Saugandhika - the Fragrance of Love

Saugandhika Pushpam

-Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao

This is an excuisite composition in a Ragamalika, which talks about Bheema's journey to bring some beautiful flowers which Draupadi had asked for. It doesn't go into the details, just the outline. I have tried by best to translate as much as I understood.

Please forgive me if I misread/mistranslate anything. 😳

The story goes:

The wind blows on fragrant flower unto Draupadi while the Pandavas were resting around the Gandhamadana hill. Draupadi is entranced by it and begs Bheema to get her more of these. Following the wind, Bheema sets out to fulfil her wish.

Enroute, he finds an old monkey obstructing the narrow path that he has to follow. When Bheem asks him to move, the monkey says that he's too weak and asks Bheema to jump over him. Bheema refuses. Then the monkey asks Bheema to just move his tail and shrink through. Bheema in his ahankara about his strength tries to life that tail by one hand. He fails. He fails even after putting in all his strength. Finally, he gives up. As soon as he gives in, the monkey gets up and reveals himself to be Bheema's biological brother Pavan-putra Hanumana. They both reconcile and Hanumana directs him to Kuber's garden on Aadi-Gandhamadana, where this flower could be found.

Upon reaching the garden, Bheema kills all of the guards/yakshas and almost finishes off Kubera's entire army. At last, Kubera gives in and Bheema takes a bunch of those flowers and satisfies Draupadi.

(It is here that Hanumana promises Bheema that he will always be close to him, by adorning the flag atop Arjun-Krishna's chariot)

Himagiri Saundarya Hela Vilaasam |

Bheema Draupadi Bhavya-Sringaara Vaasam ||

Before (overlooking) the snow-clad mountains, they played,

Bheema and Draupadi, the game of Sringara (love).

Ni Da Ma Ga Ma Ni Da Ma Ga Ri Sa Ni Sa

Da Sa Ma Ga Ri Ga Ma Da Ma Ni Da Ma Ga Ma Ni Da Ma Ga Ri Sa Ni Sa

Ni Sa Ma Ga Ri Ga Ma Da Ma Ni Ni Ni Ni Sa Ni Ni Ni Ga Re Sa Ni Ga Ri Sa Sa Ni Da Ma Ma Ga Ma Ni

Sa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ma Sa Ni Da Ma Sa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ni

Ga Ri Sa Ni Sa Sa Ni Da Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Ni Ni

Himagiri Saundarya Hela Vilaasam |

Bheema Draupadi Bhavya-Sringaara Vaasam ||

Vanaparva Paryatana Manasija-aanandam |

Vanaja-patra-ekshana Vanchha-arvindam ||

As in the section of Vana (Parva), while they (Pandavas and Draupadi) wandered, the one born from the mind (of Vishnu, Kaamdeva) was exalted,

The one with eyes like a forest-lotus (Draupadi) expressed her want for a lotus.

Suman-o-gya Sundaram Saugandha-kusumam |

Anala-ja Prarthayathi Asamaana Bheem-am ||

Better in all aspects than any other flower, the fragrant Saugandhika-lotus, did the

Fire-born lady asked of the inimitable Bheemasena!

Sa Ri Ni Sa Da Ni Sa Ni Da Pa Ma Re Ga Ma Ni Da Ni

Sa Ni Da Ni Sa Sa Ri Ni Sa Da Ni Sa Ni Da Pa Ma Re Ga Ma Ni Da Ni

Sa Ni Da Ni Sa Ni Da Ni Ri Ga Ma Da Ri Sa Ni Da Ma Ga Ri Sa

Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ga Ma Pa Da Ni

Ga Ri Sa Ni Da Sa Ni Da Pa Ma Ri Ga Ma Da Ni

Vanaparva Paryatana Manasija-aanandam ||

Gandhamaadan Giram Langhati Vrikodara-ha |

Marga-avarodhena Pashyati Tam-sahodara-ha ||

While attempting to cross the mighty hill of Gandhamaadana, the one with fire in his stomach (Bheema)

Came across his brother (Hanumana), who obstructed his path.

Pulaka-agra Parirambha Aashlishta Bahu-hu |

Yuga-yugantara Janita Punya-metyahu-hu ||

Thus began a game of Pulaka (a prank) by the one with arms strong as lightning (Hanumana),

Hearing of which shall bestow Yugas' worth of punyah on the listener.

Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ni Da Pa Da Ni Ri

Da Ri Sa Ni Da Pa Ma Ga Ri Ga Pa

Da Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ri Ga Pa Da Sa Ri Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri Da Pa Da Ni Ri

Pa Ni Sa Ri Da Pa Ma Ga Ri Ga Pa

Da Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ri Ga Pa Da Sa Ri Ga Ni

Da Ri Sa Ni Da Ri Sa Ga Ri Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri Ga Pa Da Pa

Ga Ri Sa Ni Da Ni Sa Ri Ga Pa Ma Ga Pa Sa

Gandhamaadan Giram Langhati Vrikodara-ha ||

Dhana-pati Parijana-a-parivritam Nandanam |

Tatra Pashyati Bheema-o Aadi-gandhamaadanam ||

At last in the Nandan-garden of the Lord of Wealth (Kubera), surrounded by well-wishers [guards/yakshas],

entered Bheemasena, which [hill on which garden is present] was also called the Aadi (Old) Gandhamaadan.

Saugandhikaa-kusuma Pariplutya Sanchayam |

Shata-patra-sundari Puraskritya Vijayam ||

A number of saugandhika flowers did he [Bheema] gathered, to the content of his heart,

And unto the lady as beautiful as a lotus with a thousand petals (Draupadi) he bestowed the credit for his victory (in bringing the flowers).

OR

And the lady as beautiful as a lotus with a thousand petals (Draupadi) felicitated his victory with love.

Himagiri Saundarya Hela Vilaasam |

Bheema Draupadi Bhavya-Sringaara Vaasam ||

Here's a link where this composition has been beautifully presented through Bharatanatyam:

Saugandhika Pushpam - An episode from Mahabharatha - Sridevi Nrithyalaya - Bharathanatyam Dance