मूककविप्रणीता मूकपञ्चशती
तत्र
कटाक्षशतकम्
तत्र षड्विंशश्लोकम् आरभ्य पञ्चाशत्श्लोकपर्य्यन्तम् ।
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 100 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.
त्रैयम्बकं त्रिपुरसुन्दरि हर्म्यभूमिः
अङ्गं विहारसरसी करुणाप्रवाहः ।
दासाश्च वासवमुखाः परिपालनीयं
कामाक्षि विश्वमपि वीक्षणभूभृतस्ते ॥२६॥
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 (as they obey the glances ) and this whole world is sustained and protected by it.
वागीश्वरी सहचरी नियमेन लक्ष्मीः
भ्रूवल्लरीवशकरी भुवनानि गेहम् ।
रूपं त्रिलोकनयनामृतमम्ब तेषां
कामाक्षि येषु तव वीक्षणपारतन्त्री ॥२७॥
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.
माहेश्वरं झटिति मानसमीनमम्ब
कामाक्षि धैर्यजलधौ नितरां निमग्नम् ।
जालेन शृङ्खलयति त्वदपाङ्गनाम्ना
विस्तारितेन विषमायुधदाशकोऽसौ ॥२८॥
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)
उन्मथ्य बोधकमलाकरमम्ब जाड्य-
स्तम्बेरमं मम मनोविपिने भ्रमन्तम् ।
कुण्ठीकुरुष्व तरसा कुटिलाग्रसीम्ना
कामाक्षि तावककटाक्षमहाङ्कुशेन ॥२९॥
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.
उद्वेल्लितस्तबकितैर्ललितैर्विलासैः
उत्थाय देवि तव गाढकटाक्षकुञ्जात् ।
दूरं पलाययतु मोहमृगीकुलं मे
कामाक्षि सत्वरमनुग्रहकेसरीन्द्रः ॥३०॥
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.
स्नेहादृतां विदलितोत्पलकान्तिचोरां
जेतारमेव जगदीश्वरि जेतुकामः ।
मानोद्धतो मकरकेतुरसौ धुनीते
कामाक्षि तावककटाक्षकृपाणवल्लीम् ॥३१॥
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.
श्रौतीं व्रजन्नपि सदा सरणिं मुनीनां
कामाक्षि सन्ततमपि स्मृतिमार्गगामी ।
कौटिल्यमम्ब कथमस्थिरतां च धत्ते
चौर्यं च पङ्कजरुचां त्वदपाङ्गपातः ॥३२॥
O Kamakshi! your glances always take the path of the shruti (ears, the 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?
नित्यं श्रुतेः परिचितौ यतमानमेव
नीलोत्पलं निजसमीपनिवासलोलम् ।
प्रीत्यैव पाठयति वीक्षणदेशिकेन्द्रः
कामाक्षि किं नु तव कालिमसंप्रदायम् ॥३३॥
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).
भ्रान्त्वा मुहुः स्तबकितस्मितफेनराशौ
कामाक्षि वक्त्ररुचिसञ्चयवारिराशौ ।
आनन्दति त्रिपुरमर्दननेत्रलक्ष्मीः
आलम्ब्य देवि तव मन्दमपाङ्गसेतुम् ॥३४॥
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.
श्यामा तव त्रिपुरसुन्दरि लोचनश्री:
कामाक्षि कन्दलितमेदुरतारकान्तिः ।
ज्योत्स्नावती स्मितरुचापि कथं तनोति
स्पर्धामहो कुवलयैश्च तथा चकोरैः ॥३५॥
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.
कालाञ्जनं च तव देवि निरीक्षणं च
कामाक्षि साम्यसरणिं समुपैति कान्त्या ।
निःशेषनेत्रसुलभं जगतीषु पूर्वम्
अन्यत् त्रिनेत्रसुलभं तुहिनाद्रिकन्ये ॥३६॥
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.
धूमाङ्कुरो मकरकेतनपावकस्य
कामाक्षि नेत्ररुचिनीलिमचातुरी ते ।
अत्यन्तमद्भुतमिदं नयनत्रयस्य
हर्षोदयं जनयते हरिणाङ्कमौलेः ॥३७॥
O Kamakshi! the dark blue radiance of your eyes is like the sprout of smoke from the fire of the god of love (Kama). 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 Kama).
आरम्भलेशसमये तव वीक्षणस्य
कामाक्षि मूकमपि वीक्षणमात्रनम्रम् ।
सर्वज्ञता सकललोकसमक्षमेव
कीर्तिस्वयंवरणमाल्यवती वृणीते ॥३८॥
O Kamakshi! When at the moment your glances fall even on a dumb fellow and at that moment he bends 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).
कालाम्बुवाह इव ते परितापहारी
कामाक्षि पुष्करमधः कुरुते कटाक्षः ।
पूर्वः परं क्षणरुचा समुपैति मैत्रीम्
अन्यस्तु सन्ततरुचिं प्रकटीकरोति ॥३९॥
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.
सूक्ष्मेऽपि दुर्गमतरेऽपि गुरुप्रसाद-
साहाय्यकेन विचरन्नपवर्गमार्गे ।
संसारपङ्कनिचये न पतत्यमुं ते
कामाक्षि गाढमवलम्ब्य कटाक्षयष्टिम् ॥४०॥
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 saṃsāra by taking the support of the staff of your kataksha.
कामाक्षि संततमसौ हरिनीलरत्न-
स्तम्भे कटाक्षरुचिपुञ्जमये भवत्याः ।
बद्धोऽपि भक्तिनिगडैर्मम चित्तहस्ती
स्तंभं च बन्धमपि मुञ्चति हन्त चित्रम् ॥४१॥
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).
कामाक्षि कार्ष्ण्यमपि संततमञ्जनं च
बिभ्रन्निसर्गतरलोऽपि भवत्कटाक्षः ।
वैमल्यमन्वहमनञ्जनतां च भूयः
स्थैर्यं च भक्तहृदयाय कथं ददाति ॥४२॥
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, non-attachment (ananjanata) and stability.
मन्दस्मितस्तबकितं मणिकुण्डलांशु-
स्तोमप्रवालरुचिरं शिशिरीकृताशम् ।
कामाक्षि राजति कटाक्षरुचेः कदम्बम्
उद्यानमम्ब करुणाहरिणेक्षणायाः ॥४३॥
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.
कामाक्षि तावककटाक्षमहेन्द्रनील-
सिंहासनं श्रितवतो मकरध्वजस्य ।
साम्राज्यमङ्गलविधौ मणिकुण्डलश्रीः
नीराजनोत्सवतरङ्गितदीपमाला ॥४४॥
O Kamakshi! Kāmadeva 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.
मातः क्षणं स्नपय मां तव वीक्षितेन
मन्दाक्षितेन सुजनैरपरोक्षितेन ।
कामाक्षि कर्मतिमिरोत्करभास्करेण
श्रेयस्करेण मधुपद्युतितस्करेण ॥४५॥
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.
प्रेमापगापयसि मज्जनमारचय्य
युक्तः स्मितांशुकृतभस्मविलेपनेन ।
कामाक्षि कुण्डलमणिद्युतिभिर्जटालः
श्रीकण्ठमेव भजते तव दृष्टिपातः ॥४६॥
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).
कैवल्यदाय करुणारसकिंकराय
कामाक्षि कन्दलितविभ्रमशंकराय ।
आलोकनाय तव भक्तशिवंकराय
मातर्नमोऽस्तु परतन्त्रितशंकराय ॥४७॥
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.
साम्राज्यमङ्गलविधौ मकरध्वजस्य
लोलालकालिकृततोरणमाल्यशोभे ।
कामेश्वरि प्रचलदुत्पलवैजयन्ती-
चातुर्यमेति तव चञ्चलदृष्टिपातः ॥४८॥
O Kameshwari! In the coronation celebrations of Kāmadeva, your beautiful tresses form the decorative garlands (toraṇamālā) and your ambulatory glances form the garland of blue lilies.
मार्गेण मञ्जुकचकान्तितमोवृतेन
मन्दायमानगमना मदनातुरासौ ।
कामाक्षि दृष्टिरयते तव शंकराय
संकेतभूमिमचिरादभिसारिकेव ॥४९॥
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 Abhisārikā wanting to join her lover in secret.
व्रीडानुवृत्तिरमणीकृतसाहचर्या
शैवालितां गलरुचा शशिशेखरस्य ।
कामाक्षि कान्तिसरसीं त्वदपाङ्गलक्ष्मीः
मन्दं समाश्रयति मज्जनखेलनाय ॥५०॥
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.
