Is this sweet babe
The bright crescent moon, or the charming flower of the lotus,
The honey in a flower, or the lustre of the full moon,
A pure coral gem, or the pleasant chatter of parrots,
A dancing peacock, or a sweet singing bird,
A bounding young deer, or a bright shining swan,
A treasure from God, or the pet parrot in the hands of Iswari
The tender leaf of the Kalpa tree, or the fruit of my tree of fortune,
A golden casket to enclose the jewel of my love,
Nectar in my sight, or a light to dispel darkness,
The seed of my climbing fame, or a never fading bright pearl,
The brilliance of the sun to dispel all gloom of misery,
The Vedas in a casket, or the melodious Veena (Musical instrument) ,
The lovely blossom put forth by the stout branch of my tree of enjoyment,
A cluster of pichaka buds, or a sugar-candy sweet on the tongue,
The fragrance of musk, the best of all good,
The breeze laden with the scent of flowers, or the essence of purest Gold,
A bowl of fresh milk, or the sweetest smelling rose-water,
The field of all virtue, or an abode of all duty,
A cup of thirst quenching cold water, or a sheltering shade,
A never-falling Mallika flower or my own stored up wealth,
The auspicious object of my gaze, or my most precious jewel,
A stream of virtuous beauty, or an image of the youthful Krishna,
The bright forehead mark of the Goddess Lakshmi,
Or, by the mercy Padmanabha, Is it the source of my future happiness,
Is it, in this beautiful form, an Avatar of Krishna himself?
~a lullaby by Irayimman Thampi circa 18th century, written in the language of Malayalam for infant Swati Tirunal, later became the Maharaja of Travancore. Even now, it is the most popular lullaby in Malayalam. This lullaby is translated by some great soul, my salutations to Him.
