Raja Thatha's stotra translations: Ponthanam's Vasudeva Sthuthi (Tamil)

Vasudeva Sthuthi (Tamil)

Poonatham

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Poonthanam was possibly one of the greatest forerunners of Bhakthi cult in Kerala and his greatest work was Jnana Pana, Loosely it can be translated as “Pot of Knowledge”. But “pana” here is not pot but a style of folk poem. This is written in a common man’s language and in a common man’s verse. It preaches the greatness of repetition (singing) of the Holy God’s names. In between Poonthanam wrote about the world he saw and the world he wanted to see. Some people term it as the “Bhagavad Geetha of Malayalam. I am sure most of you would be surprised to know that Poonthanam has written four prayers in Tamil. The Tamil used by him is very archaic and is mixed a lot with Malayalam and Sanskrit words. In this work, he is praying to God Vasudeva of Vamapura, the temple of Guruvayurappan near his house.)

1.Krishna , Rama Narayana ,Vasudeva swami,

Padmanabha , DAmodara , Vasudeva,

Nishkala , niranjana SRiVasudeva Swami,

Pushkara Vilochana, Sri Vasudeva.

Oh Krishna , Oh Rama Narayana , Oh God Vasudeva,

Oh Padmanabha , oh Damodara , Oh Vasudeva,

Oh God Vasudeva who is unified and pure ,

Oh Lotus eyed one who is Vasudeva.

2.Dushkrutha vimochana , Sri Vasudeva swami,

Dhikrutha surari jana Vasudeva,

Bhaktha jana vathsala , Sri Vasudeva Swami,

Matha jana vismrutha , SriVasudeva

Oh God Vasudeva who frees us from bad deeds,

Oh Vasudeva who mocked at enemies of Devas,

Oh God Vasudeva , who is darling of his devotees,

Oh Vasudeva who is forgotten by mad people.

3. Marthya janmam yeduthayo , thalanthene Swami,

Mathsya roopam tharithone , Vasudeva,

Nama roopangalai parthu magizhndhene swami,

Koorma roopam tharithone Vasudeva

Oh God I have become tired by taking this human form, alas,

Oh Vasudeva who took the form of a fish,

Oh God by seeing your forms and names, I was filed with joy,

Oh Vasudeva , who took the form of a turtle,

4.SAgarathil naduvile marinthene swami,

Sookarmai udithone Swami,

Deha moham athinale izhanthene Swami,

Simha roopam tharithone , Vasudeva.

Oh God, I went in to the middle of the sea of life ,

Oh Vasudeva who took the form of a boar,

Oh God I lost the attachment to this body due to that,

Oh Vasudeva who took the form of a lion.

5.Kamanyaal athma thattuvam maranthene Swami,

Vamananai piranthone Vasudeva ,

Marga bhedham theriyathe nadanthene Swami,

Bargavanai piranthone , Vasudeva.

Due to attachment , I forgot the principle of this soul, Oh God,

Oh Vasudeva who was born as Lord Vamana,

Oh God I walked without knowing the difference in paths,

Oh Vasudeva, who was born as Parasurama.

6.Laghavangal athil arinthene Swami,

Raghavanai piranthone, Vasudeva,

Kama rasa valayile chuzhanthene Swami,

Ramanai piranthone . Vasudeva.

I came to know about easy tricks then , oh God,

Oh Vasudeva who was born as Raghava ,

Oh God, I got entangled in the net of tasty passion,

Oh Vasudeva who was born as Rama.

7.Pathu dikkum aasayale paranthene Swami,

Budha Vesham tharithone, Vasudeva,

Dushkrithigal naduvile kalarnthene, Swami,

Kalki veshham tharithone , Vasudeva.

Oh God, due to desire I flew to all ten directions,,

Oh Vasudeva who was born as Budha,

Oh God I got mixed in doing bad acts,

Oh Vasudeva , who was born as Kalki.

8.SAthirangal palavum naan ariyene Swami,

Serthu kol pathathode , Vasudeva,

Deivamum, naan athum ithum ariyene Swami,

Sarvavum neeye Jagannatha Vasudeva.

Oh God, I do not know many of the shastras,

Please attach me with those words, Oh Vasudeva,

Oh God, I do not now about God and this and that,

Oh Vasudeva., Oh Lord of Universe , You are everything.

9.Punya papa gathikalum ariyene Swami,

Ninnudaya krupayanye , Vasudeva,

Shudhya, shudhi vidhikalum ariyene Swami ,

Chitha shudhi nalkanam nee, Vasudeva.

Oh God, I do not know the way to sin and do blessed deeds,

Except your kindness to me, Oh Vasudeva,

Oh God I do not know the rules of cleanliness and purity,

Oh Vasudeva, you should give me purity of mind.

10.Bandham yethu, mokham yethu yendru ariyene Swami,

SAnthatrham nee krupa seyyu, Vasudeva,

Karanangal Kariyangal ariyene , Swami,

Karanane nee ozhinju Vasudeva.

Oh God I do not know what is attachment and what is salvation,

‘Oh Vasudeva , always show kindness to me,

Oh God, I do not know the causes nor their effects,

Except you who is the cause , Oh Vasudeva.

11.Brahmammennum Mayayennum ariyene Swami,

Kalmashangal ver pedukka,Vasudeva,

Dikkukalum disaikalum ariyene , Swami,

Dushkruthangal arukka , nee Vasudeva.

Oh God I do not know which is Brahmam and which is illusion,

Oh Vasudeva, take out the bad from me

Oh God , I do not know the places nor directions ,

Oh Vasudeva, please cut off my bad acts.

12.Kala pasam , karmapasam mariyene Swami,

Kala megha lobhaneeya , Vasudeva,

THthwam yethu chithamethu ariyene Swami,

Thathwa bodham krupa cheyka , Vasudeva

I do not know about the rope of death nor the rope of attachment, Oh God,

Oh Vasudeva, who makes the dark clouds ashamed,

I do not know the mind nor the philosophy oh God,

Oh Vasudeva , please make me understand the philosophy.

13.Swarnam yethu, kundala methu ariyene Swami,

Swarna moham ver peduga , Vasudeva,

Rajjuvethu , pannagam yethu ariyene Swami,

Arjunanodu arul cheytha Vasudeva.

Oh God I do not know which is gold and which is ear stud,

Oh Vasudeva, remove the attament to Gold from me,

Oh God I do not know which is the rope and which is the snake ,

‘Oh Vasudeva , who taught Arjuna.

14.Deha moham ozhichu nin krupayaale Swami,

Soham yennoru ahambhavam Vasudeva,

Aatamilla anakkavum illa athu poale Swami,

Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva.

Oh God due to your kindness I left off attachment to this body,

Oh Vasudeva but I have a pride that I am you,

Oh God, like that I do not have movement nor shaking,