Guruvina Gulāma

Devanagari lyrics with meaning · composed by Purandara Dāsa · devaranama · 16 verses

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Also available in: Roman (IAST)Kannada Telugu Tamil

गुरुविन गुलामनागुव तनक

गुरुविन गुलामनागुव तनक

guruvina gulāma

Verse 1 — गुरुविन गुलामनागुव तनक

गुरुविन गुलामनागुव तनक

guruvina gulāmanāguva tanaka

Until you become the servant of a guru,

Verse 2 — दॊरॆयदण्ण मुकुति

दॊरॆयदण्ण मुकुति

dòrèyadaṇṇa mukuti

liberation is not to be had, brother.

Verse 3 — परि परि शास्त्रवनोदिदरेनु

परि परि शास्त्रवनोदिदरेनु

pari pari śāstravanodidarenu

What use is it to read scripture upon scripture,

Verse 4 — व्यर्थवाय्तु भकुति

व्यर्थवाय्तु भकुति

vyarthavāytu bhakuti

if your devotion has all gone to waste?

Verse 5 — आरु शास्त्रव ओदिदरिल्ल

आरु शास्त्रव ओदिदरिल्ल

āru śāstrava odidarilla

It is not won by reading the six śāstras,

Verse 6 — मूरु पुराणव मुगिसिदरिल्ल

मूरु पुराणव मुगिसिदरिल्ल

mūru purāṇava mugisidarilla

nor by getting through the purāṇas,

Verse 7 — सार न्याय कथॆगळ केळिदरिल्ल

सार न्याय कथॆगळ केळिदरिल्ल

sāra nyāya kathègal̤a kel̤idarilla

nor by hearing the essence of nyāya and the sacred tales,

Verse 8 — धीरनागि ता पेळिदरिल्ल

धीरनागि ता पेळिदरिल्ल

dhīranāgi tā pel̤idarilla

nor by boldly expounding them oneself;

Verse 9 — कॊरळॊळु मालॆ धरिसिदरिल्ल

कॊरळॊळु मालॆ धरिसिदरिल्ल

kòral̤òl̤u mālè dharisidarilla

not by wearing a bead-garland at the neck,

Verse 10 — बॆरळॊळु जपमणि ऎणिसिदरिल्ल

बॆरळॊळु जपमणि ऎणिसिदरिल्ल

bèral̤òl̤u japamaṇi èṇisidarilla

nor by telling rosary beads on the fingers;

Verse 11 — मरुळनागि शरीरकॆ बूदि

मरुळनागि शरीरकॆ बूदि

marul̤anāgi śarīrakè būdi

not by smearing the body with ash like a madman

Verse 12 — ऒरॆसिकॊंडु ता तिरुगिदरिल्ल

ऒरॆसिकॊंडु ता तिरुगिदरिल्ल

òrèsikòṃḍu tā tirugidarilla

and roaming about;

Verse 13 — नारिय भोग अळिसिदरिल्ल

नारिय भोग अळिसिदरिल्ल

nāriya bhoga al̤isidarilla

not by renouncing the pleasures of women,

Verse 14 — शारीरिक सुखव बिडिसिदरिल्ल

शारीरिक सुखव बिडिसिदरिल्ल

śārīrika sukhava biḍisidarilla

nor by forgoing every bodily comfort —

Verse 15 — नारदवरद पुरंदर विठ्ठलन

नारदवरद पुरंदर विठ्ठलन

nāradavarada puraṃdara viṭhṭhalana

— not until you reach Purandara Viṭhala, boon-giver to Nārada,

Verse 16 — सेरिकॊंडु ता पडॆयुव तनक

सेरिकॊंडु ता पडॆयुव तनक

serikòṃḍu tā paḍèyuva tanaka

and win Him for your very own. (the poetʼs signature)

About Guruvina Gulāma

Guruvina Gulāma is a Kannada devaranama, composed by Purandara Dāsa, 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 Guruvina Gulāma and what does it mean?

Guruvina Gulāma is a Kannada devaranama (devotional hymn), composed by Purandara Dāsa, addressed to Vishnu, of 16 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 Guruvina Gulāma correctly?

Avabodhak presents Guruvina Gulāma 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 Guruvina Gulāma?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Guruvina Gulāma 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 Guruvina Gulāma?

Guruvina Gulāma is attributed to Purandara Dāsa.

In which scripts can I read Guruvina Gulāma?

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

Can I chant or practice Guruvina Gulāma online?

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