Guruvina Gulama

Kannada lyrics with meaning · composed by Purandara Dāsa · devaranama · 15 verses

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Also available in: Devanagari Roman (IAST)

ಗುರುವಿನ ಗುಲಾಮನಾಗುವ ತನಕ

ಗುರುವಿನ ಗುಲಾಮನಾಗುವ ತನಕ

guruvina gulāmanāguva tanaka

Until you become the servant of a guru,

Verse 2 — ದೊರೆಯದಣ್ಣ ಮುಕುತಿ

ದೊರೆಯದಣ್ಣ ಮುಕುತಿ

dòrèyadaṇṇa mukuti

liberation is not to be had, brother.

Verse 3 — ಪರಿ ಪರಿ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನೋದಿದರೇನು

ಪರಿ ಪರಿ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನೋದಿದರೇನು

pari pari śāstravanodidarenu

What use is it to read scripture upon scripture,

Verse 4 — ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾಯ್ತು ಭಕುತಿ

ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾಯ್ತು ಭಕುತಿ

vyarthavāytu bhakuti

if your devotion has all gone to waste?

Verse 5 — ಆರು ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವ ಓದಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಆರು ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವ ಓದಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

āru śāstrava odidarilla

It is not won by reading the six śāstras,

Verse 6 — ಮೂರು ಪುರಾಣವ ಮುಗಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಮೂರು ಪುರಾಣವ ಮುಗಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

mūru purāṇava mugisidarilla

nor by getting through the purāṇas,

Verse 7 — ಸಾರ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಕೇಳಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಸಾರ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಕೇಳಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

sāra nyāya kathègal̤a kel̤idarilla

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

Verse 8 — ಧೀರನಾಗಿ ತಾ ಪೇಳಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಧೀರನಾಗಿ ತಾ ಪೇಳಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

dhīranāgi tā pel̤idarilla

nor by boldly expounding them oneself;

Verse 9 — ಕೊರಳೊಳು ಮಾಲೆ ಧರಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಕೊರಳೊಳು ಮಾಲೆ ಧರಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

kòral̤òl̤u mālè dharisidarilla

not by wearing a bead-garland at the neck,

Verse 10 — ಬೆರಳೊಳು ಜಪಮಣಿ ಎಣಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಬೆರಳೊಳು ಜಪಮಣಿ ಎಣಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

bèral̤òl̤u japamaṇi èṇisidarilla

nor by telling rosary beads on the fingers;

Verse 11 — ಮರುಳನಾಗಿ ಶರೀರಕೆ ಬೂದಿ

ಮರುಳನಾಗಿ ಶರೀರಕೆ ಬೂದಿ

marul̤anāgi śarīrakè būdi

not by smearing the body with ash like a madman

Verse 12 — ಒರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ತಾ ತಿರುಗಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಒರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ತಾ ತಿರುಗಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

òrèsikòṃḍu tā tirugidarilla

and roaming about;

Verse 13 — ನಾರಿಯ ಭೋಗ ಅಳಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ನಾರಿಯ ಭೋಗ ಅಳಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

nāriya bhoga al̤isidarilla

not by renouncing the pleasures of women,

Verse 14 — ಶಾರೀರಿಕ ಸುಖವ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

ಶಾರೀರಿಕ ಸುಖವ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದರಿಲ್ಲ

śārīrika sukhava biḍisidarilla

nor by forgoing every bodily comfort —

Verse 15 — ನಾರದವರದ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ

ನಾರದವರದ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ

nāradavarada puraṃdara viṭhṭhalana

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

Verse 16 — ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡು ತಾ ಪಡೆಯುವ ತನಕ

ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡು ತಾ ಪಡೆಯುವ ತನಕ

serikòṃḍu tā paḍèyuva tanaka

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

About Guruvina Gulama

Guruvina Gulama is a Kannada devaranama, composed by Purandara Dāsa, addressed to Vishnu — a Devaranama. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, 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 Gulama and what does it mean?

Guruvina Gulama is a Kannada devaranama (devotional hymn), composed by Purandara Dāsa, addressed to Vishnu, of 15 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 Gulama correctly?

Avabodhak presents Guruvina Gulama in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada 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 Gulama?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Guruvina Gulama 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 Gulama?

Guruvina Gulama is attributed to Purandara Dāsa.

In which scripts can I read Guruvina Gulama?

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

Can I chant or practice Guruvina Gulama online?

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