ఆముక్త మాల్యద - తెలుగదేల యన్న
Amukta Malyada

A Story Begins Thus

Sri Krishna Devarayalu has been praised as andhra bhoja and saahitee samaraangana saarvabhouma, i.e., equally skillful in literary and military prowess. Amukta malyada is the only prabandha to be composed by him in Telugu. During a military campaign, while he camped on the banks of Krishna River, Srikaakula Andhra Deva, the Vishnu deity presiding at Srikakulam (in what is now Krishna District, not to be confused with the northeast coastal district of the same name) came to him in a dream and commanded him thus:

ఉ. ఎన్నిను గూర్తునన్న వినుమేమును దాల్చినమాల్య మిచ్చున
ప్పిన్నది రంగంమం దయిన పెండిలి సెప్పుము మున్ను గొంటి నే
వన్నన దండ యొక్క మగవాడిడ నేను దెలుంగు రాయడన్
గన్నడ రాయ యక్కొదువ గప్పు ప్రియా పరిభుక్త భాక్కథన్.

If you ask which of my stories you should tell - you know about the young damsel who used to wear the garlands first and then used to offer them to me - you know how I married her in Srirangam; you know, once (in Krishna incarnation) I had to accept a garland from a male devotee (a garland maker called Sudama) though I was averse to do so. You must cover up this shortcoming by telling the story of how I accepted (as Sri Ranganatha) with pleasure the garlands used by my sweetheart, O Lord of Kannada, I am the Telugu Lord.

ఆ. తెలుగదేల యన్న దేశంబు తెలు గేను
దెలుగు వల్లభుండ దెలుగొకండ
యెల్ల నృపులు గొలువ నెరుగవే బాసాడి
దేశభాషలందు దెలుగు లెస్స

You may ask why I instruct you to compose particularly in Telugu (because you are very adept in Samskritam, you may think writing in Telugu is not so great) - I tell you - this is Telugu land, and I am the Telugu Lord, and then Telugu is the only one (without comparison). Haven't you been speaking multiple languages, as you are worshipped by kings from all over - you should know that Telugu is the greatest among all languages!

క. అంకితమో యన నీకల
వేంకటపతి యిష్టమైన వేల్పగుట దదీ
యాంకితము సేయు మొక్కొక
సంకేతమ కాకతడ రసన్నేగానే.

You may ask to whom should I dedicate this work - As Sri Venkateswara is your favorite deity, so you may dedicate this poem to him (eventhough you compose it at my command). After all, aren't he and I one and the same, differing only in name?

Note that the Telugu Lord speaks only in pure Telugu (accha telugu, jaanu tenugu), without a trace of Samskritam.

Thus commanded, Sri Krishna Devarayalu composed a most delightful creative poem in six chapters, to narrate the story of Amukta Malyada - (literally) the lady who offered garlands after wearing them, i.e., Goda Devi (aka Andal, Chudikuditta Nanchari, the only female among the 12 Alwars). Goda is the adopted daughter of another Alwar, Vishnuchitta (aka Periyaalwar) - therefore, this poem is also known as Vishnuchitteeyamu.

An interesting story from Amukta Malyada starting with next post.