Lyrics and Meanings (Shabdam)

Śhabdham means sound or noise. Śhabdham has Lyrics, melody and rhythm.

In this item the compositions with words and meanings are introduced. Abhinaya (facial expression) for the first time is introduced in the repertoire. The Abhinaya composed to simple lyrics is usually separated by easy kōrvais. The foot work along with Abhinaya is quite challenging.This is the only instance where the syllables are sung. Generally it’s like telling a synopsis in the first line then giving a description in the later repetitions. The number of stanzas can vary from 3 to 5. Each stanza can contain a different story of all of them put together is one single story. But essentially it’s about one person, one theme. It’s usually composed in Rāgamālika (consisting of different melodies) and Miśhrachāpu thāḷa (7 beats)

Initially Śhabdhams were composed and rendered in one rāga, perhaps Kāmboji. But it is now a common practice to use one Rāga for each stanza and present the composition in Rāgamālikā.

Rāga: Rāgamālikā

Thāḷa: Miśhrachāpu

Composer: Tanjore Quartet

Language: Thelugu

Meaning – Word by word:

Meaning – Overall: Team Ambalam

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Pallavi:

Sarasijākṣhulu Jalakamāḍe Tharuṇamuna Nīvu Achhathikijani
Sariga Chīralu Mella Chaikoni Tharuvu Nekkitu Chūsuthunduṭa Dhharmamā?

Charaṇam 1

Uṭṭi Midhanupeṭṭi Unḍeseṭṭi Palanu Aṭṭa Kanukonikoṭṭi Paṭṭi Thāgina
Geṭṭi Thanamu Idhi Kādhaiya?

Charaṇam 2

Alla Lakṣhmivallabhhudha Vai Tholli Alare Lopala
Golla Bhāmalukūḍithivi Adhi Chellu Nīki Idhi Chellunā?

Charaṇam 3

Ilanu Ninnu Maḍi Thalachi Chūḍaga Nalugurunu Ninnu Navuthurunu Chunu Lalitha Malayalamula
Dhāgina Bhali Bhali Re Śhrī Padhmanābhha Namosthuthe

Meaning:

Pallavi:

Sarasijākṣhulu Jalakamāḍe Tharuṇamuna Nīvu Achhathikijani
Sariga Chīralu Mella Chaikoni Tharuvu Nekkitu Chūsuthunduṭa Dhharmamā?

Sarasijākṣhulu = lotus eyed girls
Jalakamāḍe = while taking bath
Tharuṇamuna Nīvu = exactly at that time

Achhathikijani = you come
Sariga Chīralu = silk beautiful saris.
Mella Chaikoni = slowly stealing them
Tharuvu Nekk = climbing on the tree
itu Chūsuthunduṭa = watching us like this
Dhharmamā? =  does this suit you?

When we, the lotus eyed girls are bathing, you steal our silken garments and climbing on a tree, watch us. Does this suit you?

Charanam 1

Uṭṭi Midhanupeṭṭi Unḍeseṭṭi Palanu Aṭṭa Kanukonikoṭṭi Paṭṭi Thāgina
Geṭṭi Thanamu Idhi Kādhaiya?

Uṭṭi Midhanu = on the attique
peṭṭi Unḍe= i had kept it
seṭṭi Palanu = the churned butter
Aṭṭa Kanukoni= you noticed that
koṭṭi - you broke the pot
Paṭṭi Thāgina = drank all my buttermile with your cupped hands
Geṭṭi Thanamu = being shrewd or mischivious
Idhi Kādhaiya?= do you think you have done a very wise thing?

On the attic, I had kept churned butter. Having seen that, you broke the pot and drank all the buttermilk as mischief..do you think you have done a wise thing?

Charanam 2

Alla Lakṣhmivallabhhudha Vai Tholli Alare Lopala
Golla Bhāmalukūḍithivi Adhi Chellu Nīki Idhi Chellunā?

Alla Lakṣhmi = the great goddess Lakṣhmi

Vallabhhudhavai = being husband of
Tholli Alare = you are playing pranks

Lopala= in
Golla Bhāmalu = the shepherd ladies (gopikas)
kūḍithivi = you are harrassing
Adhi Chellu Nīki Idhi Chellunā? = do you think that suits you?

Being the spouse of the great goddess Lakṣhmi, you play pranks and harass shepherd ladies of a village..does this suit you?

Charanam 3

Ilanu Ninnu Maḍi Thalachi Chūḍaga Nalugurunu Ninnu Navuthurunu Chunu Lalitha Malayalamula
Dhāgina Bhali Bhali Re Śhrī Padhmanābhha Namosthuthe

Ilanu = this way
Ninnu = you
Maḍi Thalachi = my heart pines for you
Chūḍaga = and want to see you always
Nalugurunu = all the people
Ninnu= at you
Navuthurunu Chunu = laughing and joking about you
Lalitha Malayalamula = beautiful mountain
Dhāgina = you hide yourself
Bhali Bhali Re = hail to you
Śhrī Padhmanābhha = o lord Vishnu
Namosthuthe = i bow down to you, or I salute you.

In this way, my heart pines for you and want to see you always, though all the people laugh and joke about you. You hide yourself in the beautiful mountain area, O Padhmanābhha and I salute you. Hail to you!