nidhi cAla sukhamA

kalyANi mizra cApu tyAgarAja telugu kRti

Sahityam

Pallavi

nidhi cAla sukhamA
rAmuni sannidhi sEva sukhamA
nijamuga palku manasA\t\t

Is [possessing] wealth a greater pleasure or is service in Rama’s presence a greater pleasure? Answer me truthfully, O Mind!

Anupallavi

dadhi navanIta kSIramulu ruciyO¹
dAzarathi dhyAna bhajana sudhA rasamu ruciyO

Show Word Meanings

Are curds, butter and milk more tasty? Or, is the nectarine essence of meditation on and bhajana of Dasaratha’s son more tasty?

Charanam

dama zamamanu² gaGgA snAnamu sukhamA
kardama durviSaya kUpa snAnamu sukhamA
mamatA 3 bandhana yuta nara stuti sukhamA
sumati⁴ tyAgarAja nutuni kIrtana sukhamA

Show Word Meanings

Is a bath in the Ganga of self control and tranquility more comforting? Or, is a bath in the well of evil sense-objects comforting? Is extolling of humans fettered in egotism comforting, or is singing on the pure-minded Lord praised by Thyagaraja comforting?

Renditions

Variations

¹ ruciyO – rucO
³ mamata – mamatA

References

² dama zama – Six Virtues – SaDguNa sampat – zama - dama - titikSa - samAdhAna - uparati - zraddha :control upon his own mind - control upon his physical body - forbearence for the odds and evens of the nature - equanimity of all beings and having a sympathetic mind - indifference with a Sakshi type of mind - sincere adherence to the words of Guru and Sastras, by word and deed. [[http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/2005-January/014664.html Shadguna]]

Commentary

⁴ sumati – this epithet may be applied to Sri Thyagaraja also.