krishnapurandaradasakannadadevaranama

Jagadoddharana (Purandaradasa)

Jagadoddharana (Purandaradasa) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening prayer; especially on Krishna Janmashtami and during Krishna worship·📜 Kannada devaranama of Purandaradasa, in praise of the child Krishna (16th century CE)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Jagadoddharana' is one of the most beloved Kannada devaranamas of Purandaradasa, the 'father of Carnatic music'. Its exquisite wonder lies in a single image: mother Yashoda playing with and dandling the baby Krishna, all the while thinking Him only her little son — when in truth He is the Uplifter of all the worlds, the Supreme Person beyond the reach of the Vedas, the Master of the universe worshipped by Brahma and the gods. The song captures the tender mystery of God made small in a mother's lap.

Origin & Story

Kannada devaranama of Purandaradasa, in praise of the child Krishna (16th century CE) · Purandaradasa (Purandara Vithala) · 1484-1564 CE

Purandaradasa, once a rich merchant of Karnataka, renounced his wealth after a divine lesson in detachment and became a wandering Haridasa singing the praise of God. In 'Jagadoddharana' he marvels at the supreme wonder of the Avatara — that the Lord who upholds all the worlds and whom the Vedas cannot grasp allowed Yashoda to cradle and play with Him as her own infant. He signed it, as all his songs, with the name of his Lord, 'Purandara Vithala'.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition tells that Purandaradasa, once the miserly merchant Srinivasa Nayaka, was humbled and transformed when Lord Vishnu Himself, disguised as a poor Brahmin, tested him; renouncing his fortune, he gained the true wealth of devotion, and his songs on the child Krishna are said to bring the Lord's tender presence into every home where they are sung.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

jagadōddhārana āḍisidaḷeśōde jagadōddhārana maganendu tiḷiyuta suguṇāntaraṅgana āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:Yashoda dandled and played with the Uplifter of all the worlds — thinking Him simply her little son! She played with Him whose inmost being is all goodness, the Saviour of the world.

Verse 2

nigamake silukada agaṇita mahimana maguvendu tiḷiyuta āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:Thinking Him a mere baby, Yashoda played with Him whose glory is beyond counting, who cannot be grasped even by the Vedas.

Verse 3

parama puruṣana paravāsudēvana paripari vidhadali āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:In many tender ways Yashoda played with the Supreme Person, the transcendent Para-Vasudeva.

Verse 4

brahmādi vandita agamya mahimana brahmāṇḍa nāyaka āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:Yashoda played with Him whose unfathomable glory is worshipped by Brahma and all the gods — the Master of the whole universe!

Verse 5

sura vara munijana tōri pogaḷutire parama puruṣana āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:While the great gods and the company of sages stood pointing to Him and singing His praise, Yashoda played with that Supreme Person.

Verse 6

nitya nirāmaya nigama gōcarana satyamūrti purandara viṭhalana bhakta vatsalana āḍisidaḷeśōde

Meaning:Yashoda played with the eternal, ever-flawless Lord, knowable only through the Vedas — the embodiment of Truth, Purandara Vithala, who is tender and loving to His devotees.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

jagadōddhārana🔊The Uplifter/Saviour of the (whole) world (jagat-uddharana).

āḍisidaḷeśōde🔊Yashoda made (Him) play / dandled (Him) — 'Yashoda played with Him'.

maganendu tiḷiyuta🔊Thinking (of Him merely) as her (own little) son.

suguṇāntaraṅgana🔊He whose inmost being is (made of) all auspicious qualities.

nigamake silukada🔊He who cannot be grasped (caught) even by the Vedas (Nigamas).

agaṇita mahimana🔊He of immeasurable, countless glory.

maguvendu tiḷiyuta🔊Thinking (of Him) as (just) a baby.

parama puruṣana🔊The Supreme Person (Parama Purusha).

paravāsudēvana🔊The transcendent Para-Vasudeva (the highest form of the Lord).

paripari vidhadali🔊In many and various ways (lovingly).

brahmādi vandita🔊He who is worshipped by Brahma and the (other) gods.

agamya mahimana🔊He whose glory is unfathomable / beyond reach.

brahmāṇḍa nāyaka🔊The Lord/Master of the entire cosmic egg (the universe).

nitya nirāmaya nigama gōcarana🔊The eternal, ever-flawless One, knowable (only) through the Vedas.

satyamūrti purandara viṭhalana🔊The embodiment of Truth, Purandara Vithala (the composer's signature for the Lord).

bhakta vatsalana🔊He who is tenderly affectionate toward His devotees.

Benefits of Chanting Jagadoddharana (Purandaradasa)

✦

A tender meditation on the mystery of the Supreme Lord taking the form of a child in Yashoda's lap, deepening loving devotion (vatsalya/madhura bhakti).

✦

Sung in homes and temples in praise of Bala Krishna (the child Krishna), especially during Krishna Janmashtami.

✦

Believed to bring the grace and nearness of Krishna, who is 'bhakta-vatsala', tender toward His devotees.

✦

Cultivates wonder and humility — that the Master of the universe lets Himself be cradled out of love.

✦

A treasured masterpiece of Purandaradasa, the foundational composer of Carnatic music, sung across South India.

How to Chant Jagadoddharana (Purandaradasa)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning or evening prayer; especially on Krishna Janmashtami and during Krishna worship

FaceFacing the deity of Krishna / Vishnu or east

Sit before an image of Bala Krishna (the child Krishna) and sing or recite the devaranama with loving devotion, picturing Yashoda cradling the Lord of the universe as her own baby. Purandaradasa's songs are meant to be sung; if recited, chant the refrain 'Jagadoddharana adisidale Yashoda' tenderly, dwelling on the wonder that God allows Himself to be held in love.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Jagadoddharana (Purandaradasa) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a famous Kannada devotional song (devaranama) by the saint Purandaradasa, describing mother Yashoda playing with the baby Krishna while thinking Him only her son — though He is in truth the Uplifter and Lord of all the worlds. It is among the most loved songs on the child Krishna.

Purandaradasa (1484-1564) was a great Haridasa saint and composer, revered as the 'Pitamaha' (father) of Carnatic music for systematising its teaching. Once a wealthy merchant, he renounced everything for devotion to Lord Vishnu (Purandara Vithala) and composed thousands of devaranamas in Kannada.

Its beauty is the contrast it holds in one image: the infinite Supreme Lord, unreachable by the Vedas and worshipped by Brahma, allowing Himself to be cradled and played with by Yashoda as her little child. It captures the tender mystery of divine love — God made small enough to be held in a mother's lap.

It praises Bala Krishna, the child Krishna of Gokula, as seen in the loving care of His foster-mother Yashoda. Purandaradasa weaves into it the truth that this very child is Para-Vasudeva, the transcendent Lord, signing it with his name for the Lord, 'Purandara Vithala'.