Ememo teliyaka

Lyrics

Pallavi

EmEmO teliyaka palikedaru celulAra nA mIda daya lEka EmEmO teliyaka palikedaru celulAra nA-mIda daya lEka Show Details

You speak a lot of things unknowingly, O damsels, without compassion for me.

Charanams

1.

munu mandara giri munuga kUrmamai1 vIpuna tAlcaga lEdA2 munu mandara giri munuga kUrmamai1 vIpuna tAlcaga-lEdA2 Show Details

In the past, when Mount Mandara sank into the ocean, did I not bear it on my back, taking the form of a tortoise?

2.

kari-rAju3 makaricE gAsi jendaga nEnu karuNa jUDa lEdA kari-rAju3 makaricE gAsi-jendaga nEnu karuNa jUDa lEdA Show Details

When Gajendra was suffering in the grip of a crocodile, did I not show mercy on him?

3.

veravaka4 nITa joccina sOmakuni5 koTTi vEdamu tElEdA veravaka4 nITa joccina sOmakuni5 koTTi vEdamu tE-lEdA Show Details

By fearlessly slaying the demon Somaka, who plunged into the ocean, did I not bring back the Vedas?

4.

kALindi lOni6 kALiyuni madambunu kAlanaNaca lEdA kALindi lOni6 kALiyuni madambunu kAlanu aNaca-lEdA Show Details

Did I not subdue by my feet, the arrogance of the serpent Kaliya in River Kalindi?

5.

makaramu kompOyina guru putruni7 mari tecciyosaga lEdA makaramu kompOyina guru putruni7 mari tecci osaga-lEdA Show Details

Did I not bring back and hand over my guru's son who was carried away by the demon Panchajana?

6.

tyAgarAjunaku sakhuDaina nAdu pratApamu vina lEdA tyAgarAjunaku sakhuDaina nAdu pratApamu vina-lEdA Show Details

Have you not heard of my (the benefactor of Thyagaraja) exploits?

Variations

• ²tAlcaga lEdA - tAlcaga lEdA celulAra

References

• ¹kUrmAvatAra–Churning of Milk Ocean - Srimad Bhagavatam – 8.7 refers.
• ³kari rAju – gajEndra - Srimad Bhagavatam – 8.4 refers.
• ⁵sOmaka – This pertains to Matsya Avatara of the Lord. As per Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24, the name of the demon who stole the Vedas is Hayagriva; the Lord assumed the form of Fish and the demon was killed by the Lord in that Avatara. The following verse of Srimad BhagavataM (8.24) is relevant –

• 
  atItapralayApAya utthitAya sa vEdhasE |
  hatvAsuram hayagrIvaM vEdAn pratyAharaddhariH || 57 ||

  • “Having killed the demon Hayagriva, He restored the Vedas to Brahma when the latter rose at the end of the pralaya (dissolution).”
• However, a different version is found in Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18 as under –

• vEdAn yugAntE tamasA tiraskRtAn
  rasAtalAdyO nRturaGavigrahaH |
  pratyAdadE vai kavayE(a)bhiyAcatE
  tasmai namastE(a)vitathEhitAya iti || 6 ||

  • “At the end of the millennium, ignorance personified assumed the form of a demon, stole all the Vedas and took them down to the planet of Rasatala. The Supreme Lord, however, in His form of Hayagriva retrieved the Vedas and returned them to Lord Brahma when he begged for them. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, whose determination never fails.”
• "Legend has it that during the creation, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha stole the Vedas from Brahma and Vishnu took the Hayagriva form to recover the Vedas from the demons. Another legend has it that during the creation, Vishnu compiled the Vedas in the Hayagriva form and that the Hayagriva Avatara precedes the Matsya Avatara wherein he recovered the stolen Vedas from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha." - Source - [Hayagriva Stotra]
• There is an apparent contradiction on who stole the Vedas – whether it is Somakasura or Hayagriva or Madhu Kaitabha. There is also an apparent contradiction as to the Avatar of the Lord for restoration of VedAs – whether it is Matsya or Hayagriva.
• ⁶kALindi – kaliya Mardana - Srimad Bhagavatam – 10.16 refers.
• ⁷guru putra –restoring the son of his guru - Srimad Bhagavatam - 10.45 refers.
• For English rendition of Srimad Bhagavatam – ["Srimad Bhagavatam]

Commentary

• This Kriti forms part of the dance-drama ‘Nauka Charitram’ – The Boat Story.
• (Background - The Gopis meet Krishna at the Yamuna river and contemplate travel in a boat. Krishna says that it is not within the capacity of the women to steer boat and says he will do the job; however, the Gopis do not believe Him and think that He is upto some trick. In this Kriti, the Lord tries to convince the Gopis of His prowess by citing His previous exploits.)
• ⁴veravaka – There are three telugu words of similar spelling – vera - verapu – fear, terror; veravu - veruvu – skill; veragu – surprise. In the present context, the word is in negative form; therefore, the meaning ‘fear’ has been adopted.
• ⁴veravaka – fearlessly – this can either be applied to demon Somaka or to the Lord. From the context, as the Lord is trying to convince the Gopis of his capabilities, this has been applied to the Lord.

Renditions

Nauka Charitram (Drama) of Tyagaraja

Sringarinchukoni (Surati): Gopis meet Krishna Chudare chelulara (Kamavardhani): They arrive at the banks of the Yamuna Adavaramella (Yadukulakambhoji): The Gopis indecisively contemplate a boat ride with Krishna. He urges them to get going. Emani nera nammukondumu (Saurashtram): Gopis suspect some mischief from Krishna Ememo teliyaka (Saurashtram): Krishna is offended; recounts his exploits Odanu jaripe (Saranga): The boat ride begins Tanayande premayanucu (Bhairavi): Krishna assumes multiple forms and sports with the Gopis E nomu nochitimo (Punnagavarali): The Gopis marvel at their luck for enjoying Krishna's company Chalu chalu ni yuktulu (Saveri): Gopis berate Krishna (for suggesting a westward course) Chutamu rare yi vedkanu (Karnataka Kapi): The celestials themselves gather to watch the spectacle Evaru manaku (Devagandhari): Gopis gloat about their hold over Krishna Unna tavuna (Ghanta): The tempest; the boat springs a leak Allakallola mayenamma (Saurashtram): The Gopis pray to Yamuna Devi Perugu palu (Ghanta): The Gopis lament their state Krishna makemi dova (Punnagavarali): The Gopis try plugging the leak with their blouses; the blouses are washed away. Indukemi (Varali): Krishna advises them to try again, this time using their sarees; Gopis protest Veda vakyamani (Mohanam): Gopis give in, placing complete faith in Krishna Hari hari niyokka (Punnagavarali): Gopis surrender to Krishna Gandhamu puyyaruga (Punnagavarali): Disaster averted, the Gopis celebrate Ghuma ghuma ghumayani (Saurashtram): Gopis are in procession with Krishna on the way home Ma kulamunaku (Surati): Gopis thank and hail Krishna