'Nari nayan chakora.....', the words from one of the most popular Konkani bhaktigeet sung about Krishna we all remember in the divine voice of our very popular GSB singer from Karkala - Mahalakshmi Shenoy. The song is written by R D Kamath, composed by Late Pandit Vasanth Kanakapure.
While Ms. Shenoy's initial version of the song is in the traditional format we are used to, she took it one notch up by performing this again in Raag Ahir Bhairav in one of the concerts. Raag Ahir Bhairav is associated with the Ahirs - the cowherds and milkmen. It was inspired by the tinkling of the cow's bells early in the morning as they are being milked. It has a calming effect on an individual early in the morning.
How apt this raga is for a song depicting little Krishna who grew up amongst the cowherds in Gokul and Vrindavan. The lines from the song depict the playfulness of a child seen through perhaps the eyes of someone in complete love with the child. Perhaps the Gopis like a devotee waiting eagerly to get the attention of Lord Krishna. The song starts with addressing Krishna as Nari Nayan Chakora. Like the Chakora bird feeds on the beams of the moon, so does Krishna enjoy the attention coming from the moon-like eyes of the Gopis.
And yet this child is Purandara literally meaning 'destroyer of cities' ( Pura - cities + Dara - derived from Dhr that means destroyer which could refer to the asura cities destroyed by Shri Vishnu) and destroyer of materialistic thoughts housed in this mortal body.
The song builds up with the devotee eagerly calling on Krishna lovingly. Like a child, he first approaches cautiously one step at a time but the devotee is eager and implores him to come quickly. Towards the end, Krishna fulfills the devotee's desire by coming over to her.
नारी नयन चकोरा (२)
योरे पोरा आम्गेल घरा पुरंदरा
योरे योरे तू नंदकुमारा
हळू हळू पाव्ला पाव्लारी तश्शी नान्ता ज्योती दिव्लेरी
तरी योरे योरे धांव्तरी
तुगेल् रूपान् रायु आम्गेलो आय्लो श्री हरी आय्लो श्री हरी
देवकी पुत्र सुंदरा यशोदेने पोश्शीले पोरा
हाँव लाय्ता तुक्का श्रीधरा (३)
मोगान् येव्नु बेस्लो श्री हरी मेग्गेले पाय्यारी
योरे पोरा आम्गेल घरा पुरंदरा
nārī nayana cakorā (2)
yore porā āmgela gharā puraṁdarā
yore yore tū naṁdakumārā
haḻū haḻū pāvlā pāvlārī taśśī nāntā jyotī divlerī
tarī yore yore dhāṁvtarī
tugel rūpān rāyu āmgelo āylo śrī harī āylo śrī harī
devakī putra suṁdarā yaśodene pośśīle porā
hām̐va lāytā tukkā śrīdharā (3)
mogān yevnu beslo śrī harī meggele pāyyārī
yore porā āmgela gharā puraṁdarā
Oh the one attracted like the chakora bird to the moon-like eyes of a lady
Come over O child O Purandara to our house
So please come O son of Nanda
You are approaching very slowly one step at a time moving like the flame slowly dancing on a lamp
So please come running
In your form, Shri Hari has come to our house
O beautiful Son of Devaki raised by Yashoda
Let me feed you Sridhara (the one who holds Shri Lakshmi and the blessings of material wealth that she bestows)
Lovingly, Hari has come and sat on my lap
Come over O child O Purandara to our house