ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಶತಕಮ್, ೫೧-೭೫

ಮೂಕಪಞ್ಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)  
              ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಶತಕಮ್
              (slokas ೫೧-೭೫)
Mooka Panchashati is a devotional composition by Muka Kavi dedicated to Kamakshi. The real name of the poet is not known. Legend has it that he was born dumb but regained not only his voice  by  the grace of Goddess Kamakshi but also became a poet of considerable merit. Mooka Panchashati  consists of five satakams, each Satakam containing ೧೦೦ verses. The Satakams  are Arya Satakam, Padaravinda Satakam, Stuti Satakam, Kataksha Satakam and Mandasmita Satakam.

Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding deity of Kancheepuram.  Her consort is Ekamreshwara, an aspect of Lord Shiva.  Kanchi is the Central Peetham established by Aadi Shankaracharya who installed and consecrated the  idol of Kamakshi and established the system of worship there. The other  Peethams are at Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in theWest,  Puri in the East and Sringeri (Sringa giri) in the South.

The translation into English of a hymn of this nature is a delicate task and readers may kindly pardon the shortcomings, though every attempt has been made to make the translation as close as possible to the intended or perceived meaning. 
ಕಾಷಾಯಾಂಶುಕಮಿವ  ಪ್ರಕಟಂ ದಧಾನೋ
ಮಾಣಿಕ್ಯಕುಣ್ಡಲರುಚಿಂ ಮಮತಾವಿರೋಧೀ| 
ಶ್ರುತ್ಯನ್ತಸೀಮನಿ ರತಃ ಸುತರಾಂ ಚಕಾಸ್ತಿ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ತಾವಕ  ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಯತೀಶ್ವರೋಽಸೌ || ೫೧|| 

O Kamakshi! Your kataksha is like a sanyasi,  the rays from the ear-globes of manikya being clothes of yellow-red which negate mamata  (the sense of mine).  It shines revelling in the proximity of the ears ( also Vedas) [Sruti means both ear and the Vedas]


ಪಾಷಾಣ ಏವ ಹರಿನೀಲಮಣಿರ್ದಿನೇಷು
ಪ್ರಮ್ಲಾನತಾಂ ಕುವಲಯಂ ಪ್ರಕಟೀಕರೋತಿ| 
ನೈಮಿತ್ತಿಕೋ ಜಲದಮೇಚಕಿಮಾ ತತಸ್ತೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ಶೂನ್ಯಮುಪಮಾನಮಪಾಙ್ಗಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಃ || ೫೨|| 

The blue gemstone is only a stone.  The lily fades during the day time.  The dark colour of the cloud is not inherent but for external reasons.  Therefore O Kamakshi! there is nothing with which your sidelong glances can be compared. 

ಶೃಙ್ಗಾರವಿಭ್ರಮವತೀ  ಸುತರಾಂ ಸಲಜ್ಜಾ
ನಾಸಾಗ್ರಮೌಕ್ತಿಕರುಚಾ ಕೃತಮನ್ದಹಾಸಾ| 
ಶ್ಯಾಮಾ  ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಸುಷಮಾ ತವ ಯುಕ್ತಮೇತತ್-
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಚುಮ್ಬತಿ  ದಿಗಮ್ಬರವಕ್ತ್ರಬಿಮ್ಬಮ್ || ೫೩|| 

O Kamakshi! your glance is shiny dark, it manifests sringara
and is shy and it smiles by the radiance of the pearls worn at the tip of the nose.  It is but proper that it kisses the face of Lord Shiva who is digambara, having the quarters as the clothing.
ನೀಲೋತ್ಪಲೇನ ಮಧುಪೇನ ಚ  ದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ತುಲ್ಯ ಇತಿ ತೇ ಕಥಮಾಮನನ್ತಿ | 
ಶೈತ್ಯೇನ  ನಿನ್ದತಿ  ಯದನ್ವಹಮಿನ್ದುಪಾದಾ-
ನ್ಪಾಥೋರುಹೇಣ ಯದಸೌ ಕಲಹಾಯತೇ ಚ || ೫೪|| 

O Kamakshi! How can your Kataksha be compared with the dark blue lily or the honey-bee? Kataksha puts down the moon (which makes the blue lily blossom) as it is cooler than the moon. Therefore the blue lily is no comparison. Kataksha scores over the lotus in beauty. But the honey bee drinks the honey from lotus on which it is dependent.  Therefore honey-bee is also no comparison. 
.

ಒಷ್ಠಪ್ರಭಾಪಟಲವಿದ್ರುಮಮುದ್ರಿತೇ  ತೇ
ಭ್ರೂವಲ್ಲಿವೀಚಿಸುಭಗೇ  ಮುಖಕಾನ್ತಿಸಿನ್ಧೌ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ವಾರಿಭರಪೂರಣಲಮ್ಬಮಾನ-
ಕಾಲಾಮ್ಬುವಾಹಸರಣಿಂ ಲಭತೇ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಃ || ೫೫|| 

O Kamakshi!  your kataksha bears the stamp of the coral-like radiance of your lips, it is pretty with the waves of eye-brows in the effulgence of the face which is like the ocean. It (kataksha )looks like the path of dark clouds surcharged with water and looming large in the sky.


ಮನ್ದಸ್ಮಿತೈರ್ಧವಲಿತಾ ಮಣಿಕುಣ್ಡಲಾಂಶು-
ಸಂಪರ್ಕಲೋಹಿತರುಚಿಸ್ತ್ವದಪಾಙ್ಗಮಾಲಾ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕುಸುಮೈರ್ನವಪಲ್ಲವೈಶ್ಚ
ನೀಲೋತ್ಪಲೈಶ್ಚ ರಚಿತೇವ ವಿಭಾತಿ ಮಾಲಾ || ೫೬|| 

O Kamakshi ! your dark blue glances,  get mixed with bright white colour from your smiles and red colour from the rays of your ear-globes.  The result is that the string of your glances shines like a garland made of jasmine flowers, tender leaf buds and blue lilies. 


ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ಶೀತಲಕೃಪಾರಸನಿರ್ಝರಾಮ್ಭಃ
ಸಂಪರ್ಕಪಕ್ಷ್ಮಲರುಚಿಸ್ತ್ವದಪಾಙ್ಗಮಾಲಾ| 
ಗೋಭಿಃ ಸದಾ ಪುರರಿಪೋರಭಿಲಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾ
ದೂರ್ವಾಕದಮ್ಬಕವಿಡಮ್ಬನಮಾತನೋತಿ || ೫೭|| 

O Kamakshi!  the chain of your sidelong glances,  in contact with the waters of the cool stream of kindness become greenish and resembles a bundle of durva grass  which is dear to Lord shiva, the destroyer of the triple cities.  


ಹೃತ್ಪಙ್ಕಜಂ ಮಮ ವಿಕಾಸಯತು ಪ್ರಮುಷ್ಣ-
ನ್ನುಲ್ಲಾಸಮುತ್ಪಲರುಚೇಸ್ತಮಸಾಂ ನಿರೋದ್ಧಾ | 
ದೋಷಾನುಷಙ್ಗಜಡತಾಂ  ಜಗತಾಂ ಧುನಾನಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ವೀಕ್ಷಣವಿಲಾಸದಿನೋದಯಸ್ತೇ || ೫೮|| 

O Kamakshi! may the sunrise of your glances make my heart-lotus bloom and steal the joy of the lily of darkness (ignorance) and destroy the dullness accompanying evil.  

ಚಕ್ಷುರ್ವಿಮೋಹಯತಿ  ಚನ್ದ್ರವಿಭೂಷಣಸ್ಯ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ತಾವಕ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷತಮಃಪ್ರರೋಹಃ| 
ಪ್ರತ್ಯಙ್ಮುಖಂ  ತು ನಯನಂ ಸ್ತಿಮಿತಂ ಮುನೀನಾಂ
ಪ್ರಾಕಾಶ್ಯಮೇವ ನಯತೀತಿ ಪರಂ ವಿಚಿತ್ರಮ್ || ೫೯|| 
O Kamakshi! the rising darkness of your kataksha captivates the  eyes of Shiva, who adorns his locks with the crescent moon. It is a wonder that the steady eyes of saints turned inward are led to enlightenment by the same kataksha

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ವೀಕ್ಷಣರುಚಾ ಯುಧಿ ನಿರ್ಜಿತಂ ತೇ
ನೀಲೋತ್ಪಲಂ ನಿರವಶೇಷಗತಾಭಿಮಾನಮ್| 
ಆಗತ್ಯ ತತ್ಪರಿಸರಂ ಶ್ರವಣಾವತಂಸ-
ವ್ಯಾಜೇನ  ನೂನಮಭಯಾರ್ಥನಮಾತನೋತಿ || ೬೦|| 

O Kamakshi! the blue lily is won over by the radiance of your glances with all its pride wiped out.  It seems it has made a return in the guise of adornment of your ears as if requesting refuge.

ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಮಮ್ಬ ಮದನಾಭ್ಯುದಯಾವಲಮ್ಬಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಚಞ್ಚಲನಿರೀಕ್ಷಣವಿಭ್ರಮಸ್ತೇ| 
ಧೈರ್ಯಂ ವಿಧೂಯ ತನುತೇ ಹೃದಿ ರಾಗಬನ್ಧಂ
ಶಂಭೋಸ್ತದೇವ ವಿಪರೀತತಯಾ ಮುನೀನಾಮ್ || ೬೧|| 
O Kamakshi !  Your beautiful ambulatory glances,  which cause the rise of love,  demolishes the courage of Shiva’s heart and creates in him bondage of love.  But quite the opposite happens in the case of  munis (sanyasis, those who have renounced the world).   The very same glances cut their attachments;  it is wonder of wonders.  


ಜನ್ತೋಃ ಸಕೃತ್ಪ್ರಣಮತೋ ಜಗದೀಡ್ಯತಾಂ ಚ
ತೇಜಸ್ವಿತಾಂ ಚ ನಿಶಿತಾಂ ಚ ಮತಿಂ ಸಭಾಯಾಮ್| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕಝರೀಮಿವ  ವೈಖರೀಂ ಚ
ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಂ ಚ ಪಕ್ಷ್ಮಲಯತಿ ಕ್ಷಣವೀಕ್ಷಣಂ ತೇ || ೬೨|| 

O Kamakshi! Just one glance of yours for the fraction of a second on those who prostrate before you just once make them praised by the whole world. It makes them radiant and sharp-witted in assembly. Their speech becomes sweet as honey  and they are blessed with abundance of wealth.

ಕಾದಮ್ಬಿನೀ ಕಿಮಯತೇ ನ ಜಲಾನುಷಙ್ಗಂ
ಭೃಙ್ಗಾವಲೀ  ಕಿಮುರರೀಕುರುತೇ ನ ಪದ್ಮಮ್| 
ಕಿಂ ವಾ ಕಲಿನ್ದತನಯಾ  ಸಹತೇ ನ ಭಙ್ಗಂ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ನಿಶ್ಚಯಪದಂ ನ ತವಾಕ್ಷಿಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಃ || ೬೩||  

Does not the cloud associate with water? Do not honey-bees embrace the lotus? Does not the Yamuna bear the waves? But the beauty of your eyes does not seem to have a definite abode.


ಕಾಕೋಲಪಾವಕತೃಣೀಕರಣೇಽಪಿ ದಕ್ಷಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಬಾಲಕಸುಧಾಕರಶೇಖರಸ್ಯ| 
ಅತ್ಯನ್ತಶೀತಲತಮೋ ಽಪ್ಯನುಪಾರತಂ  ತೇ
ಚಿತ್ತಂ ವಿಮೋಹಯತಿ ಚಿತ್ರಮಯಂ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಃ || ೬೪|| 

O Kamakshi!  It is a wonder that Your kataksha, very cool and continuous, disturbs the mind of Lord Shiva though He treats the fire of the terrible poison with contempt and sports the crescent moon on his locks.

ಕಾರ್ಪಣ್ಯಪೂರಪರಿವರ್ಧಿತಮಮ್ಬ  ಮೋಹ-
ಕನ್ದೋದ್ಗತಂ ಭವಮಯಂ ವಿಷಪಾದಪಂ ಮೇ| 
ತುಙ್ಗಂ ಛಿನತ್ತು ತುಹಿನಾದ್ರಿಸುತೇ ಭವತ್ಯಾಃ
ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಪುರೇಶ್ವರಿ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಕುಠಾರಧಾರಾ || ೬೫|| 

O Queen of Kanchi!  the poisonous tree of my samasara  has grown and become tall by my greed and delusion (or attachment). O Daughter of Himavan! May the axe of your kataksha cut down this tree with its sharp blade.    


ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಘೋರಭವರೋಗಚಿಕಿತ್ಸನಾರ್ಥ-
ಮಭ್ಯರ್ಥ್ಯ ದೇಶಿಕಕಟಾಕ್ಷಭಿಷಕ್ಪ್ರಸಾದಾತ್| 
ತತ್ರಾಪಿ ದೇವಿ ಲಭತೇ ಸುಕೃತೀ ಕದಾಚಿ-
ದತ್ಯನ್ತದುರ್ಲಭಮಪಾಙ್ಗಮಹೌಷಧಂ ತೇ|| ೬೬|| 
O Kamakshi ! One may approach a guru for the treatment  of the terrible disease of samsara and by the grace of the guru,  who is the physician,  his disease may be cured. But only very few will ever receive the greatest medicine, your kataksha, by the magnitude of punya (merit)  earned by their good deeds  


ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ದೇಶಿಕಕೃಪಾಙ್ಕುರಮಾಶ್ರಯನ್ತೋ
ನಾನಾತಪೋನಿಯಮನಾಶಿತಪಾಶಬನ್ಧಾಃ| 
ವಾಸಾಲಯಂ ತವ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಮಮುಂ ಮಹಾನ್ತೋ
ಲಬ್ಧ್ವಾ ಸುಖಂ ಸಮಧಿಯೋ ವಿಚರನ್ತಿ ಲೋಕೇ || ೬೭|| 

O Kamakshi! Saints, relying on the grace of the guru  and after cutting asunder all bonds by observing different austerities obtain the grace of your kataksha and live happily in the world with a mind which takes all dualities with equanimity.

ಸಾಕೂತಸಂಲಪಿತಗರ್ಭಿತಮುಗ್ಧಹಾಸಂ
ವ್ರೀಡಾನುರಾಗಸಹಚಾರಿ ವಿಲೋಕನಂ ತೇ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕಾಮಪರಿಪನ್ಥಿನಿ ಮಾರವೀರ-
ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯವಿಭ್ರಮದಶಾಂ ಸಫಲೀಕರೋತಿ|| ೬೮|| 

O Kamakshi! Your glances are accompanied by smile,  shyness, love and other sentiments.  It is successful in establishing the empire of Cupid so far as His enemy Shiva is concerned.

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ವಿಭ್ರಮಬಲೈಕನಿಧಿರ್ವಿಧಾಯ
ಭ್ರೂವಲ್ಲಿಚಾಪಕುಟಿಲೀಕೃತಿಮೇವ ಚಿತ್ರಮ್| 
ಸ್ವಾಧೀನತಾಂ ತವ ನಿನಾಯ ಶಶಾಙ್ಕಮೌಲೇ-
ರಙ್ಗಾರ್ಧರಾಜ್ಯಸುಖಲಾಭಮಪಾಙ್ಗವೀರಃ || ೬೯|| 

O Kamakshi! The valiant soldier of your kataksha,  by arching the bow of eye-brows, has gained control over Lord Shiva, who sports the crescent moon on his matted locks,  and has annexed half the kingdom of one half of His body. 


ಕಾಮಾಂಕುರೈಕನಿಲಯಸ್ತವ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಭಕ್ತಮನಸಾಂ ಪ್ರದದಾತಿ ಕಾಮಾನ್| 
ರಾಗಾನ್ವಿತಃ   ಸ್ವಯಮಪಿ  ಪ್ರಕಟೀಕರೋತಿ
ವೈರಾಗ್ಯಮೇವ  ಕಥಮೇಷ ಮಹಾಮುನೀನಾಮ್ || ೭೦|| 

O Kamakshi ! your kataksha is the source from which all erotic love proceeds and it fulfils the wishes of devotees. Though it encompasses attachment how is it that it manifests only detachment in the saints 

ಕಾಲಾಮ್ಬುವಾಹನಿವಹೈಃ  ಕಲಹಾಯತೇ ತೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕಾಲಿಮಮದೇನ ಸದಾ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಃ | 
ಚಿತ್ರಂ ತಥಾಪಿ ನಿತರಾಮಮುಮೇವ  ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ
ಸೋತ್ಕಣ್ಠ ಏವ ರಮತೇ ಕಿಲ ನೀಲಕಣ್ಠಃ   || ೭೧|| 

O Kamakshi ! the dark clouds, proud of their dark colour, always quarrel with your dark glances.  It is a wonder that seeing those very same glances Nilakantha (Shiva)  excitedly dances in joy. (Nilakantha,  the peacock, also starts dancing with joy seeing the black clouds). 


ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಮನ್ಮಥರಿಪುಂ ಪ್ರತಿ ಮಾರತಾಪ-
ಮೋಹಾನ್ಧಕಾರಜಲದಾಗಮನೇನ ನೃತ್ಯನ್| 
ದುಷ್ಕರ್ಮಕಞ್ಚುಕಿಕುಲಂ ಕಬಲೀಕರೋತು
ವ್ಯಾಮಿಶ್ರಮೇಚಕರುಚಿಸ್ತ್ವದಪಾಙ್ಗಕೇಕೀ|| ೭೨|| 
O Kamakshi! May the peacock of your shiny black kataksha, dancing on the arrival of clouds of infatuation of Lord Shiva brought about by Kama (Cupid),  swallow the snakes of my bad deeds.

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ  ಮನ್ಮಥರಿಪೋರವಲೋಕನೇಷು
ಕಾನ್ತಂ ಪಯೋಜಮಿವ ತಾವಕಮಕ್ಷಿಪಾತಮ್| 
ಪ್ರೇಮಾಗಮೋ ದಿವಸವದ್ವಿಕಚೀಕರೋತಿ
ಲಜ್ಜಾಭರೋ ರಜನಿವನ್ಮುಕುಲೀಕರೋತಿ || ೭೩|| 

O Kamakshi! the fall of your glances which are beautiful as the lotus on the enemy of Kama produces love in the eyes of Shiva making them blossom or because of shyness make them close.

ಮೂಕೋ ವಿರಿಞ್ಚತಿ ಪರಂ ಪುರುಷಃ ಕುರೂಪಃ
ಕಂದರ್ಪತಿ ತ್ರಿದಶರಾಜತಿ ಕಿಂಪಚಾನಃ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕೇವಲಮುಪಕ್ರಮಕಾಲ ಏವ
ಲೀಲಾತರಙ್ಗಿತಕಟಾಕ್ಷರುಚಃ ಕ್ಷಣಂ ತೇ || ೭೪|| 

O Kamakshi! the very moment your playful kataksha falls on a dumb person, he becomes Brahma (consort of Goddess of speech). When it falls on an ugly person, he becomes Kama (consort of Rati).  When it falls on a extremly poor person he becomes Indra, the King of devas


ನೀಲಾಲಕಾ ಮಧುಕರನ್ತಿ ಮನೋಜ್ಞನಾಸಾ-
ಮುಕ್ತಾರುಚಃ ಪ್ರಕಟರೂಢಬಿಸಾಂಕುರನ್ತಿ | 
ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಮಮ್ಬ ಮಕರನ್ದತಿ ಕಾಮಕೋಟಿ
ಮನ್ಯೇ ತತಃ ಕಮಲಮೇವ ವಿಲೋಚನಂ ತೇ || ೭೫||   

O Kamakshi! your dark blue tresses resemble honey bees.  Your beautiful nose with the radiance of the pearl on it looks like the tender stem of the lotus. The compassion in your kataksha  is the flower-honey.  Surely, O mother! your eyes verily are lotus flowers.