Today's Beautiful Gem: "My Word is My Bond!" by
Saint Tyaagaraaja, transcreated by me.

     We hear many a time the expression: "My word is a bond."
In Indian mythology, the person who is known forkeeping is his
word is no other than Rama, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.
In Ramayana, Rama is generally depicted as a great hero, but still
verily human. In the following song, Tyaagaraaja describes Rama
as truthful, courageous, faithful and steadfast.
The song is set to the raaga HarikaambhOji.

oka maaTa oka baaNamu oka patnIvratuDe manasaa


      O Heart, His word is to keep,
                    His arrow is to kill,
                    His faithfulness is to His only wife!

oka cittamu galavaaDe oka naaDunu maravakavE


      O Heart, He is steadfast in His deeds,
                    Never forget Him,
                    Not even a single day!

ciraMjIvatvamu nirjara vara mOkshamosaMgune
dhara baragu dEvuDe tyaagaraajanutuDu

      He will grant you one eternal life,
      He will grant you release from life,
      He is the peerless God on the earth,
      He is the God of Tyaagaraaja's songs!

Om shantiH Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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