Jagadodharna

 

Composition: Purandar Daasar
Voice: M S Subbulaxmi

Composition Format: Kriti
Raag: Kaapi
Taal: Aadi Taal
Language: Kannada

I saw M S Subbulaxmi perform at a 1960s UN convention on youtube. It was the first time that I actually saw her sing. She looked young, confident, strong. I felt hypnotized by her powerful voice that echoed across the large auditorium. She sang two songs, one of which was 'Jagadodharna'. At the time, I was no different from a foreigner sitting in the audience; I had no clue what she was singing. I did not know what her songs meant or if they were in any way relevant to the immediate cause for the convention. 

With some difficulty I managed to find the names of the songs she had sung and I read their meaning. My eyes literally welled up with tears when I realized how perfect these songs were for a UN convention at that time. The world in the '60s was rife with civil wars, not to mention the ongoing cold war between the US and the USSR. M S had chosen two songs that should give leaders of the world hope and a new direction. 

Jagadodharna is a simple kriti about how Krishna's mother, Yashoda, is unaware that her child is an incarnation of the almighty and only sees him as her child. She showers all her affection upon him and plays with him like any mother would with their children. For me, the song conveys a beautiful message of hope to people everywhere which is that children are the image of God and they are the world's future. It is they that will save the world and love is all they need.
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Pallavi
Jagadoddharana adisidale yashode

Anupallavi/Charanam 1
Jagadoddharana maganendu tiliyuta
Magugala manikyana adisidala yashode

Charanam 2
Anoraniyana mahato mahimana
Aprameyana adisidala yashode

Charanam 3
Parama purusana paravasudevana
Purandara vittalana adisidalu yashode

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Translation:

Pallavi
Yashoda plays with the redeemer of the world

Anupallavi/Charanam 1
Only knowing the redeemer as her son
Yashoda plays with her precious child

Charanam 2
Smaller than the smallest atom, larger than the largest
The one who is limitless, Yashoda plays with him

Charanam 3
Greatest among men, lord almighty
Whom Purandar Daasar admires, Yashoda plays with him

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Source for lyrics and translation: http://krithis-theirmeanings-thestories.blogspot.in/2011/02/jagadodharana-adisidale-yasode.html