Nagumomu Ganaleni (Tyagaraja) Meaning — Line by Line

नगुमोमु गनलेनि

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Nagumomu Ganaleni (Tyagaraja) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

नगुमोमु गनलेनि नाजालि तॆलिसि ननु ब्रोवग रादा श्री रघुवर नी

nagumōmu ganalēni nājāli telisi nanu brōvaga rādā śrī raghuvara nī

MeaningO Sri Raghuvara! Knowing my anguish at being unable to behold your smiling face, can you not come and protect me?

Verse 2#

नगराजधर नीदु परैवार लॆल्ल ऒगिबोधन जेसे वारलु गारे यिटु लुण्डुदुरॆ

nagarājadhara nīdu paraivāra lella ogibōdhana jēsē vāralu gārē yiṭu luṇḍudure

MeaningO bearer of the king of mountains! Are not all those in your retinue wise counsellors? Would they let things remain like this — would none of them plead my cause before you?

Verse 3#

खगराजु नी यानति विनि वेग चनलेदो गगनानि किलकु बहु दूरम्बनिनादो जगमेलॆ परमात्म ऎवरितो मॊरलिडुदु वग जूपकु तालनु नन्नेलुकोर त्यागराजनुत नी

khagarāju nī yānati vini vēga canalēdō gaganāni kilaku bahu dūrambaninādō jagamēle paramātma evaritō moraliḍudu vaga jūpaku tālanu nannēlukōra tyāgarājanuta nī

MeaningDid Garuda, the king of birds, not fly swiftly at your command — or did he complain that the earth is too far from heaven? O Supreme Lord who rules the worlds, to whom else shall I cry? Do not treat me with such indifference — I cannot bear it. Take me into your care, O Lord praised by Tyagaraja!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नगुमोमु गनलेनि

nagumōmu ganalēni

(One who is) unable to behold (your) smiling face.

नाजालि तॆलिसि

nājāli telisi

Knowing my pitiable anguish.

ननु ब्रोवग रादा

nanu brōvaga rādā

Can you not (come and) protect me?

श्री रघुवर

śrī raghuvara

O best of the Raghu dynasty — Rama.

नगराजधर

nagarājadhara

O bearer of the king of mountains.

ऒगिबोधन जेसे वारलु गारे

ogibōdhana jēsē vāralu gārē

Are they not all able advisers (who could counsel you rightly)?

खगराजु नी यानति विनि

khagarāju nī yānati vini

Garuda, the king of birds, on hearing your command.

गगनानि किलकु बहु दूरम्बनिनादो

gaganāni kilaku bahu dūrambaninādō

Did he say that the earth is very far from the sky?

जगमेलॆ परमात्म

jagamēle paramātma

O Supreme Soul who rules the world.

नन्नेलुकोर त्यागराजनुत

nannēlukōra tyāgarājanuta

Take me into your care, O Lord praised by Tyagaraja.

Origin & History

Source: Kriti of Saint Tyagaraja in raga Abheri, Adi tala (Telugu, early 19th century CE)

Author: Saint Tyagaraja

Period: 1767-1847 CE

Tyagaraja worshipped Rama through nearly a thousand songs, speaking to him as friend, master, mother and king. Tradition places this kriti in a season of despair, when the saint's daily worship seemed to bring no answering vision. Out of that silence rose 'Nagumomu' — a complaint, a sigh and a surrender in one: if the servants would not plead, if Garuda would not hurry, still the saint had no one else to call but the ruler of the worlds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Nagumomu Ganaleni' mean?▼

'Nagumomu' is the smiling face (of Rama); 'ganaleni' means 'unable to see'. The kriti opens: 'Knowing the anguish of one who cannot behold your smiling face, can you not protect me, O Raghuvara?'

Why does Tyagaraja mention Garuda?▼

In loving reproach, the saint wonders why the Lord has not come: did Garuda, his carrier, not fly fast enough on hearing the command — or did he grumble that earth is too far from heaven? The playful complaint hides deep yearning.

In which raga is Nagumomu sung?▼

In raga Abheri (Adi tala) — its plaintive, pleading beauty has made this kriti one of the most performed pieces in Carnatic music.

What mood does this kriti express?▼

Viraha — the pain of separation from God. Tyagaraja teaches that such longing, poured out honestly before the Lord, is itself one of the highest forms of devotion.

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