Muddugare Yashoda
ముద్దుగారే యశోద
Muddugare Yashoda is a sankirtana by Annamacharya that celebrates the child Krishna. Each line compares an episode of Krishna's life to one of the navaratnas, the nine precious gems of Indian tradition.
- Written by
- Annamacharya (died 1503)
- Music
- Annamacharya
- Raga
- Salanganata
- In the video
- Priya Sisters
- Context
- Sankirtana of Annamacharya comparing Krishna to the nine gems
- Year
- 15th century
- Language
- Telugu
Muddugare Yashoda lyrics with English translation
The source highlights the gem names in bold; the formatting is removed here.
ముద్దుగారే యశోద ముంగిటి ముత్యము వీడు దిద్దరాని మహిమల దేవకీ సుతుడు
Muddugare yasoda mungiti mutyamu vidu Diddarani mahimala devaki sutudu
This charming one is the pearl in Yashoda's courtyard, the son of Devaki, whose glory none can measure.
అంత నింత గొల్లెతల అరచేతి మాణిక్యము పంతమాడే కంసుని పాలి వజ్రము కాంతుల మూడు లోకాల గరుడ పచ్చ బూస చెంతల మాలో నున్న చిన్ని కృష్ణుడు
Anta ninta golletala aracheti manikyamu Pantamade kamsuni pali vajramu Kantula mudu lokala garuda pachcha busa Chentala malo nunna chinni krishnudu
The ruby in the palms of the cowherd women everywhere, the diamond that faced the boastful Kamsa, the emerald shining through the three worlds, little Krishna, who stays close among us.
రతికేళి రుక్మిణికి రంగు మోవి పగడము మితి గోవర్ధనపు గోమేధికము సతమై శంఖ చక్రాల సందుల వైడూర్యము గతియై మమ్ము గాచేటి కమలాక్షుడు
Ratikeli rukminiki rangu movi pagadamu Miti govardhanapu gomedhikamu Satamai sankha chakrala sandula vaiduryamu Gatiyai mammu gacheti kamalakshudu
The coral of the lips for Rukmini in love's play, the hessonite of Govardhana hill, the cat's-eye ever between the conch and the discus, the lotus-eyed one who is our refuge and protects us.
కాళింగుని తలలపై గప్పిన పుష్యరాగము యేలేటి శ్రీ వేంకటాద్రి యింద్రనీలము పాల జలనిధి లోన బాయని దివ్య రత్నము బాలునివలె దిరిగీ పద్మ నాభుడు
Kalinguni talalapai gappina pushyaragamu Yeleti sri venkatadri yindranilamu Pala jalanidhi lona bayani divya ratnamu Balunivale dirigi padma nabhudu
The topaz pressed upon the heads of Kaliya, the sapphire who rules the sacred Venkata hill, the divine jewel that never leaves the ocean of milk, Padmanabha, wandering about like a little boy.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Muddugare Yashoda
Annamacharya (1408-1503), the poet-saint of Tirumala, wrote many songs about Krishna as well as about Lord Venkateswara, whom he regarded as the same deity. Muddugare Yashoda is one of the most loved of these. Telugu Wikisource records its raga as Salanganata and notes that the poet here compares the playful deeds of Krishna with the nine gems.
The song has a gentle, lullaby-like quality and is often sung by children and in dance performances. Since the twentieth-century revival of Annamacharya's music it has been recorded by many Carnatic vocalists and sung at Krishna Janmashtami celebrations across South India.
What Muddugare Yashoda means
The pallavi calls the little boy the pearl in Yashoda's courtyard and the son of Devaki whose greatness cannot be measured, holding together his two mothers. The stanzas then string a garland of gems: he is the ruby in the palms of the cowherd women, the diamond that defeats the boastful Kamsa, the emerald glowing across three worlds, the coral of Rukmini's lips, the hessonite of Govardhana hill, the cat's-eye between the conch and the discus.
In the last stanza he is the topaz pressed on the heads of the serpent Kaliya, the sapphire who rules the Venkata hill and the divine jewel that never leaves the ocean of milk. The final line brings the cosmic Vishnu back to the playful child: Padmanabha, from whose navel the universe springs, wanders about like a little boy. The song moves easily between affection and awe, which is its lasting charm.
Quick facts
- The song compares episodes of Krishna's life to the nine precious gems (navaratnas).
- Telugu Wikisource records its raga as Salanganata.
- It was composed by Annamacharya (1408-1503), the poet-saint of Tirumala.
- The final line calls Krishna Padmanabha, a name of Vishnu.