Donku Balada Nayakare

Roman (IAST) lyrics with meaning · composed by Purandara Dāsaru · devaranama · 14 verses

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Also available in: Devanagari Kannada Telugu Tamil

donku balada nayakare

donku balada nayakare

Verse 1 — ḍòṃku bālada nāyakarè

ḍòṃku bālada nāyakarè

O leaders with crooked tails (like curly-tailed dogs),

Verse 2 — nīvenūṭava māḍuviri

nīvenūṭava māḍuviri

what sort of feast do you imagine you make?

Verse 3 — kaṇaka kuṭṭo alligè hogi

kaṇaka kuṭṭo alligè hogi

You slink to where the dough is pounded,

Verse 4 — haṇaki iṇaki noḍuviri

haṇaki iṇaki noḍuviri

and peer and pry all about;

Verse 5 — kaṇaka kuṭṭo ònakèli baḍidarè

kaṇaka kuṭṭo ònakèli baḍidarè

and when the pounding pestle strikes you,

Verse 6 — kuṃyi kuṃyi rāgava māḍuviri

kuṃyi kuṃyi rāgava māḍuviri

you whimper a whining “kuñyi-kuñyi” tune.

Verse 7 — huggi māḍo alligè hogi

huggi māḍo alligè hogi

You slink to where the huggi is cooked,

Verse 8 — taggi baggi noḍuviri

taggi baggi noḍuviri

and stoop and crane to look;

Verse 9 — huggi māḍo sauṭali baḍidarè

huggi māḍo sauṭali baḍidarè

and when the cooking ladle strikes you,

Verse 10 — kuṃyi kuṃyi rāgava māḍuviri

kuṃyi kuṃyi rāgava māḍuviri

you whimper a whining “kuñyi-kuñyi” tune.

Verse 11 — hire bīdili oḍuviri

hire bīdili oḍuviri

You run about in the main street,

Verse 12 — kare bīdiyali hòral̤uviri

kare bīdiyali hòral̤uviri

and roll around in the side street;

Verse 13 — puraṃdara viṭhalarāyana ī pari

puraṃdara viṭhalarāyana ī pari

in just this manner, before Purandara Viṭhala the king,

Verse 14 — pridāṭadi sadā calisuviri

pridāṭadi sadā calisuviri

you forever carry on, roaming about in idle play.

About Donku Balada Nayakare

Donku Balada Nayakare is a Kannada devaranama, composed by Purandara Dāsaru, addressed to Vishnu — a Devaranama. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: Kannada Wikisource.

Revered as the Pitāmaha (grandfather) of Carnatic music and a foremost Haridasa saint of Karnataka; a disciple of Vyāsatīrtha who composed a vast number of Kannada devaranamas under the signature "Purandara Viṭhala".

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Frequently asked questions

What is Donku Balada Nayakare and what does it mean?

Donku Balada Nayakare is a Kannada devaranama (devotional hymn), composed by Purandara Dāsaru, addressed to Vishnu, of 14 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.

How do I pronounce Donku Balada Nayakare correctly?

Avabodhak presents Donku Balada Nayakare in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.

What is the word-by-word meaning of Donku Balada Nayakare?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Donku Balada Nayakare with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.

Who composed Donku Balada Nayakare?

Donku Balada Nayakare is attributed to Purandara Dāsaru.

In which scripts can I read Donku Balada Nayakare?

Donku Balada Nayakare is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.

Can I chant or practice Donku Balada Nayakare online?

Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Donku Balada Nayakare.