Kasturi Tilkam

Recently I came across a very beautiful Bhajan on Lord Krishna on YouTube. It is in Sanskrit and Pandit Jasraj Ji has given his melodious voice to it.  Although, I knew this Bhajan even before listening it on YouTube, but I knew it as in the form a Verse/Slokas.

In this verse the physical appearance of Lord Krishna is glorified. Although to glorify  the absolute qualities of Lord is beyond capacity of Individual, yet devotees have the legacy to describe Him according to ones realization.

Even without having knowledge of Indian classical music, I consider it very rich than compare to the current trends of Indian Bollywood music. Now a days songs, though they are famous among youth, lack poetic sense, doesn’t have meaning and instruments preoccupy the songs rather than the voice of singer.

In my view,there are some reasons behind the less popularity of classical music among youth as they are unaware of the intricacies of various aspects of it . Apart from this many classical songs, which finds its origin in Sanskrit, are difficult to discern. In the absence of the meaning of songs, people find it tough to retain and enjoy the real hidden beauty. And it is obvious that if we are not able to understand, than it is impossible to appreciate.

So for this Bhajan, I did some research and found multiple sources where the translations as well as meaning of the words were given. I am sharing the meaning of the each words as well as the translation of the verse.

I am also sharing a Link of this Bhajan, which is on YouTube. This Bhajan is part of an album Govind Damodar Madhveti. Each and Every song is a bliss.  Plug in your Ear Phone to get the better sound effect and clarity.

कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं

नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।

सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं सुललितं कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं

गोपस्त्री परिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपाल चूडामणिः ॥

Kasturi-Tilakam Lalaatta-Pattale Vakssah-Sthale Kaustubham

Naasa-Agre Nava-Mauktikam Karatale Vennum Kare Kangkannam

Sarva-Angge Haricandanam Sulalitam Kanntthe Cha Muktaavalim

Gopa-Strii Parivessttito Vijayate Gopaala Chuddaamannih

Meaning:
1: Obeisance to Gopala Who is adorned with the Sacred Marks of Kasturi (Musk) on His Forehead and Kaustubha Jewel on His Chest,
2: His Nose is decorated with a new Shining Pearl, the Palms of His Hands are gently holding a Flute, the Hands themselves are beautifully decorated with Bracelets,
3: His Whole Body is Smeared with Sandal Paste, as if Playfully anointed, and His Neck is decorated with a Necklace of Pearls,
4: Surrounded by the Cowherd Woman, Gopala is Shining in their middle in Celebration like a Jewel on the Head.

Meaning of the Words:

कस्तूरीतिलकं (Kastuurii-Tilakam): Marks of Kasturi [Musk] ,

ललाटपटले (Lalaatta-Pattale): On the Surface of Forehead

वक्षःस्थले (Vakssah-Sthale): On the Chest

कौस्तुभं (Kaustubham): Kaustubha Mani obtained during Samudra Manthana

नासाग्रे (Naasa-Agre): On the Nose

नवमौक्तिकं (Nava-mauktikam): New Shining Pearl

करतले (Karatale): On the Palm of the Hand

वेणुं (Vennum): Flute

करे (Kare): On the Hand

कङ्कणम् (Kangkannam): Bracelet

सर्वाङ्गे (Sarva-Angge): Whole Body

हरिचन्दनं (Haricandanam): Yellow Sandal Paste

सुललितं (Sulalitam): Playful, Wanton, Charming

कण्ठे (Kanntthe): On the Neck

च (Ca): And

मुक्तावलिं (Muktaavalim): Pearl of Necklace

गोपस्त्री (Gopa-Strii): Cowherd Woman 1

परिवेष्टितो (Parivessttito): Surrounded by

विजयते (Vijayate): in Victory, Celebration

गोपाल (Gopaala): Gopala, another name of Sri Krishna

चूडामणिः (Cuuddaamannih): The Best or Most Exalted literally meaning the Jewel worn on the Head

Credits: YouTube Link: Dharmaraksha

               Meaning and Translation: Multiple sources, with special mention Greenmesg.org

 

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