಕ್ತರೋಮೋದ್ಗಮಂ
ಶ್ರೋತೃಶ್ರೋತ್ರಮನೋಹರವ್ರಜವಧೂಲೀಲಾಮಿಥೋಜಲ್ಪಿತಂ
ಮಿಥ್ಯಾಸ್ವಾಪಮುಪಾಸ್ಮಹೇ ಭಗವತಃ ಕ್ರೀಡಾನಿಮೀಲದ್ದೃಶಃ || ೨೧||

We meditate on Krishna feigning sleep playfully closing his eyes and listening to the prattle of the belles of vraja talking playfully among themselves about the love play with Krishna which is sweet to the ears of those who listen.  Krishna restrains himself a little when he is about to burst into a sweet soft smile.  But the bristling of hair on his body is visible when he recalls those moments of love sport.    

ವಿಚಿತ್ರಪತ್ರಾಂಕುರಶಾಲಿಬಾಲಾ-
ಸ್ತನಾಂತರಂ ಮೌನಿಮನೋಂತರಂ ವಾ|
ಅಪಾಸ್ಯ ವೃಂದಾವನಪಾದಪಂ ತ-
ಮುಪಾಸ್ಯಮನ್ಯಂ ನ ವಿಲೋಕಯಾಮಃ || ೨೨||

Lord Krishna on whom we meditate can be seen between gopi’s breasts with beautiful leaf patterns drawn on them, inside the hearts of hermits or under a tree in Vrindavan.  Where else can we see him?

ಸಾರ್ಧಂ ಸಮೃದ್ಧೈರಮೃತಾಯಮಾನೈ-
ರಾಧ್ಮಾಯಮಾನೈರ್ಮುರಲೀನಿನಾದೈಃ|
ಮೂರ್ದ್ಧಾಭಿಷಿಕ್ತಂ ಮಧುರಾಕೃತೀನಾಂ
ಬಾಲಂ ಕದಾ ನಾಮ ವಿಲೋಕಯಿಷ್ಯೇ || ೨೩||

When shall I see child Krishna,  the crowning glory of beautiful forms, playing on his flute from which emanates sweet, nectarine ample and melodious music.

ಶಿಶಿರೀಕುರುತೇ ಕದಾ ನು ನಃ
ಶಿಖಿಪಿಂಛಾಭರಣಶ್ಶಿಶುರ್ದೃಶೋಃ
ಯುಗಲಂ ವಿಗಲನ್ಮಧುದ್ರವ-
ಸ್ಮಿತಮುದ್ರಾಮೃದುನಾ ಮುಖೇಂದುನಾ || ೨೪||

When will the child (Krishna), who adorns himself with peacock plumes,  cool our pair of eyes by his moon-like face oozing sweet honey and lit up by a soft smile.


ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಕರ್ಬುರಕಟಾಕ್ಷನಿರೀಕ್ಷಣೇನ
ತಾರುಣ್ಯಸಂವಲಿತಶೈಶವವೈಭವೇನ |
ಆಪುಷ್ಣತಾ ಭುವನಮದ್ಭುತವಿಭ್ರಮೇಣ
ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ! ಶಿಶಿರೀಕುರು ಲೋಚನಂ ಮೇ || ೨೫||


O Krishna!  Please cool my eyes by your  sidelong glances  tempered by mercy, by the richness of  your childhood tempered by the onset of youth and by the wonderful power by which you nurture the whole world.