Droupadi's honour
The original lyrics
Nearest meaning in English
Protection of Droupadi’s Honour
Ranganolida namma Krishnanolida
Angane Droupadige akshaya vastravaniththu
Ranga granted grace, our Krishna granted grace
The grace of infinite clothes to Droupadi, the queen
Kariyapurada nagaradalli Kauravaru Paandavaru |
Dhareyanoddi lettavididu joojanaadalu ||
Parama paapi Shakuni paashadolage pokkiralu taanu|
Dharmaraaya dhaaruni droupadiya sotanu ||
In the city of elephants*, both the Kauravas and Pandavas Pledged their all and readied to play the tainted game of dice While Shakuni, the sinner, ensured wins with the roll of crooked dice Dharmaraaya was compelled to lose everything, even his precious queen
*Hastinapura, here called Kariyapura
Sotanendu Duryodhana santoshadinda tanna |
Dhootaratti Paandavara baduka tarisida ||
Jaathi mutthu chinna belli aane kuduregala sahitha |
Bheetiyillade bhaandaarakittanu ||
Thrilled at the Pandavas’ defeat, the vile Duryodhana Sent messengers to fetch every possession of the Pandavas Cultured pearls, gold, silver, elephants and horses Were brazenly hauled and added to the treasury
Muddu mukhada Droupadiya mundhe maadi tannirendu |
Tiddi tanna manneyarige tiliya helida ||
Mudre manneyaru bandu Droupadiya mundhe ninthu |
Buddhiyindalellavanu binnaha maadalu ||
Bring the sweet-faced Droupadi to the open court Ordered a jubilant Duryodhana to his underlings The hapless messengers put forth their request Respectfully conveyed their purpose at their master’s behest
Amma kele arasugalu accha pagade panthavaadi |
Hemmeyinda joojigittu letthavaadalu ||
Dharmaraaya sotanendu satyavachane Kauravange |
Nimma nigadi seri aaga kottarendaru ||
O mother! Compelled by circumstances, the noble Pandava* Drawn into the wretched game of dice, staked all he had Losing one stake after the other, he finally wagered you and lost…
*Dharmaraaya, another name for Yudishtira
Patta padavi avarigaagi badavaraagi iddevendare |
Ketta pagade pantha joojinnelli odagitu |
Dushta Kauravanu tanna lajje naachikeyakondu |
Bhrashta maaduvanu endu balali Droupadi || 5 ||
Losing their crowns, they have been reduced to paupers Gambling under the pretext of a game of dice! ‘The evil Kaurava is sure to rob me of my honour’ Despaired the helpless queen.
Baagi baluki bikki tanna kannaneeru surisutali |
Maagiya kogileyante kaayanolavutha ||
Aaga Krushnananghrigala antarangadalli nenedu |
Saagi saagi hejjeyiduta sabhege bandalu ||
With her head bowed low, shedding bitter tears, Like a bruised bird, bent with grief Thinking of nothing else but Krishna’s feet The queen walked one hesitant step after another
Veera Karna Ashwatthaama Vidura Shalya Bhagadattaru |
Kroora Kaurava Dushyaasana guru hiriyaru ||
Saarutippa bhataru parivaara raavutara kandu|
Dhaarunige mukhava maadi naachi nintalu ||
At the sight of the brave Karna, Ashwatthama, Vidura, Shalya, Bhagadatta The wicked Dusshaasana, the elders of the Kuru clan The teachers, mentors, priests and others A disgraced Droupadi stood with downcast eyes.
Chandadinda Duryodhana chaduri Droupadiya kandu |
Mundanariyade mugulunageya maatanaadida ||
Andhu swaayamvaradalli aivarige aada baale |
Indu enna pattadarasigoppideyendanu ||
Enamoured by Droupadi, emboldened by his win Smirked Duryodhana, clueless of the dire fate that awaited him Years ago, you became the wife of these five men Today, it is your turn to become my queen!
Malligeyanu mudiye naari muddu mukhada vaiyyaari|
Chellegangala Droupadiye baare endanu ||
Billu ettalaaradavane bhandana kaadiddavane |
Hallu keeluvaraivaru bedavendalu ||
‘O one adorned with jasmine, cute and charming O doe-eyed Droupadi, come to me!’ (Duryodhana) ‘O opportunist… you who couldn’t even lift the bow Be wary, my five husbands will knock off your teeth!’ (Droupadi)
Batte bada karaivarige madadi yaaguvadu salla |
Pattimanchakoppuvante baare endanu ||
Ketta maatanaadadiro krodhadinda nodadiro |
Ratti keeluvaraivaru bedavendalu ||
‘It’s no use to maintain relations with these rag-doll fivesome My firm royal bed awaits you, O queen!’ (Duryodhana) ‘Do not talk such filth, do not be so vengeful My five husbands will tear out your arms!’ (Droupadi)
Adavi tirakaraivarige madadiyaaguvadu salla |
Todeya mele oppuvante baare endanu ||
Bedagu maatanaadadiro Bheemasenana gadheyu ninna |
Todeya mele oppuvadu bedavendalu ||
‘Why do you want to be the wife of these five forest-dwellers? Come to me and sit on my lap...’ (Duryodhana) ‘Do not talk with such arrogance, stop right now Or it will be Bheemasena’s mace that will land on your lap!’ (Droupadi)
Accha pombannada bombe aaneyante nadevarambhe |
Accha muttinanthe bimbe baare endanu |
Hechchu maatanaadadiro parara henna nodadiro |
Chuchchi haakuvaraivaru bedavendalu ||
‘O golden-hued doll, with the gait of an elephant With pearly teeth and luscious lips, come to me…’ (Duryodhana) ‘Do not talk loosely, don’t cast your roving eye You will be pierced by my five husbands.’ (Droupadi)
Eshtu binka badivaaravu henna baalegivaligishtu |
Sittininda Duryodhana saari kopisi ||
Utta seere seleyirivala ubbu kobbu taggalendu |
Drushthiyinda Dushyaasanage sanne maadida ||
‘How haughty is she? This arrogance does not befit a woman,’ With these angry thoughts, an enraged Duryodhana ‘Pull the saree she’s wearing, strip her off her arrogance and dignity’ Conveyed he to Dusshaasana, gesturing with his eyes.
Durula Dushyaasananu bandu Droupadiya mundhe ninthu |
Karava pididu seraga hididu neriya seleyalu ||
Marulu aagadiro ninna rakthadolage mudiyanaddi |
Karula dandeyane maadi mudivenendalu ||
The wicked Dusshaasana came up to Droupadi Laying his hands on her saree, he started to pull ‘Do be warned, O evil one, I will apply your blood to my tresses I will adorn my hair with strands of your intestine!’ (threatened Droupadi)
Gulluganti henne ninna kaadi balalisuvenendu |
Galladalli kaiyanikki niriya seleyalu ||
Nillo nillo paapi ninna naalige eradaagi seeli |
Pallinalli kesha hikki kombuvenendalu ||
‘O quarrelsome woman, I will cut you down to size’ Said he, holding her chin as he started to pull her saree ‘Stop! O stop it! You sinner! I will have your tongue pulled out Splitting it, I will use it as a comb for my tresses!’ (warned Droupadi)
Benninalli pettanikki bhandu maaduvenu yendu |
Kenneyalli kaiyanikki niriya seleyalu ||
Ranne veere bobbenikki rabhasadinda saarutali |
Pannagashayanaa Krishna Krishna kaayo endalu || 18 ||
‘I will break your spirit and back’ An offended Dusshaasana, patted her cheek, Roared with rage and began to yank the pleats!
‘Protect me O one who lies on a serpent!’ (implored Droupadi)
Machcha Koorma Varaaha kaayo muddu Naarasimha kaayo |
Hecchina Vaamanane kaayo Bhaargava kaayo ||
Achyutha Raama Krishna kaayo Buddha Kalkiroopa kaayo |
Sachidaananda swaami kaayo endalu ||
‘Protect me O Matsya, Koorma, Varaaha, protect me O Nara-simha Protect me O Vaamana…O Bhaargava protect me!
O Raama and Krishna, protect me! Buddha and Kalki protect me! O lord, you are sat-chit-aananda, please protect me!’ (prayed Droupadi)
Sajjanara priyane kaayo saadhu rakshakane kaayo |
Nirjara vandithane kaayo Narahari kaayo ||
Arjunana sakhane kaayo ananta mooruti kaayo |
Lajje naachikeya kaayo swaami endalu ||
‘The succour of the noble ones, protector of the sages, The one worshipped by believers, O Narahari, protect me!
O friend of Arjuna, O infinite one, protect me!
Protect me from this humiliation, protect my honour!’ (prayed Droupadi)
Saaridavara poreva karuni saagarashayana Krishna |
Naari Droupadige vastra akshayavendanu ||
Suruti kumbhavati banna banna seeregalu |
Meruvina bettadante mahime torida ||
The compassionate Krishna who is the saviour of the helpless Lovingly blessed Droupadi with infinite cloth Innumerable and colourful sarees were pulled one after the other They piled up on the ground like the mountain Meru
Pondidavara poreva karuni sindhushayana Shreekrishna |
Nalavinda Droupadige vastra akshayavendanu||
Ondu eradu mooru naalku kotyasankhye seere sulidu |
Nondu bendu Dushyaasana naachi kulitanu ||
The compassionate Krishna who rushes to rescue his devotees Lovingly blessed Droupadi with infinite cloth What seemed like one, two, three, four crore sarees were peeled An exhausted and defeated Dusshaasana collapsed to the ground
Nodidaru Droupadiya maanaraksha leeleganu |
Maadidaru Maadhavana muddu stotrava ||
Moodha Kauravana kooda maanini Droupadiyu |
Panthavaadi tanna patigalaivarannu gelidalu ||
A spellbound audience who had witnessed the miracle Recited prayers and praised Maadhava’s munificence Then, Droupadi questioned the dumb-founded Kurus And won the freedom of her five husbands
Kesha mudiya kattidalu kaiyya kaala mannanorasi
Saasira naamada odeya surara paalipa ||
Vaasiyulla Krishna enna vahisi maana kaaydanendu |
Santoshadinda Droupadiyu manege bandalu ||
Tying up her uncombed tresses, wiping the dust off her hands and feet She thanked Krishna, the lord with a thousand names She thanked Krishna, the supreme lord, for having protected her honour Filled with happiness she made her way home.
Bhaktiyinda Droupadiya maana raksha leelegala |
Yukthiyinda haadi paadi keluvavarige |
Sakala dosha parihaara santaana sampattu phalagaluntu |
Mukuthi koduva Purandara Vittala |I
Those who listen to this tale of Droupadi’s protection, with devotion
Those who chant or sing this tale with sincerity Will be rid of all distress, and granted progeny and prosperity Why, they will even be granted salvation by our Purandara Vittala!