Jagadoddharana
ಜಗದೋದ್ಧಾರನ
Jagadoddharana, also known by its opening Adisidaleshoda, is a devaranama by Purandara Dasa about Yashoda playing with the infant Krishna. It is one of the most loved Kannada compositions in Carnatic concerts.
- Written by
- Purandara Dasa (died 1564)
- Music
- Purandara Dasa
- Raga
- Kapi
- In the video
- M. S. Subbulakshmi
- Context
- Devaranama of Purandara Dasa on Yashoda and the child Krishna
- Year
- 16th century
- Language
- Kannada
Jagadoddharana lyrics with English translation
Text as on Kannada Wikisource (bold formatting removed).
ಆಡಿಸಿದಳೆಶೋದಾ ಜಗದೋದ್ಧಾರನ
Adisidaleshoda jagadoddharana
Yashoda played with the uplifter of the world.
ಜಗದೋದ್ಧಾರನ ಮಗನೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುತ ಮಗುಗಳ ಮಾಣಿಕ್ಯನ ಆಡಿಸಿದಳೆಶೋದಾ
Jagadoddharana maganendu tiliyuta Magugala manikyana adisidaleshoda
Thinking of the uplifter of the world as her own son, Yashoda played with the jewel among children.
ನಿಗಮಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕದ ಅಗಣಿತ ಮಹಿಮನ ಸುಗುಣಾಂತ ರಂಗನ ಆಡಿಸಿದಳೆಶೋದಾ
Nigamake silukada aganita mahimana Sugunanta rangana adisidaleshoda
The one of countless glories whom the Vedas cannot grasp, Ranga, the home of every virtue; Yashoda played with him.
ಅಣೋರಣೀಯನ ಮಹತೋಮಹೀಯನ ಅಪ್ರಮೇಯನ ಆಡಿಸಿದೆಳೆಶೋದಾ
Anoraniyana mahatomahiyana Aprameyana adisideleshoda
The one smaller than the smallest, greater than the greatest, the immeasurable one; Yashoda played with him.
ಪರಮ ಪುರುಷನ ಪರವಾಸು ದೇವನ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ ಆಡಿಸಿದಳೆಶೋದಾ
Parama purushana paravasu devana Purandara vitthalana adisidaleshoda
The Supreme Person, the supreme Vasudeva, Purandara Vittala; Yashoda played with him.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Jagadoddharana
Purandara Dasa (1484-1564), the Haridasa saint of the Vijayanagara era, wrote thousands of songs in simple Kannada so that ordinary people could sing the praises of Vishnu. Many of them, like this one, look at Krishna through the eyes of those who loved him as a child.
Kannada Wikisource gives the song in raga Kapi and Adi tala. M. S. Subbulakshmi's rendition made it a staple of the concert stage, and it has since been sung by many vocalists and played by instrumentalists. The title phrase was also borrowed for a Kannada film song in the 2010s; the text here is Purandara Dasa's original only.
What Jagadoddharana means
The song rests on a single wonder repeated in every line: Yashoda played with him. The one she rocked and fondled was the uplifter of the whole world, the one the Vedas cannot grasp, smaller than the smallest atom and greater than the greatest, the immeasurable Supreme Person.
Yashoda knows him simply as her son, the jewel among children, and that is exactly what moves the poet. The infinite God allows himself to be held and played with by a loving mother. The song invites listeners to approach the divine in the same intimate way, with affection rather than fear, and its closing line names the child as Purandara Vittala, the poet's own form of Vishnu.
Quick facts
- Kannada Wikisource lists the song in raga Kapi and Adi tala.
- Its opening line is Adisidaleshoda jagadoddharana, "Yashoda played with the uplifter of the world".
- The phrase anoraniyan mahato mahiyan echoes the Upanishadic description of the Self as smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest.
- M. S. Subbulakshmi's recording is among the best-known versions.