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Takkuvemi Manaku (Bhadrachala Ramadasa) Meaning — Line by Line

तक्कुवेमि मनकू

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Takkuvemi Manaku (Bhadrachala Ramadasa) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. takkuvēmi manakū rāmuṃ-ḍokkaḍuṇḍu varakū
  2. Verse 2. prakkatōḍugā bhagavantuḍu
  3. Verse 3. mruccusōmakuni munu jampina ā
  4. Verse 4. bhūmisvargamulu ponduga golacina
  5. Verse 5. daśagrīvumuni daṇḍiñcina ā
  6. Verse 6. duṣṭakaṃsunī duñcinaṭṭi śrī
  7. Verse 7. rāmadāsuni gāceḍi śrī
Verse 1#

takkuvēmi manakū rāmuṃ-ḍokkaḍuṇḍu varakū

तक्कुवेमि मनकू रामुं-डॊक्कडुण्डु वरकू

takkuvēmi manakū rāmuṃ-ḍokkaḍuṇḍu varakū

MeaningWhat can we ever lack, so long as Rama — the One Lord — is ours?

Verse 2#

prakkatōḍugā bhagavantuḍu

प्रक्कतोडुगा भगवन्तुडु मन चक्रधारियै चॆन्तनॆ उण्डगा 1 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

prakkatōḍugā bhagavantuḍu mana cakradhāriyai centane uṇḍagā ॥ 1 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen the Lord himself, the bearer of the discus, stands right beside us as our companion — what can we lack?

Verse 3#

mruccusōmakuni munu jampina ā

म्रुच्चुसोमकुनि मुनु जम्पिन मत्समूर्ति मनपक्षमुनुण्डगा 2 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

mruccusōmakuni munu jampina ā matsamūrti manapakṣamunuṇḍagā ॥ 2 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen the Lord in his Fish form (Matsya), who of old slew the thieving Somaka, is on our side — what can we lack?

Verse 4#

bhūmisvargamulu ponduga golacina

भूमिस्वर्गमुलु पॊन्दुग गॊलचिन वामनुण्डु मनवाडै युण्डग 3 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

bhūmisvargamulu ponduga golacina vāmanuṇḍu manavāḍai yuṇḍaga ॥ 3 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen Vamana, who neatly measured out earth and heaven with his strides, is our very own — what can we lack?

Verse 5#

daśagrīvumuni daṇḍiñcina ā

दशग्रीवुमुनि दण्डिञ्चिन धशरध रामुनि दय मनकुण्डग 4 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

daśagrīvumuni daṇḍiñcina ā dhaśaradha rāmuni daya manakuṇḍaga ॥ 4 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen the mercy of Dasharatha's Rama, who punished the ten-necked Ravana, rests upon us — what can we lack?

Verse 6#

duṣṭakaṃsunī duñcinaṭṭi śrī

दुष्टकंसुनी दुञ्चिनट्टि श्री कृष्णुडु मनपै गृपतो नुण्डग 5 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

duṣṭakaṃsunī duñcinaṭṭi śrī kṛṣṇuḍu manapai gṛpatō nuṇḍaga ॥ 5 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen Sri Krishna, who destroyed the wicked Kamsa, watches over us with grace — what can we lack?

Verse 7#

rāmadāsuni gāceḍi śrī

रामदासुनि गाचॆडि श्री मन्नारायणि नॆरनम्मियुण्डग 6 तक्कुवेमि मनकू

rāmadāsuni gāceḍi śrī mannārāyaṇi neranammiyuṇḍaga ॥ 6 ॥ takkuvēmi manakū ॥

MeaningWhen we trust wholly in Sri Man-Narayana, the protector of Ramadasa — what can we ever lack?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

तक्कुवेमि मनकू
takkuvēmi manakū
What do we lack? What shortage can we have?
रामुं-डॊक्कडुण्डु वरकू
rāmuṃ-ḍokkaḍuṇḍu varakū
So long as the one Rama is with us.
प्रक्कतोडुगा भगवन्तुडु
prakkatōḍugā bhagavantuḍu
The Lord himself as the companion at our side.
चक्रधारियै चॆन्तनॆ उण्डगा
cakradhāriyai centane uṇḍagā
Standing right beside us, bearing the discus.
मत्समूर्ति
matsamūrti
The Lord in his Matsya (fish) incarnation, slayer of Somaka.
वामनुण्डु मनवाडै युण्डग
vāmanuṇḍu manavāḍai yuṇḍaga
When Vamana (the dwarf incarnation) is our very own.
दशग्रीवुमुनि दण्डिञ्चिन
daśagrīvumuni daṇḍiñcina
Who punished the ten-necked (Ravana).
दुष्टकंसुनी दुञ्चिनट्टि श्री कृष्णुडु
duṣṭakaṃsunī duñcinaṭṭi śrī kṛṣṇuḍu
Sri Krishna, who crushed the wicked Kamsa.
नॆरनम्मियुण्डग
neranammiyuṇḍaga
When we have placed our complete trust (in him).

Origin & History

Source: Kirtana of Bhadrachala Ramadasa (Telugu, 17th century CE)

Author: Bhadrachala Ramadasa (Kancherla Gopanna)

Period: c. 1620-1688 CE

Ramadasa's life swung between glory and dungeon, yet his songs never bargain — they trust. In this kirtana he answers every anxiety of a householder's heart with a roll-call of rescues: the Lord has saved the Vedas, the worlds, the wronged and the oppressed in age after age; he stands discus in hand beside his own; and he has demonstrably protected Ramadasa himself. Therefore — what can we lack?

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Takkuvemi Manaku' mean?
'What do we lack?' — the refrain declares that so long as the one Rama is with us, nothing whatever can be wanting.
Which forms of the Lord does the song remember?
The discus-bearing Lord beside us, Matsya who slew the demon Somaka (recovering the Vedas), Vamana who measured earth and heaven, Rama who punished ten-headed Ravana, Krishna who destroyed Kamsa, and Narayana who protects Ramadasa.
Who was Bhadrachala Ramadasa?
Kancherla Gopanna (c. 1620-1688), revenue officer of Bhadrachalam, who built the great Rama temple there, was imprisoned for it in Golconda for twelve years, and poured out hundreds of Telugu kirtanas — becoming, with Tyagaraja, the fountainhead of Rama-bhakti music.
When should one sing this keerthana?
Whenever fear of scarcity or helplessness looms. Ramadasa sang of the Lord's sufficiency from inside a prison cell — the song is meant for exactly such hours.

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