मधुराविजयम्

जिष्णुना भुवनेशेन श्रीदेन समवर्तिना। सान्निध्यं लोकपालानां धरणौ येन दर्शितम्॥ जिष्णुना = by the victorious one(Indra) भुवन-ईशेन=by world-god श्री-देन = by wealth-giver(Kubera) समवर्तिना = by the impartial one (Yama) सान्निध्यम् = presence लोक-पालानाम् = of the world-guardians  धरणौ = on the earth येन = by whom दर्शितम् = shown He demonstrated the presence of the four gaurdian deities of the universe even on this earth: Indra by being victorious, Shiva by being the overlord of the world, Kubera by giving away wealth and Yama by being impartial

विवेकमेव सचिवं धनुरेव वरूथिनीम्। बाहुमेव रणोत्साहे यः सहायममन्यत॥ विवेकम् = intellect एव = alone सचिवम् = minister धनुः = bow वरूथिनीम् = army बाहुम्=arm/shoulder रण-उत्साहे = in war-excitement = in the heat of battle यः =who सहायम्=help/assistance अमन्यत = considered Who considered (his own) intellect alone as his minister Who considered the bow alone as his army Who considered his arms as his assistance in the heat of battle

तिग्मांशोरपि तेजस्वी शीतांशोरपि शीतलः। सागरादपि गम्भीरः सुमेरोरपि यः स्थिरः॥ तिग्मांशोः = from/than the sun अपि = even तेजस्वी = bright शीतांशोः=from/than the Moon शीतलः = cool सागरात् = from/than the sea गम्भीरः = deep सुमेरोः = from/than Sumeru Mountain यः  = who स्थिरः = firmness Brighter than the sun cooler than the moon Deeper than the ocean Firmer than the mount Sumeru

यः शेष इव नागानां नगानां हिमवानिव। दैत्यारिरिव देवानां प्रथमः पृथिवीभुजाम्॥ यः=who शेषः=Shesha Snake (Vishnu's seat) इव = like नागानाम् = among snakes नगानाम् = among mountains हिमवान् = Himavan (Lord of the mountains) इव - like दैत्य-अरिः = demon-enemy (Vishnu) इव = like  देवानाम् = among the gods प्रथमः = first पृथिवी-भुजाम् = among earth-lords = among the kings on this earth Who (Bukka) is the first among the kings on this earth just like Sesha Naga is among snakes, Himavaan is among the mountains, like Vishnu is among the gods.

आसीत् समस्तसामन्तमस्तकन्यस्तशासनः। बुक्कराज इति ख्यातो राजा हरिहरानुजः॥ आसीत् = Was समस्त-सामन्त-मस्तक-न्यस्त-शासनः = all-vassals-heads-embedded-command = one whose commands are borne on their heads by all vassals बुक्कराजः = 2nd Vijayanagara Emperor Bukka इति = thus ख्यातः = famous राजा = King हरिहर-अनुजः = Harihara-"younger brother" There was a famous king called Bukka who was the younger brother of Harihara and whose commands were borne on their heads by all the neighbouring vassals.

तन्मदीयमिदं काव्यं विबुधाः! श्रोतुमर्हथ। मधुराविजयं नाम चरितं कम्पभूपतेः॥ तत् = that/therefore मदीयम् = mine इदम् = this काव्यम् = poem विबुधाः = oh learned men (voc. plural of विबुध) श्रोतुम्=to listen अर्हथ = you all are entitled मधुरा-विजयम् = Madurai-victory नाम = name/title चरितम् = history कम्प-भूपतेः = Kampa-king = of King Kamapana Oh learned men, you are, therefore, entitled to listen to this poem of mine dealing with the history of king Kampana, going by the famous title of the conquest of Madurai.

न प्रार्थनीयः सत्काव्यश्रुत्यै सहृदयो जनः। स्वादुपुष्परसास्वादे कः प्रेरयति षट्पदम्॥ न = not प्रार्थनीयः = required to be requested सत्-काव्य-श्रुत्यै = for good-poetry-listening = for the listening of good poetry सहृदयः = sincere/intelligent जनः = person स्वादु-पुष्प-रस-आस्वादे = in sweet-flower-nectar-tasting = in the tasting of sweet nectar of flowers कः = who प्रेरयति = urges षट्-पदम् = six-legged = bee  A learned man need not be requested to listen to good poetry. Who urges the bee to taste the sweetness of flower's nectar?

करोति कीर्तिमर्थाय कल्पते हन्ति दुष्कृतम्। उन्मीलयति चाह्लादं किं न सूते कवेः कृतिः॥ करोति = does कीर्तिम् = fame अर्थाय = for wealth कल्पते = arrange हन्ति = slays/destroys दुष्कृतम् = baseness उन्मीलयति = make something visible च = and आह्लादम् = delight किम् = what न = not सूते = yields कवेः = of the poet कृतिः = work/composition It creates fame, arranges for wealth, destroys baseness and makes delight visible. What is there that the composition of a poet does not yield? 

तार्किका बहवः सन्ति शाब्दिकाश्च सहस्रशः। विरलाः कवयो लोके सरलालापपेशलाः॥ तार्किकाः बहवः सन्ति शाब्दिकाः च सहस्रशः विरलाः कवयः लोके सरल-आलाप-पेशलाः तार्किकाः = Logicians बहवः = many सन्ति = they are शाब्दिकाः = grammarians च = and सहस्रशः = thousands विरलाः = rare कवयः = poets लोके = in (this) world सरल-आलाप-पेशलाः = simple-speech-charming There are many logicians thousand of grammarians. In (this) world poets are rare who are charming by the use of simple speech.

चौर्यार्जितेन काव्येन कियद् दीव्यति दुर्जनः। आहार्यरागो न चिरं रुचिरः कृत्रिमोपलः॥ चौर्य-अर्जितेन = by thieving-obtained = obtained by stealing काव्येन = by poems कियत् = how much दीव्यति = rejoice/enjoy/play दुर्जनः= evil person आहार्य-रागः = incidental-tone न=not चिरम् = long रुचिरः = radiant कृत्रिम-उपलः = imitation-jewellery  How much can an evil person enjoy with poems obtained by stealing? The incidental (musical) tone is like imitation jewellery which is not radiant for long.

गुणं विहाय काव्येषु दुष्टो दोषं गवेषते। वनेषु त्यक्तमाकन्दः काको निम्बमपेक्षते॥ गुणम् = merit विहाय = without/ignoring काव्येषु = in poetic compositions दुष्टः = vile man दोषम् = faults गवेषते = searches वनेषु = in the forest त्यक्त-माकन्दः = ignored-"mango tree" काकः = crow निम्बम्=nimba fruit अपेक्षते = expects/prefers A vile man searches for faults in a poetic composition, in disregard of its merits, even as the crow shows a preference to the nimba (fruit) without caring for the mango in the forest. 

निर्दोषाप्यगुणा वाणी न विद्वज्जनरञ्जिनी। पतिव्रताप्यरूपा स्त्री परिणेत्रे न रोचते॥ निर्दोषा अपि अगुणा  वाणी = poetic composition न = not विद्वत्-जन-रञ्जिनी = learning-man-illuminating(fem.) = illuminating to learned man पति-व्रता = husband-loyal(fem.) = virtuous woman who is loyal to her husband अपि = even अरूपा = ugly स्त्री = woman परिणेत्रे = to the husband (fourth case singular declension of परिणेतृ) न = not रोचते = pleasing Just as an ugly woman, though virtuous, is not pleasing to her husband, a faultless poetic composition, if devoid of qualities (fineness), does not satisfy the man of learning

प्रबन्धमीषन्मात्रोऽपि दोषो नयति दूष्यताम्। कालागरुद्रवभरं शुक्तिक्षारकणो यथा॥ प्रबन्धम् = poetic work (Accusative) ईषत् = a little bit मात्रः = amount अपि = even दोषः = flaw नयति = brings दूष्यताम् = spoil/ruin काल-अगरु-द्रव-भरम्= black-sandal-"liquid essence"-quantity प्रबन्धम् नयति दोषः दूष्यताम् = The flaw brings to ruin the poetic work शुक्ति-क्षार-कणः = "oyster shell"-salt-particle = a salt particle from an oyster-shell यथा = like   Even as a single salt particle from an oyster-shell spoils the liquid essence of black sandal, so too, even the smallest flaw found in a poetic work renders it censurable

क्वचिदर्थः क्वचिच्छब्दः क्वचिद् भावः क्वचिद् रसः। यत्रैते सन्ति सर्वेऽपि स निबन्धो न लभ्यते॥ क्वचित् = somewhat/somewhere अर्थः = sense शब्दः = word भावः = sentiment रसः = extract यत्र = whee एते = These सन्ति = are सर्वे = all अपि = even यत्र एते सन्ति सर्वे अपि = where all these exist together सः = He/The निबन्धः = work न = not लभ्यते = found सः निबन्धः न लभ्यते = The work is not found There is sense in some, word in some, sentiment in some and extract in some; but nowhere is found a work where all these exist together. 

चिरं स विजयीभूयाद् विश्वनाथः कवीश्वरः। यस्य प्रसादात् सार्वज्ञ्यं समिन्धे मादृशेष्वपि॥ चिरम् = Long सः = He  विजयीभूयात् = may he win/flourish विश्व-नाथः = Lord of the world =  Vishvanatha = Shiva कवि-ईश्वरः = poet-god = God of poets यस्य = whose प्रसादात् = from the offering सार्वज्ञ्यम् = wisdom समिन्धे = ignite मादृशेषु =  in people like myself अपि = even May the lord of poets, Visvanaatha, flourish long; for it is by his grace, even in individuals like myself, has ignited a sense of omniscience.

स्तुमस्तमपरं व्यासं गङ्गाधरमहाकविम्। नाटकच्छद्मना दृष्टां यश्चक्रे भारतीं कथाम्॥ स्तुमः = We greet (plural. first person  conjugation स्तवीति , स्तौति) तम् = him अपरम् =  another व्यासम् = Vyaasa  गङ्गाधर-महाकविम् = great poet Gangaadhara स्तुमः तम् अपरम् व्यासम् गङ्गाधर-महाकविम् = We greet the great poet Gangaadhara as a second Vyaasa नाटक-च्छद्मना = by dramatization-device = by device of dramatization दृष्टाम् = seen यः = who चक्रे = did भारतीम् = Bharata कथाम् = story  यः चक्रे नाटकच्छद्मना दृष्टाम् भारतीम् कथाम् = Who wrote the story of the Bhaarata seen by the device of dramatization. We respectfully greet the great poet Gangaadhara as a second Vyaasa, in that he has made the story of the Bhaarata actually seen by the device of dramatization.

चतुस्सप्ततिकाव्योक्तिव्यक्तवैदुष्यसंपदे। अगस्त्याय जगत्यस्मिन् स्पृहयेत् को न कोविदः॥ चतुर्-सप्तति-काव्य-उक्ति-व्यक्त-वैदुष्य-संपदे अगस्त्याय जगति अस्मिन् स्पृहयेत् कः न कोविदः चतुर्-सप्तति-काव्य-उक्ति-व्यक्त-वैदुष्य-संपदे = in four-seventy-poetic-composition-learning-wealth = wealth of learning demonstrated by the production of as many as seventyfour poetic compositions अगस्त्याय = for Agastya जगति = in the world अस्मिन् = in this जगति अस्मिन् = in this world स्पृहयेत् = be jealous (opt. sing. first persion of स्पृहयति) अगस्त्याय स्पृहयेत् = be jealous of Agastya कः = who न = not कोविदः = man of learning कः कोविदः न स्पृहयेत् = Which man of learning will not desire Is there a man of learning who will not be jealous of the poet Agastya whose wealth of learning is demonstrated by the production of as many as seventyfour poetic compositions?

तिक्कयस्य कवेः सूक्तिः कौमुदीव कलानिधेः। सतृष्णैः कविभिः स्वैरं चकोरैरिव सेव्यते॥ कौमुदी इव कलानिधेः सतृष्णैः कविभिः स्वैरम् चकोरैः इव सेव्यते। कवेः =of the poet तिक्कयस्य =  of Tikkayya कवेः तिक्कयस्य = of the poet Tikkayya सूक्तिः = composition कौमुदी इव = like the rays (of the moon) कलानिधेः = of the moon सतृष्णैः = by the thirsty कविभिः = by the poets स्वैरम् = wilfully चकोरैः इव सेव्यते = like being drunk by the cakora birds Even as the thirsty cakora birds love to drink the rays of the moon, poets find immense relish in the composition of Kavi Tikkayya

मन्दारमञ्जरीस्यन्दिमकरन्दरसाब्धयः। कस्य नाह्लादनायालं कर्णामृतकवेर्गिरः॥ मन्दार-मञ्जरी-स्यन्दि-मकरन्द-रस-अब्धयः = hibiscus-foliage-trickling-nectar-extract-seas = an ocean of honey flowing from the flower clusters of the mandaara tree कस्य = whose न = not आह्लादनाय = for the delight  अलम् = enough कस्य न आह्लादनाय अलम् = Whom would the expressions fail the delight कर्णामृत-कवेः = of the poet Karnamrita गिरः = expressions Whom would the expressions of the poet of Karnamrita fail to delight---expressions which are an ocean of honey flowing from the flower clusters of the mandaara tree?

सा कापि सुरभिः शङ्के भवभूतेः सरस्वती। कर्णेषु लब्धवर्णानां सूते सुखमयीं सुधाम्॥ सा का-अपि सुरभिः शङ्के भवभूतेः सरस्वती कर्णेषु लब्धवर्णानाम् सूते सुख-मयीम् सुधाम् । सा = She का-अपि = whoever सुरभिः = fragrance or cow (here probably referring to the divine cow, Kamadhenu) सा का-अपि सुरभिः = (must be) some species of Kamadhenu शङ्के = I suspect भवभूतेः = of/from Bhavabhuti सरस्वती = Saraswati/compositions कर्णेषु = in ears लब्धवर्णानाम् = of the letter सूते = produces सुख-मयीम् = pleasure-filled सुधाम् = ambrosia I suspect that Bhavabhuti's compositions must be some species of Kamadhenu; for they produce in the ears of the learned a pleasure akin to the drinking of ambrosia

आचार्यदण्डिनो वाचामाचान्तामृतसंपदाम्। विकासो वेधसः पत्न्या विलासमणिदर्पणम्॥ आचार्य-दण्डि नः = of teacher-danDin वाचाम् = of the expressions (sixth case. plural. of वाच्) आ चान्त- अ मृत-संपदाम् = of the drunk-nectar-wealth(sixth case. plural. of सम्पत्) = drunk with the wealth of nectar विकासः = advancement/flourish वेधसः= of the creator (वेधस्) पत्न् याः  = with wife/of wife विलास-मणि-दर्पणम् =  luxury-jewel-mirror = fashionable precious stone-mirror The flourish of expressions of Achaarya Dandin, drunk with the wealth of nectar, shines like the fashionable precious stone-mirror of the creator's wife.

वैयासिके  गिरां गुम्भे पुण्ड्रेक्षाविव लभ्यते। सद्यः सहृदयाह्लादी सारः पर्वणि पर्वणि॥ वैयासिके = in the work of vyasa गिरा म् = of  the expressions (plural  possession   of  गिर् ) गुम्भे = in the joint (गुम्फ) पुण्ड्रे क्षौ-इव  = like in sugarcanes लभ्यते = found सद्यः = now सहृदय- आ ह्लादी = (sincere)-( causing joy or delight) सारः = essence/juice पर्वणि = in section Just as there is sincerely, delightful juice in every joint of red sugar-cane, there is sweet essence in every section of Vyasa's string of expressions

चेतसोऽस्तु प्रसादाय सतां प्राचेतसो मुनिः। पृथिव्यां पद्यनिर्माणविद्यायाः प्रथमं पदम्॥ चेतसः = of the mind अस्तु = let it be प्रसादाय = for welfare सताम् = of the virtuous प्रसादाय सताम् चेतसः = to the minds of the virtuous प्राचेतसः = son of prachetas (most likely Valmiki the creator of the Shloka) मुनिः = Sage अस्तु मुनिः प्राचेतसः = May the Sage Valmiki पृथिव्याम् = on earth पद्य-निर्माण-विद्यायाः =  of/from  Verse-construction-knowledge प्रथमम् = first पदम् = foot पद्य-निर्माण-विद्यायाः पृथिव्याम् प्रथमम् पदम् = the first to set foot into the world of poetry May the Sage Valmiki, who is as it were the first to set foot into the world of poetry, bring cheerfulness to the minds of the virtuous

असाधारणसार्वज्ञ्यं विलसत्सर्वमङ्गलम्। क्रियाशक्तिगुरुं वन्दे त्रिलोचनमिवापरम्।। असाधारण-सार्वज्ञ्यम् = extraordinary-wisdom = unparalleled in wisdow विलसत्-सर्वमङ्गलम् = resplendent-universally_auspicious क्रियाशक्तिगुरुम् = The preceptor Kriyashakti वन्दे = i bow to त्रि-लोचनम्-इव-अपरम् = three-eyed-like-another = like another Trilocana (Shiva) I bow to Guru kriyashakti, unparalleled in wisdow and resplendent with auspiciousness like another Trilocana with Sarvamangala shining by his side

महाकविमुखाम्भोजमणिपञ्जरशारिकाम्। चैतन्यजलधिज्योत्स्नां देवीं वन्दे सरस्वतीम्॥   महा-कवि- मुख- अ म्भोज- मणि- पञ्जर- शारिकाम् =  a shaarikaa in the bejwelled birdcages of the best bards' lotus mouths चैतन्य-जलधि-ज्योत्स्ना म्  =  the moonlight rousing the ocean of human consciousness देवी म्  वन्दे सरस्वतीम्  =  To the goddess of speech, Sarasvati, do I bow To the goddess of speech, Sarasvati, do I bow - a shaarikaa in the bejwelled birdcages of the best bards' lotus mouths, the moonlight rousing the ocean of human consciousness

स्रष्टुः स्त्री[पुंसनिर्मा]णमातृकारूपधारिणौ। प्रपद्ये प्रतिबोधाय चित्प्रकाशात्मकौ शिवौ।। स्रष्टुः = of the creator स्त्री-पुंस-निर्माण-मातृका-रूप-धारिणौ woman-man-creation-divine_mother-shape-holders (dual) स्रष्टुः  स्त्री-पुंस-निर्माण-मातृका-रूप-धारिणौ = who bear the form of the Creator's model for making man and woman. प्रपद्ये = take refuge (प्रपद्यते) =  prayerfully approach प्रतिबोधाय = For the sake of wisdom चित्-प्रकाश-आत्मकौ = Consciousness-light-consisting (adj dual) = who embody the light of Universal Consciousness शिवौ = Shivas (dual) refers to the duo of Shiva and Parvati For the sake of wisdom, I prayerfully approach God Siva and His Spouse, who embody the light of Universal Consciousness and who bear the form of the Creator's model for making man and woman.

कल्याणाय सतां भूयाद् देवो दन्तावलाननः। शरणागतसङ्कल्पकल्पनाकल्पपादपः॥ कल्याणाय = for the welfare सताम् = of the good भूया त् = be सताम् कल्याणाय भूयात् = be propitious to the good देवः = God दन्तावल-आननः = tusked-mouth (elephant-faced) (Ganesha) शरणागत -सङ्कल्प-कल्पना-आकल्प -पादपः = refugee-wish-dream-fulfilling-tree = the tree that fulfils the desires of those that surrender May the elephant-faced God, who, like the divine kalpavriksha fulfils the desires of those that surrender to his Grace, be propitious to the good.

विमर्दव्यक्तसौरभ्या भारती भारवेः कवेः। धत्ते वकुलमालेव  विदग्धानां  चमत्क्रियाम् । । विमर्द- व्यक्त- सौरभ्या  = squeezing-clear-smell =  sweet fragrance only when pressed भारती = language भारवेः = of bhaaravi (writer of kiraataarjuniiyam) कवेः = of the poet ( bhaaravi ) धत्ते = yields ( आत्मनेपदे of  दधाति) वकुल-मा ला-इव=like a garland made of vakula flowers विदग्धानाम् = of the learned ones चमत्क्रियाम् = excellence (acc.) Just as the garland of vakula flowers yields its sweet fragrance only when pressed, so too, the language of Bhaaravi discloses its excellence and gives delight to the learned only if pondered upon.

वाणीपाणिपरामृष्टवीणानिक्वाणहारिणीम्। भावयन्ति कथं वाऽन्ये, भट्टबाणस्य भारतीम्।। वाणी-पाणि-परामृष्ट-वीणा-निक्वाण-हारिणीम् = Melody-hand-handled-veena-sound-taker (acc.) = like the musical sound of the vina played by Sarasvati's own hand भावयन्ति = comprehend (plural verb) कथम् = how वा = indeed अन्ये = the others भट्टबाणस्य = of banabhatta (writer of kAdambari) भारतीम् = eloquence (acc.) How could others comprehend the eloquence of Bhattabana, which captivates like the musical sound of the vina played by Sarasvati's own hand?

दासतां कालिदासस्य कवयः के न विभ्रति। इदानीमपि तस्यार्थानुपजीवन्त्यमी यतः।। dāsatāṃ kālidāsasya kavayaḥ ke na vibhrati। idānīmapi tasyārthānupajīvantyamī yataḥ।। दासताम् = slavery कालिदासस्य = of kAlidAsa कवयः के = which poets न विभ्रति = don't feel or support के कवयः कालिदासस्य दासताम् न विभ्रति = Who are the poets that do not play the role of a slave of Kalidasa? इदानीम् अपि = even now तस्य = his अर्थान् = wealth (plural acc.) (in this context) ideas उपजीवन्ति = making a living out of अमी = These यतः = because यतः इदानीम् अपि = For even now अमी तस्य अर्थान् उपजीवन्ति = They live by his ideas. Who are the poets that do not play the role of a slave of Kalidasa? For even now those that are, live by his ideas.