duDukugala

Tyagaraja laments squandering the rare gift of human birth on the pursuit of comfort, fame, and other mundane objects, instead of striving for Supreme Bliss. With poignant self-reproach, he regrets that no princeling can now restore the lifetime he has lost.

Lamenting Tyagaraja
duDukugala nannE
dora-koDuku brOcurA, yentO
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Which princeling can save
one as steeped in folly as I?
kaDu durviSayA-kRSTuDai
gaDiya gaDiyaku niNDAru (duDuku)
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Drawn to all that is vile,
With every moment soaked in foolishness.
zrI-vanitA-hRdkumudAbja
vAG-mAnasA-gOcara
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O moon, who blooms the heart-lily of Lakshmi!
One beyond words and mind!
sakala bhUtamulayandu nIvai
yuNDaga madilEka pOyina (duDuku)
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Can anyone save me, who lacked the wisdom to see
That you reside in every living soul?
ciruta prAyamuna nADE bhajanAmRta
rasavihIna kutarkuDaina (duDuku)
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Who can save me, a sophist lost,
Deprived of the nectar of Bhajana from my youth?
paradhanamula koraku
norula madi-karaga baliki
kaDupu nimpa tiriginaTTi (duDuku)
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Can anyone save me, who, spoke to stir people’s hearts,
just to partake of their wealth, And wandered only to sate one’s hunger?
tana madini bhuvini saukhyapu jIvaname
yanucu sadA dinamulu gaDipE
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Can anyone save me, who bides time,
Believing life on Earth is but a pursuit of comforts?
teliyani naTa-viTa kSudrulu vanitalu
swavazamauTa-kupadEziJci santasilli
swaralayambu-leruGgakanu zilAtmuDai
subhaktulaku samAnamanu (duDuku)
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Can anyone save me, who preached to entice
Ignorant dancers and philanderers, vile men and women,
And found joy in such deeds;
A stone-hearted soul, unversed in melody or rhythm,
Yet deeming himself equal to the great devotees?
dRSTiki sArambagu lalanA sadanArbhaka
sEnA-mita dhanAdulanu dEvAdhideva
nera nammitini gAkanu
padAbja bhajanambu maracina
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Can anyone save me, who placed trust in good-looking women,
in houses teeming with children
And boundless wealth, O god of gods;
And who, moreover, forgot to sing
The glories of your lotus feet.
cakkani mukha kamalambunanu
sadA nA madilo smaraNa-lekanE
durmadAndha janula kOri
paritApamulacE tagili nogili
durviSaya durAzalanu rOyalEka
satatama-parAdhinai capala cittuDaina
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Can anyone save me, who failed to hold
Your radiant lotus-face in constant thought,
Who sought the arrogant and fell into their snare,
Lamenting, bound by vile desires,
Fickle of mind, an eternal transgressor?
mAnava tanu durlabhamanucu neJci
paramAnanda-monda lEka
mada matsara kAma lObha mOhulaku
dAsuDai mOsa-bOti gAka
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Failing to grasp the rarity of human birth,
And turning away from the pursuit of Supreme Bliss,
I became a thrall to arrogance, jealousy, lust,
Greed, and delusion—and brought about my own ruin.
modaTi kulajuDagucu bhuvini
zUdrula panulu salpucunuNTini gAka
narAdhamulanu kOri sAra-hIna
matamulanu sAdhimpa tAru-mAru (duDuku)
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Though born into the first Varna,
I lived the deeds of the fourth.
Who can save me, who erred on every side,
Seeking the lowest of beings,
And striving to uphold doctrines devoid of truth?
satulakai konnALLAstikai
sutulakai konnALLu dhana-
tatulakai tirigitinaiya
tyAgarAjApta yiTuvaNTi (duDuku)
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I wandered about, seeking a wife, then pursuing wealth,
Then raising children, and lingering among the rich,
I squandered my lifetime, O friend of Tyagaraja!
Who can save me, immersed in such folly!