ರಚನೆ: ಶ್ರೀ ಪುರಂದರದಾಸರು
ಆದದ್ದೆಲ್ಲ ಒಳಿತೆ ಆಯಿತು ನಮ್ಮ
ಶ್ರೀಧರ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧನ ಸಂಪತ್ತಾಯಿತು;
ದಂಡಿಗೆ ಬೆತ್ತ ಹಿಡಿಯೊದಕ್ಕೆ
ಮಂಡೆ ಮಾಚಿ ನಾಚುತಲಿದ್ದೆ
ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಸಂತತಿ ಸಾವಿರವಾಗಲಿ
ದಂಡಿಗೆ ಬೆತ್ತ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳಯ್ಯ
ಗೋಪಾಳ ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ಹಿಡಿಯೊದಕ್ಕೆ
ಭೂಪತಿಯಂತೆ ಗರ್ವಿಸುತಿದ್ದೆ
ಆ ಪತ್ನೀ ಕುಲ ಸಾವಿರವಾಗಲಿ
ಗೋಪಾಳ ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳಯ್ಯ
ತುಳಸಿ ಮಾಲೆ ಹಾಕುವುದಕ್ಕೆ
ಅರಸನಂತೆ ನಾಚುತಲಿದ್ದೆ
ಸರಸಿಜಾಕ್ಷ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಠಲ
ತುಳಸಿ ಮಾಲೆ ಹಾಕಿಸಿದನಯ್ಯ
Transliteration
Adadella olite ayitu namma
Shridhara seva maadalu sadhana sampattayitu.
Dandige betta hidiyodakke
Mande maachi naachutalidde
Hendati santati saavira vaagali
Dandige betta hidisidalayya.
Gopala butti hidiyodakke
Bhoopatiyante garvisutidde
Aa patni kula saavira vaagali
Gopala butti hidisidalayya.
Tulasi maale haakuvudakke
Arasanante naachutalidde
Sarasijaaksha Purandara Vittala
Tulasi maale haakisidanayya.
Translation
Everything turned out well for us,
As we gained the resources to serve Lord Shridhara.
To hold the staff for cattle herding,
I felt ashamed, bowing my head.
May the lineage of the wife who made me hold the staff
Grow into thousands!
To carry the Gopala’s pot,
I walked with pride, like a king.
May the lineage of the wife who made me carry the pot
Flourish into thousands!
To wear the Tulasi garland,
I hesitated, like a king feeling embarrassed.
But Sarasijaaksha (the lotus-eyed one), Purandara Vittala,
Made me wear the Tulasi garland.
Explanation
This song by Purandara Dasa conveys humility, gratitude, and transformation in the devotee’s life. The poet narrates how divine intervention turned mundane tasks into spiritually significant actions. Through the metaphors of holding a herding staff, carrying Gopala’s pot, and wearing the sacred Tulasi garland, he reflects on overcoming pride, shame, and hesitation to embrace devotion wholeheartedly. The refrain glorifies Lord Purandara Vittala (a form of Lord Vishnu) as the enabler of these transformations, emphasizing the sanctity of devotion in daily life.
This composition can be interpreted as a reflection on Purandara Dasa’s wife, Saraswatamma, and her significant role in his transformation. According to Purandara Dasa’s life story, Saraswatamma played a pivotal role in inspiring him to embrace devotion and renounce his materialistic ways. This keerthane aligns with the narrative of how her influence led him to recognize the futility of pride, material possessions, and worldly arrogance, encouraging him to surrender completely to Lord Vishnu.