rUkalu padi vElu
Sahityam
Pallavi
rUkalu padi vElunna jEreDu¹
nUkalu gati kAni O manasA
Show Word Meanings
nUkalu gati kAni O manasA
O My Mind! Even if one has thousands of rupees, isn’t it only one measure of broken rice all that one needs (for meals)?
Anupallavi
kOkalu veyyunna kaTTu-
konuTak²okaTi kAni O manasA (rUkalu)
Show Word Meanings
konuTak²okaTi kAni O manasA (rUkalu)
O My Mind! Even if one has a thousand garments, isn’t it only one (cloth) for wearing (at a time)?
Charanam
UrElina tA paNDuTa³
mUDu mUra⁴ tAvu kAni
nUru bhakSaNamulabbina-
yentO nOTikanta kAni-
yEru niNDuga pArina
pAtraku tagu nIru vaccu kAni
sArataruni harini tyAgarAja
sannutuni maravakE manasA (rUkalu)
Show Word Meanings
mUDu mUra⁴ tAvu kAni
nUru bhakSaNamulabbina-
yentO nOTikanta kAni-
yEru niNDuga pArina
pAtraku tagu nIru vaccu kAni
sArataruni harini tyAgarAja
sannutuni maravakE manasA (rUkalu)
Even if one rules over the entire town, isn’t only in three cubits of space that one lies down? even if a hundred varieties of food-items are got, isn’t it only as much of a mouthful that one can have at a time? even if the river flows to the brim, isn’t it only as much water can be fetched (at a time) as that of the vessel? therefore, O my mind, do not forget the most excellent Lord - Lord Hari well-praised by this Thyagaraja.
Variations
- 2 okaTi kAni – okaTE kAni
Commentary
- 1 jEreDu – Before introduction of decimal system of measure in India, Padi, Seer etc were in vogue. The capacity of these measures varied in different parts of India. In Tamil Nadu, a Padi was equal to about 1.2 kg and a Seer is one-fourth of a Padi. However, as per Standard weights and measures, a Seer is equivalent to 933 grams.
- 3 paNDuTa – though this generally means ‘lie down’, ‘death’ is also implied here.
- 4 mUra – length of fore-arm – a cubit - approx 18 inches.