#22 (Thyagaraja) King Of Thiruvanandapuram Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

King of Thiruvanandapuram
Swathi Thirunal by name,
Wished to hear the Saint.
So, an emissary he had sent.

Vadivelu was his name,
Who all the way came
To Tiruvaiyar Town
On this royal mission.

He knew, the Saint was one,
Who never sang on anyone,
Excepting on the Lord,
Rama, his personal God.

He took a house close
To the Saint’s house,
And waited for a chance
With all his patience.

Vadivelu, a court singer,
In his place was popular.
One day, while he was singing,
The Saint was hearing.

The Saint entered his house.
And showered on him praises.
Waiting for this chance,
He invited the Saint to the palace.

“I’m the King’s messenger.
The King wants to hear
Your music in his court.
To invite you, I’m sent.”

The Saint said. “On Rama I sing.
On the same Rama, sings the King.
Our meeting will be in the heaven
By the grace of the Lord then.”

(He sang in Raga Salaga Bhairavi
Padhavi Nee Sath Bhaktiyu Kalgude)


“Oh Rama, is it not true,
My remaining with you
Is itself a heavenly gift,
From you what I expect.”

“Whatever now I’ve learnt,
Will it be really sufficient,
When I don’t learn the essence
Of Upanishad and Vedas? ”

“King’s friendship, house,
Wealth as well as spouse,
Do they mean a status
To be claimed by us? ”

“With lusts and desires,
Is enjoyment a status?
Or causing world of pains
After penance, a status? ”

“Not knowing your values
Is it really a status?
To remain ever devoted to you
Is the only status I know, true.”

(Again he sang in Raga Sudhabangala
Rama Bhakti Samrajyam)

“To visit those fortunate persons,
Living in the Rama’s three worlds,
As the Lord’s true devotees there
Will it not give more pleasure? ”

“I cannot express in words
This kind of happiness.
One should experience this
By their own self efforts.”