21 keeravaaNi mela
Aa: S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

taaLam: aadi
Composer: Sadaashiva Bruhmendrar
Language: Sanskrit

pallavi

tadvajjIvatvam brahmaNi tadvajjIvatvam

caraNam 1

yadvat tOyE candra dvitvam yadvanmukurE prati bimbatvam

caraNam 2

sthANau yadvannara rUpatvam bhAnukarE yadvat tOyatvam

caraNam 3

shuktau yadvadrajatamayatvam rajjau yadvat phaNi dEhatvam

caraNam 4 paramahamsa guruNA(a)dvaya vidyA bhaNitA dhikkrta mAyA(a)vidyA

Meaning:

tadvat - Like that
jIvatvam - (is) the state of the individual souls, the Jeevatma,
brahmaNi - in the Supreme Being.
tadvat jIvatvam - Being an individual soul is thus.

caraNam 1

yadvat - Just as
tOyE - in water,
candra dvitvam - (there is) the duplication of the moon,
yadvat - Just as,
mukurE - in the mirror,
prati bimbatvam - (there is) a reflection,

(so also, is the state of the individual soul, in the Supreme Being)

caraNam 2

yadvat - Just as,
sthANau - in a wooden post,
nara rUpatvam - (there is) the existence of a human form,
yadvat - Just as,
bhAnukarE - in the rays of the sun
tOyatvam - (there is) the existence of water in a mirage,

(so also, is the state of the individual soul, in the Supreme Being)

caraNam 3

yadvat - Just as,
shuktau - in the oyster shell,
rajata mayatvam - (there is) the seeming profusion of silver,
yadvat - just as,
rajjau - in a rope,
phaNi dEhatvam - (there is) the existence of a snake’s form,

(so also, is the state of the individual soul, in the Supreme Being)

caraNam 4

advaya vidyA - The knowledge of Advaita,
dhikkrta mAyA(a)vidyA - censuring the ignorance caused by delusion,
bhaNitA - (is thus) described,
paramahamsa guruNA - by the enlightened Guru.

Notes:

1. The second moon in water and the reflection in a mirror are appearances, but not real. They cannot exist without the original. So also, the Jivatma exists only on the basis of the Brahman.

2. The non-existing human form, water, silver and snake are perceived, superimposed on an existing pillar, sunlight, shell and rope respectively. The reason for this wrong perception could be the lack of clear vision or poor light. So also, the Jivatma is perceived as different and separate from the Brahman due to ignorance(avidyA).

Other information:
Lyrics contributed by Lakshman Ragde. Meaning and corrections by Rajani Arjun Shankar.