Sloka

Śhloka is a term derived from Sanskrit. Śhloka is a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise dedicated to the God. Śhlokas are usually composed in a specific meter. Śhloka is a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Usually the Śhloka selected is from our ancient Purāṇas or epics - Ithihāsa - and is set to a particular rāga and thāḷa.

The dancer would give expression to the bhāva that is underlying in the Śhloka, bringing out the deeper meaning laden in it. They may even construct swaras for the Śhloka and dance to them or they would perform a Thīrmānam for them. If there is no scope for Sanchāri Bhāva in the Śhloka, then the artiste would perform to the swaras in the rāga and execute thīrmānas or nruttha, accordingly, bringing out the qualities of the manifestation of God in whose praise the Śhloka is set.

The Śhloka is always centered on this mood of serenity, and is associated with devotion. It is the state in which a man transcends from his state of mind and is transported closest to the Divine, to the Supreme and the Ultimate. Though the Śhloka selected is mostly written in Sanskrit, the artistes usually select verses from the language of the particular region, or of their choice.

Karāravindhena

Composer: Anon(Present both in Kriṣhṇakarṇāmrutham and Bālamukundhāṣhṭakam)
Language: Sanskrit

Meanings - Word by word: Team Ambalam

Meanings - Overall: www.srihayagrivan.org/ebooks/014_kk_p2_pt2.pdf

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Karāravindhena padhāravindham mukhāravindhe viniveśhayantham |

Vaṭasya pathrasya puṭe śhayānam bālam mukundham manasā smarāmi ||

Kara – hand;

aravindhena – by the lotus;

padha aravindham – lotus like foot;

 mukha aravindhe – in the lotus like mouth;

viniveśhayantham – the one who has placed;

Vaṭasya – on the Banyan;

 pathrasya – on the leaf;

puṭe – on the surface;

śhayānam – the one who is sleeping;

 bālam – the infant;

mukundham – Mukundha(Kriṣhṇa)

manasā – by my mind(heart)

smarāmi – I recollect

I offer my salutations to Mukundha, the infant who is lying, on a Banyan leaf, and placing his lotus-like foot, in his lotus-like mouth, with his lotus-like hand.

Note: Hand-foot-mouth syndrome is symbolic of sruṣṭi-sthhithi-layam.

●        Hand indicating creation.

●        Foot denoting the slippery foothold for evanescent existence.

●        Mouth for culmination, into where any created existence will be gulped down – inasmuch as the triad of the worlds is in the belly of that boy.

Kasthūri thilakam

Composer: Śhrī Bilwamaṅgala
Language: Sanskrit

Meanings - Word by word: Team Ambalam

Meanings - Overall: www.sanskritdocuments.org/sites/giirvaani/giirvaani/.../skka_ch_2.ht.

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Verse Selected From Śhrī Kruṣhṇa Karṇāmrutham

Kasthūri thilakam lalāṭa phalake vakṣhah sthhale kausthubham
nāsāgre nava maukthikam kara thale veṇum kare kaṅkaṇam
sarvāṅge hari chandhanam cha kalayan kanṭhe cha mukthāvalīm
gopa sthri pariveṣhṭithah vijayathe gopāla chūḍāmaṇih

Meaning

Kasthūri thilakam lalāṭa phalake vakṣhah sthhale kausthubham
nāsāgre nava maukthikam kara thale veṇum kare kaṅkaṇam
sarvāṅge hari chandhanam cha kalayan kanṭhe cha mukthāvalīm
gopa sthri pariveṣhṭithah vijayathe gopāla chūḍāmaṇih

Kasthūri thilakam – a sacred mark of musk;

lalāṭa phalake – on the surface of his forehead;

 vakṣhah sthhale – on his chest;

 kausthubham – the precious gem which came from the milky ocean;
nāsāgre – at the tip of the nose;

 nava maukthikam – new pearls;

 kara thale – in the palms of the hands;

 veṇum – flute;

 kare kaṅkaṇam – bracelets in the wrists;
sarvāṅge – all over the body;

hari chandhanam cha – and the special sandal paste;

 kalayan – having smeared;

kanṭhe cha – and in the throat;

mukthāvalīm – string of pearls;
gopa sthri – the women from the cowherds group;

 pariveṣhṭithah – surrounded by;

vijayathe – be victorious;

gopāla chūḍāmaṇih – the gem among cowherds;

I salute the crown-jewel amongst the cowherds, who has a beautiful mark on the forehead drawn from the secretions from the navel of the musk-deer decorating his forehead; the precious kausthubham adorning his chest ; rare, new pearls embellishing his nostrils; a flute ( in the palm of his hands ; bracelets  adorning his wrists ; all  of his limbs  anointed with fragrant sandal-paste ; and  priceless strings of pearls  around his neck ; and sports around  surrounded by the Gopis of Vrundhāvan.

Note:

●        The musk-deer is an inhabitant of the Himalayan ranges, and it was the royal family of Nepal that supplied it to temples like the Jagannath mandhir in Puri. Ever since the monarchy in Nepal fell, Kasturi has become scarce!

●        Phalaka refers to a flat surface.

●        Kausthubham is a priceless gem that emerged when the kṣhīra sāgara was churned.