Raghuvamsa Sudha – Popular Carnatic Kriti – Sanskrit with English meanings

Raghuvamsha Sudha is a popular kriti in Carnatic music, composed by Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845 – 1902) in Sanskrit language. It is set in the raga Kadanakuthuhalam and is in Aadi tala. It is praising Lord Rama. The Cittasvara of this composition is composed by Tiruvayyar Subrahmaniya Iyer.
Delightfully rendered by Saindhavi . Album Classics Forever
Video and translation: Ramesh Krishnakumar June 2020

Pallavi
Raghuvamsa sudhambudhi chandra shri
….the ocean of nectar… belonging to solar dynasty .…moonlike… Shri
Rama Rama Rajeshvara
.. Rama … Rama… king among gods…
(Rama of solar dynasty is associated with the moon due to his perfect sixteen attributes)

Anupallavi
Agha megha maruta shrikara
... the sinless…. storm cloud….who grants prosperity
Asuresha mrigendra vara jagannatha
…a terrifying king of lions…..to the King of Asura (Ravana) …the noble Lord of the world…

Chittaswaram
Sa-ReMa Ga- ReSa, Re- MaMa Dha- DhaNi,
Ga- GaPa Sa- SaNi, DhaPa MaGa PaMa GaRe
SaRe ReMa MaDha DhaNi, GaPa PaSa SaRe ReMa,
MaGa GaRe ReSa SaNi, NiDha DhaPa PaMa GaRe

Charanam
Jamadagnija garva khandana
…one who reduced the pride … of Parasurama..
Jaya rudradi vismita bhandana
..whose amazing victory….. enthralled Lord Shiva
Kamal aptanvaya-mandana-
…whose lotus-like nature is his ornament…
Ganita-pura-shaurya shri venkateshvara
… whose immeasurable valour … is of Lord Venkateshwara himself…