ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಶತಕಮ್, ೨೬-೫೦

ಮೂಕಪಞ್ಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)  
              ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಶತಕಮ್
              (slokas ೨೬ to ೫೦)
Mooka Panchashati is a devotional composition by Muka Kavi dedicated to Kamakshi. The real name of the poet is not known. Legend has it that he was born dumb but regained not only his voice  by  the grace of Goddess Kamakshi but also became a poet of considerable merit. Mooka Panchashati  consists of five satakams, each Satakam containing ೧೦೦ verses. The Satakams  are Arya Satakam, Padaravinda Satakam, Stuti Satakam, Kataksha Satakam and Mandasmita Satakam.

Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding deity of Kancheepuram.  Her consort is Ekamreshwara, an aspect of Lord Shiva.  Kanchi is the Central Peetham established by Aadi Shankaracharya who installed and consecrated the  idol of Kamakshi and established the system of worship there. The other  Peethams are at Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in theWest,  Puri in the East and Sringeri (Sringa giri) in the South.

The translation into English of a hymn of this nature is a delicate task and readers may kindly pardon the shortcomings, though every attempt has been made to make the translation as close as possible to the intended or perceived meaning. 

ತ್ರೈಯಮ್ಬಕಂ ತ್ರಿಪುರಸುನ್ದರಿ ಹರ್ಮ್ಯಭೂಮಿ-
ರಙ್ಗಂ ವಿಹಾರಸರಸೀ ಕರುಣಾಪ್ರವಾಹಃ
ದಾಸಾಶ್ಚ ವಾಸವಮುಖಾಃ ಪರಿಪಾಲನೀಯಂ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ವಿಶ್ವಮಪಿ ವೀಕ್ಷಣಭೂಭೃತಸ್ತೇ || ೨೬|| 

Your glance is the King the abode of which is Lord Shiva,   the flow of compassion from it is the lake for its sporting, Indra and others are servants (they obey the glances ) and this whole world is sustained and protected by it.    
ವಾಗೀಶ್ವರೀ ಸಹಚರೀ ನಿಯಮೇನ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ-
ರ್ಭ್ರೂವಲ್ಲರೀವಶಕರೀ ಭುವನಾನಿ ಗೇಹಮ್| 
ರೂಪಂ ತ್ರಿಲೋಕನಯನಾಮೃತಮಮ್ಬ ತೇಷಾಂ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಯೇಷು ತವ ವೀಕ್ಷಣಪಾರತನ್ತ್ರೀ || ೨೭|| 

O Kamakshi! those on whom fall your glances, for them the goddess of learning is companion, goddess of wealth is under the control of their eye-brows, all the worlds are their abodes and their form is  nectar for the eyes of the three worlds.


ಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರಂ ಝಟಿತಿ ಮಾನಸಮೀನಮಮ್ಬ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಧೈರ್ಯಜಲಧೌ ನಿತರಾಂ ನಿಮಗ್ನಮ್| 
ಜಾಲೇನ ಶೃಙ್ಖಲಯತಿ ತ್ವದ್ಪಾಙ್ಗನಾಮ್ನಾ
ವಿಸ್ತಾರಿತೇನ ವಿಷಮಾಯುಧದಾಶಕೋಽಸೌ || ೨೮|| 

Cupid who is the fisherman uses your sidelong glances as the fishing net  and captures the mind of Shiva which is the fish fully immersed in the ocean of courage (determination)

ಉನ್ಮಥ್ಯ ಬೋಧಕಮಲಾಕರಮಮ್ಬ ಜಾಡ್ಯ-
ಸ್ತಮ್ಬೇರಮಂ ಮಮ ಮನೋವಿಪಿನೇ ಭ್ರಮನ್ತಮ್| 
ಕುಣ್ಠೀಕುರುಷ್ವ ತರಸಾ ಕುಟಿಲಾಗ್ರಸೀಮ್ನಾ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ತಾವಕಕಟಾಕ್ಷಮಹಾಙ್ಕುಶೇನ || ೨೯|| 

The elephant of ignorance, having destroyed the lotus forest of knowledge, is wandering in the forest of my mind.  O Kamakshi! kindly bind him quickly with the goad of your sidelong glance which has a sharp hook at the end.

ಉದ್ವೇಲ್ಲಿತಸ್ತಬಕಿತೈರ್ಲಲಿತೈರ್ವಿಲಾಸೈ-
ರುತ್ಥಾಯ ದೇವಿ ತವ ಗಾಢಕಟಾಕ್ಷಕುಞ್ಜಾತ್| 
ದೂರಂ ಪಲಾಯತು ಮೋಹಮೃಗೀಕುಲಂ ಮೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸತ್ವರಮನುಗ್ರಹಕೇಸರೀನ್ದ್ರಃ|| ೩೦|| 

O Kamakshi! Let the King Lion of your grace get up exuberant, blooming and playful, from the arbour of your sidelong glances, and drive away the herd of does which are my delusions and attachments.   


ಸ್ನೇಹಾದೃತಾಂ ವಿದಲಿತೋತ್ಪಲಕಾನ್ತಿಚೋರಾಂ
ಜೇತಾರಮೇವ ಜಗದೀಶ್ವರಿ ಜೇತುಕಾಮಃ | 
ಮಾನೋದ್ಧತೋ ಮಕರಕೇತುರಸೌ ಧುನೀತೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ತಾವಕಕಟಾಕ್ಷಕೃಪಾಣವಲ್ಲೀಮ್ || ೩೧|| 

O Kamakshi ! Cupid, conceited about his powers, wanted to win over Shiva who had conquered him.  For this he relies on your glances which are full of affection, which compete with the utpala  in beauty and brightness and which is sharp like a sword.


ಶ್ರೌತೀಂ ವ್ರಜನ್ನಪಿ ಸದಾ ಸರಣಿಂ ಮುನೀನಾಂ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸನ್ತತಮಪಿ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಮಾರ್ಗಗಾಮೀ| 
ಕೌಟಿಲ್ಯಮಮ್ಬ ಕಥಮಸ್ಥಿರತಾಂ ಚ ಧತ್ತೇ
ಚೌರ್ಯಂ ಚ ಪಙ್ಕಜರುಚಾಂ ತ್ವದಪಾಙ್ಗಪಾತಃ || ೩೨|| 

O Kamakshi! your glances always take the path of the shruti (ears, Vedas) and the path of smriti (remembrance, code of conduct) of the sages.  How is it that those very glances are crooked, not stable and steals the beauty of lotuses?

ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಶ್ರುತೇಃ ಪರಿಚಿತೌ ಯತಮಾನಮೇವ
ನೀಲೋತ್ಪಲಂ ನಿಜಸಮೀಪನಿವಾಸಲೋಲಮ್| 
ಪ್ರೀತ್ಯೈವ ಪಾಠಯತಿ ವೀಕ್ಷಣದೇಶಿಕೇನ್ದ್ರಃ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕಿಂ ನು ತವ ಕಾಲಿಮಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಮ್|| ೩೩|| 
The nilotpala flowers(blue lily),  are familiar  with your ears (also means Vedas) because they adorn the ears.   They are eager to be near the eyes and are trying for it.  Your glance, as it were, takes on the role of a teacher  and lovingly teaches the nilotpala your system of kalima ( being dark).

ಭ್ರಾನ್ತ್ವಾ ಮುಹುಃ ಸ್ತಬಕಿತಸ್ಮಿತಫೇನರಾಶೌ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ವಕ್ತ್ರರುಚಿಸಞ್ಚಯವಾರಿರಾಶೌ| 
ಆನನ್ದತಿ ತ್ರಿಪುರಮರ್ದನನೇತ್ರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ-
ರಾಲಮ್ಬ್ಯ ದೇವಿ  ತವ ಮನ್ದಮಪಾಙ್ಗಸೇತುಮ್ || ೩೪|| 
The eyes of Shiva, the enemy of Tripura, after wandering in the dense foam of the smile and the waters of the radiance of the face finally enjoy themselves coming to rest on your sidelong glances which are like a bridge or dam.


ಶ್ಯಾಮಾ ತವ ತ್ರಿಪುರಸುನ್ದರಿ ಲೋಚನಶ್ರೀ:
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕನ್ದಲಿತಮೇದುರತಾರಕಾನ್ತಿಃ| 
ಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸ್ನಾವತೀ ಸ್ಮಿತರುಚಾಪಿ ಕಥಂ ತನೋತಿ
ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಾಮಹೋ ಕುವಲಯೈಶ್ಚ ತಥಾ ಚಕೋರೈಃ || ೩೫|| 
O Tripurasundari! Your eyes are dark, they sparkle as the star and your smile provides the moonlight.  This being the case how is it that your eyes quarrel with the blue lily which blossoms when the moon rises and the chakora bird which absorbs moonlight as food.

ಕಾಲಾಞ್ಜನಂ ಚ ತವ ದೇವಿ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಣಂ ಚ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸಾಮ್ಯಸರಣಿಂ ಸಮುಪೈತಿ ಕಾನ್ತ್ಯಾ | 
ನಿಃಶೇಷನೇತ್ರಸುಲಭಂ ಜಗತೀಷು ಪೂರ್ವ-
ಮನ್ಯತ್ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಸುಲಭಂ ತುಹಿನಾದ್ರಿಕನ್ಯೇ|| ೩೬|| 

The anjan  (with which women beautify their eyes)  and the glances from the corners of your eyes sail in the same boat as both are dark.  But the first is easily available to the eyes of all in this world, but your glances O daughter of Himavan!, is easily available only to your consort Shiva.

ಧೂಮಾಙ್ಕುರೋ ಮಕರಕೇತನಪಾವಕಸ್ಯ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ನೇತ್ರರುಚಿನೀಲಿಮಚಾತುರೀ ತೇ| 
ಅತ್ಯನ್ತಮದ್ಭುತಮಿದಂ ನಯನತ್ರಯಸ್ಯ
ಹರ್ಷೋದಯಂ ಜನಯತೇ ಹರಿಣಾಙ್ಕಮೌಲೇಃ || ೩೭|| 

O Kamakshi!  the dark blue radiance of your eyes is like the sprout of smoke from the fire of the god of love (Cupid).  It is a wonder how it gladdens the heart of Shiva who sports the crescent moon on his locks (and who is the enemy of Cupid) 

ಆರಮ್ಭಲೇಶಸಮಯೇ ತವ ವೀಕ್ಷಣಸ್ಯ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಮೂಕಮಪಿ ವೀಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರನಮ್ರಮ್| 
ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞತಾ ಸಕಲಲೋಕಸಮಕ್ಷಮೇವ
ಕೀರ್ತಿಃ ಸ್ವಯಂವರಣಮಾಲ್ಯವತೀ ವೃಣೀತೇ || ೩೮|| 

O Kamakshi! When at the moment your glances fall even on a dumb fellow and at that moment he bents down  bowing, he becomes all-knowing before all the world and Fame (personified as the young bride) awaits him with the garland of swayamvara (the system of marriage where the girl has freedom to choose her husband)

ಕಾಲಾಮ್ಬುವಾಹ  ಇವ ತೇ ಪರಿತಾಪಹಾರೀ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಪುಷ್ಕರಮಧಃ ಕುರುತೇ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಃ| 
ಪೂರ್ವಃ ಪರಂ ಕ್ಷಣರುಚಾ ಸಮುಪೈತಿ ಮೈತ್ರೀ-
ಮನ್ಯಸ್ತು ಸನ್ತತರುಚಿಂ ಪ್ರಕಟೀಕರೋತಿ || ೩೯|| 



O Kamakshi! your sidelong glance, like the dark cloud, removes the heat of sufferings.  It puts down the lake by its depth.  The friendship of the cloud is  only for a few minutes but the lake manifests permanent friendship.

ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮೇಽಪಿ ದುರ್ಗಮತರೇಽಪಿ ಗುರುಪ್ರಸಾದ-
ಸಾಹಾಯ್ಯಕೇನ ವಿಚರನ್ನಪವರ್ಗಮಾರ್ಗೇ| 
ಸಂಸಾರಪಙ್ಕನಿಚಯೇ ನ ಪತತ್ಯಮುಂ ತೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಗಾಢಮವಲಮ್ಬ್ಯ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಯಷ್ಟಿಮ್ || ೪೦|| 

O Kamakshi! One treading the path to liberation, which is subtle and difficult to traverse, with the help of a guru will not fall into the mire of this samsara  by taking the support of the staff of your kataksha 

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸಂತತಮಸೌ ಹರಿನೀಲರತ್ನ-
ಸ್ತಮ್ಭೇ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷರುಚಿಪುಞ್ಜಮಯೇ ಭವತ್ಯಾಃ | 
ಬದ್ಧೋಽಪಿ ಭಕ್ತಿನಿಗಲೈರ್ಮಮ ಚಿತ್ತಹಸ್ತೀ
ಸ್ತಂಭಂ ಚ ಬನ್ಧಮಪಿ ಮುಞ್ಚತಿ ಹನ್ತ ಚಿತ್ರಮ್ || ೪೧|| 

O Kamakshi ! my mind-elephant is tied (baddhah) firmly with the chains of devotion to the pillar (sthambham) of dark blue diamond which is  made of the strings of your glances. But wonder of wonders, in this process, the mind gives up  both the sthambham (conceit) and the bandham ( attachment)

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕಾರ್ಷ್ಣ್ಯಮಪಿ ಸಂತತಮಞ್ಜನಂ ಚ
ಬಿಭ್ರನ್ನಿಸರ್ಗತರಲೋಽಪಿ ಭವತ್ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಃ| 
ವೈಮಲ್ಯಮನ್ವಹಮನಞ್ಜನತಾಂ ಚ ಭೂಯಃ
ಸ್ಥೈರ್ಯಂ ಚ ಭಕ್ತಹೃದಯಾಯ ಕಥಂ ದದಾತಿ || ೪೨|| 

O Kamakshi! your kataksha is dark and always has anjana  applied to it and is, by nature, wavering and ambulatory.  How then is it possible for it grant to the heart of the devotee purity, unattachment (ananjanata)
and stability.

ಮನ್ದಸ್ಮಿತಸ್ತಬಕಿತಂ ಮಣಿಕುಣ್ಡಲಾಂಶು-
ಸ್ತೋಮಪ್ರವಾಲರುಚಿಂ ಶಿಶಿರೀಕೃತಾಶಮ್
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ರಾಜತಿ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷರುಚೇಃ ಕದಮ್ಬ-
ಮುದ್ಯಾನಮಮ್ಬ ಕರುಣಾಹರಿಣೇಕ್ಷಣಾಯಾಃ || ೪೩|| 

O Kamakshi! You eyes are full of mercy and are beautiful as the doe’s.  Your bright smiles are blossoms, the radiances from the ear-globes shining as corals are leaf buds. Your sidelong glances cools all the quarters.  All this make for a garden for your kataksha.

ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ತಾವಕಕಟಾಕ್ಷಮಹೇನ್ದ್ರನೀಲ-
ಸಿಂಹಾಸನಂ ಶ್ರಿತವತೋ ಮಕರಧ್ವಜಸ್ಯ| 
ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯಮಙ್ಗಲವಿಧೌ ಮಣಿಕುಣ್ಡಲಶ್ರೀ-
ರ್ನೀರಾಜನೋತ್ಸವತರಙ್ಗಿತದೀಪಮಾಲಾ || ೪೪|| 

O Kamakshi! Kamadeva has taken his seat in the throne of blue stone which is your kataksha.  The bright radiance from your ear-globes form the garland of lamps for the neeraajana festival of this coronation

ಮಾತಃ ಕ್ಷಣಂ ಸ್ನಪಯ ಮಾಂ ತವ ವೀಕ್ಷಿತೇನ
ಮನ್ದಾಕ್ಷಿತೇನ ಸುಜನೈರಪರೋಕ್ಷಿತೇನ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕರ್ಮತಿಮಿರೋತ್ಕರಭಾಸ್ಕರೇಣ
ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ಕರೇಣ ಮಧುಪದ್ಯುತಿತಸ್ಕರೇಣ   || ೪೫|| 

O Mother! for a few seconds bathe me by your glances which are soft,  realised before their very eyes by the saints, the brilliant sun dispelling the darkness of bad karma  and contributing to the welfare of the good and which steals the radiance of honey-bees.

ಪ್ರೇಮಾಪಗಾಪಯಸಿ ಮಜ್ಜನಮಾರಚಯ್ಯ
ಯುಕ್ತಃ ಸ್ಮಿತಾಂಶುಕೃತಭಸ್ಮವಿಲೇಪನೇನ | 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕುಣ್ಡಲಮಣಿದ್ಯುತಿಭಿರ್ಜಟಾಲಃ
ಶ್ರೀಕಣ್ಠಮೇವ ಭಜತೇ ತವ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತಃ || ೪೬|| 

O Kamakshi ! your glance is bathed in the river of love.  The bright white rays from your smile is the smearing of ashes (bhasma) and the rays of red from your ear-globes  are matted hair. With these it looks like one doing tapas and offering worship only to Nilakantha (Lord Shiva).

ಕೈವಲ್ಯದಾಯ ಕರುಣಾರಸಕಿಂಕರಾಯ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕನ್ದಲಿತವಿಭ್ರಮಶಂಕರಾಯ
ಆಲೋಕನಾಯ ತವ ಭಕ್ತಶಿವಂಕರಾಯ
ಮಾತರ್ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ಪರತನ್ತ್ರಿತಶಂಕರಾಯ || ೪೭|| 

O Mother Kamakshi! prostrations to your glances which grant kaivalya (liberation), which is full of the sentiment of mercy, which has deepened the wonderment of Sankara, which does good to the devotees and which has brought Sankara under its control. 



ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯಮಙ್ಗಲವಿಧೌ ಮಕರಧ್ವಜಸ್ಯ
ಲೋಲಾಲಕಾಲಿಕೃತತೋರಣಮಾಲ್ಯಶೋಭೇ| 
ಕಾಮೇಶ್ವರಿ ಪ್ರಚಲದುತ್ಪಲವೈಜಯನ್ತೀ
ಚಾತುರ್ಯಮೇತಿ ತವ ಚಞ್ಚಲದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತಃ|| ೪೮|| 

O Kameshwari! In the coronation celebrations of Kamadeva, your beautiful tresses form the decorative garlands (torana maalaa)  and your ambulatory glances form the garland of  blue lilies.

ಮಾರ್ಗೇಣ ಮಞ್ಜುಕಚಕಾನ್ತಿತಮೋವೃತೇನ
ಮನ್ದಾಯಮಾನಗಮನಾ ಮದನಾತುರಾಸೌ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ದೃಷ್ಟಿರಯತೇ ತವ ಶಂಕರಾಯ
ಸಂಕೇತಭೂಮಿಮಚಿರಾದಭಿಸಾರಿಕೇವ || ೪೯|| 

O Kamakshi! Your lovelorn glances travel by the path,  which is enveloped
By the darkness of your tresses,  slowly moving towards the meeting place as an abhisarikaa  wanting to join her lover in secret.

ವ್ರೀಡಾನುವೃತ್ತಿರಮಣೀಕೃತಸಾಹಚರ್ಯಾ
ಶೈವಾಲಿತಾಂ ಗಲರುಚಾ ಶಶಿಶೇಖರಸ್ಯ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕಾನ್ತಿಸರಸೀಂ ತ್ವದಪಾಙ್ಗಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ-
ರ್ಮನ್ದಂ ಸಮಾಶ್ರಯತಿ ಮಜ್ಜನಖೇಲನಾಯ || ೫೦|| 

O Kamakshi  The Lakshmi of Your sidelong glance enters the lake of effulgence of Lord Shiva for the sport of taking a dip accompanied by the damsel of shyness.  The the mark left on the neck of Shiva by the poison appears as moss in this lake.