nidhi cāla sukhamā
rāmuni sannidhi-sevā sukhamā
nijamuga palku manasā
dadhi-navanīta-kṣīramulu rucō
dāśarathi-dhyāna-bhajana-sudhā-rasamu rucō
dama-śamamanu-gaṅgā-snānamu sukhamā
kardama-durviṣaya-kūpa-snānamu sukhamā
mamatā-bandhana-yuta-nara-stuti sukhamā
sumati-tyāgarāja nutuni kīrtana sukhamā
I should begin by admitting I don’t actually know Telugu! However, the lyrics of Tyāgarāja use enough Sanskrit that I can usually figure out what’s going on. If I get something wrong, please tell me and I’ll change it.
This beautiful song, said to have been composed by Tyāgarāja in response to royal pressure, contrasts the pleasures of the material world with the pleasures of immersing oneself in the Divine (for Tyāgarāja, the form being Rāma in this case).
What’s the greater joy: wealth alone,
Or proximity and service to Rāma?
Tell me honestly, o Mind!
