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Star Wars in India: The Duel of the Fates Lyrics and Sanskirt Meaning

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

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