ಅಂಬಿಗ ನಾ ನಿನ್ನ ನಂಬಿದೆ
ಜಗದಂಬರಮಣನ ನಂಬಿದೆ
ತುಂಬಿದ ಹರಿಗೋಲಂಬಿಗ
ಅದಕ್ಕೊಂಬತ್ತು ಛಿದ್ರವು ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಿಂ ನೋಡಂಬಿಗ
ಅದರಿಂಬು ನೋಡಿ ನಡೆಸಂಬಿಗ
ಹೊಳೆಯ ಭರವ ನೋಡಂಬಿಗ
ಅದಕೆ ಸೆಳೆವು ಘನವಯ್ಯ ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಸುಳಿಯೊಳು ಮುಳುಗಿದೆ ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಎನ್ನ ಸೆಳೆದು ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ಯೊ ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಆರು ತೆರೆಯ ನೋಡಂಬಿಗ
ಅದು ಮೀರಿ ಬರುತಿದೆ ನೋಡಂಬಿಗ
ಯಾರಿಂದಲಾಗದು ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಅದ ನಿವಾರಿಸಿ ದಾಟಿಸೊ ಅಂಬಿಗ
ಸತ್ಯವೆಂಬುದೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಂಬಿಗ
ಸದಾ ಭಕ್ತಿಯೆಂಬುದೆ ಪಥವಂಬಿಗ
ನಿತ್ಯಮೂರುತಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ
ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಮಂಟಪಕೊಯ್ಯೊ ಅಂಬಿಗ
Transliteration:
Pallavi:
Ambiga naa ninna nambide
Jagadambaramaṇana nambide
Charana 1:
Tumbida harigola ambiga
Adakkoṃbattu chidravu ambiga
Sambhramadim nōḍa ambiga
Adarimbu nōḍi nāḍesa ambiga
Charana 2:
Hoḷeya bharava nōḍa ambiga
Adake seḷevo ghanavayya ambiga
Suḷiyoḷu muḷugide ambiga
Enna seḷedu koṇḍoyyo ambiga
Charana 3:
Āru tereya nōḍa ambiga
Adu mīri barutide nōḍa ambiga
Yārindāgadu ambiga
Ada nivārisi dāṭiso ambiga
Charana 4:
Satyaveṃbude huṭṭa ambiga
Sadā bhaktiyeṃbude pathava ambiga
Nityamūrti namma Purandara Vittalana
Muktipaṃṭapakoḍyo ambiga
Translation:
Pallavi:
O Boatman, I place my faith in You!
I trust You, who is the Lord of the universe and consort of Lakshmi.
Charana 1:
The boat is full, O Boatman, and it has nine holes!
Examine it joyfully and steer it with wisdom.
Charana 2:
See how strong the river’s current is, O Boatman!
It pulls mightily, and I am sinking in the whirlpool.
Save me and carry me across, O Boatman!
Charana 3:
Look at the six waves, O Boatman!
They are surging and crossing their bounds.
No one else can save me but You—
Quell them and ferry me across, O Boatman!
Charana 4:
Truth is the foundation, O Boatman,
And devotion is the eternal path.
Grant me liberation in the hall of freedom,
O Boatman, who is none other than Purandara Vittala—the eternal Murti!
Significance:
This song is a poignant metaphor, likening the soul’s journey through life’s challenges to crossing a turbulent river in a fragile boat. The “Boatman” is a divine guide—Lord Vishnu—whose grace and wisdom are essential to navigate the currents of samsara (worldly existence). The song emphasizes faith, truth, and devotion as the path to liberation. It beautifully conveys the surrender of a devotee to God’s will.