The following is the 4th in a series of articles originally produced on GalaxyFarAway.com in the fall of 1999, coinciding with the release of Star Wars Episode I in India.
Duel of the Fates: Sanskrit Lyrics
Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Rahtamah Yoodhah Korah
Korah Syahdho Rahtahmah Daanyah
Korah Keelah Daanyah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah
Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah
Source : The Sheet Music for Duel of the Fates
What does it mean?
According to John Williams in his interview to the Star Wars Insider, the inspiration for the theme of DOTF was an old Celtic poem called ‘CAD GODDEU - The Battle of the Trees’. From the nine words used in the Sanskrit version it is evident that the entire poem has not been translated. The actual poem spans many pages. But a little knowledge of Sanskrit allows me to make the speculation that a general meaning might be ‘All the dread is mainly in the head’. This, to a certain extent, matches a line of the original poem, which says "Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging, behind, in the head." Make what you want of it.
This story was originally sent to TheForce.net by DevanJedi of GalaxyFarAway.com
One reply on “Star Wars in India: The Duel of the Fates Lyrics and Sanskirt Meaning”
is that from sanskrit (sansakerta)?
i try copy and paste it in http://translate.google.com/ with “detect language >> English … and the result is nothing ;P hehehhe