Nidhi Nala Sukhama –
Ramuni Sannidi Seva Sukhama
What constitutes happiness? Nidhi (money) or Sri Rama’s
Sannidhi (Divine Presence)?
What constitutes sweetness? A concoction of milk, butter,
sugar and rice? Or the nectar of a bhajans of devotion to the Lord?
What constitutes grace? A dip in holy river Ganga of the soul? Or dabbling in the polluted waters of
narstuti – the praise of an ordinary mortal? Or waiting for the appreciation of
humans.
In one of his compositions, the saint-musician Tyagaraja,
for instance, petitions Sri Ramachandra to grant him knowledge so he would be a
‘better’ bhakta:
jnanamosagarada garuda gamana nato vada
ni namamuche namadi nirmala mainadi
paramatmudu jivatmudu padinalugu lokamulu
nara kinnara kimpurushulu naradadi munulu
paripurna nishkalanka niravadhi sukhadayaka
vara tyagarajarchita varamu tanane
Would you kindly impart true knowledge to me my mind is
purified by the repetition of your name — the knowledge that the individual
self and the Supreme Self, the fourteen worlds, the celestials, and sages like
Narada are all you, perfect and whole, the source of endless joy.
He who has his mind in check
Needs no aid of incantations;
He who knows the body from the Self
Needs no penance to perform;
He who realises Thee as all
Need not pass through the stages of life;
He who shuns all evil passions
His past or future need not mind.
Needs no aid of incantations;
He who knows the body from the Self
Needs no penance to perform;
He who realises Thee as all
Need not pass through the stages of life;
He who shuns all evil passions
His past or future need not mind.
........
O Lord with the stately bearing of an elephant—
the Lord who exhilarates the hearts of sages
who is beyond time,
who is the master of music that emanates from the Vedas,
who is merciful
who is the eternal Om made up of the seven notes
who is born in the house of Yadus, who plays the magic flute —
please take care of me. (Hindolam, sāmaja vara gamana)
.......
Refuge of the sinful, life of the pure,
Won’t you speak to me and show your grace to me,
As I show fortitude, hide my distress,
wail, or wise up,
meditate on you, worship you,
adore you, and beckon to you
behold you, sing your praises,
subdue my pride, treasure you in my heart
hold on to you, scold you
and lay myself down at your feet
sport with you, sing about you,
beg you, and adulate you
seek sanctuary with you,
and scold you
comprehend you, agree with you
tire of looking for you, learn about your name
greet you, or be grabbed by you,
and exhausted, submit to you? (Ārabhi,palukavemi patita pāvana)
Won’t you speak to me and show your grace to me,
As I show fortitude, hide my distress,
wail, or wise up,
meditate on you, worship you,
adore you, and beckon to you
behold you, sing your praises,
subdue my pride, treasure you in my heart
hold on to you, scold you
and lay myself down at your feet
sport with you, sing about you,
beg you, and adulate you
seek sanctuary with you,
and scold you
comprehend you, agree with you
tire of looking for you, learn about your name
greet you, or be grabbed by you,
and exhausted, submit to you? (Ārabhi,palukavemi patita pāvana)
.............
He who has his mind in check
Needs no aid of incantations;
He who knows the body from the Self
Needs no penance to perform;
He who realises Thee as all
Need not pass through the stages of life;
He who shuns all evil passions
His past or future need not mind.
Needs no aid of incantations;
He who knows the body from the Self
Needs no penance to perform;
He who realises Thee as all
Need not pass through the stages of life;
He who shuns all evil passions
His past or future need not mind.