balamu kulamu
raagam: saavEri

15 maayamaaLava gowLa janya
Aa: S R1 M1 P D1 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

taaLam: roopakam
Composer: Tyaagaraaja
Language: Telugu

pallavi

balamu kulamu yEla rAma bhakti kAraNamu
velayu sakala siddhulella veNTa vaccugAni mEnu (balamu)

caraNam 1

nITa kAki mInu munuga nirata mudaya snAnamA tETa
kannulu konga gUrca dEvadEva dhyAnamA (balamu) (balamu)

caraNam 2

patramulunu mEyu mEka balamaina yupAsamA citra
pakSu lEgaya sUrya candrulaku samyamA
(balamu)

caraNam 3

guhala vESa kOTu luNTE guNamukalgu maunulA gahana
munanu kOTuluNTE ghanamau vanavAsamA
(balamu)

caraNam 4

jangamulu balukakuNTE sangatigA maunulA angamu
muyyani bAlulu yapuDu digambarulA
(balamu)

caraNam 5

valacu tyAgarAja varadu vara bhaktulu sEyu bhakti
celagu sakala janulakella cellina kAsaunugA
(balamu)

Meaning:
Of what avail are mere brutal strength and superior lineage without the redeeming element of devotion to Rama which alone can lead to prosperity here and hereafter? Can the crow and the fish get the benefit of a holy bath? Can the mere steady posture of the crane with closed eyes constitute meditation? Can the mere eating of the leaf by a goat constitute Upavasa? Can a million glowing fireflies make the effulgence of the sun and the moon? Can mere living in a cave make a sage of a man? Can the monkey's life in the forest be interpreted as renunciation? Can Jangamas who merely wear the ocher robe pretend to be religion, taken to a vow of silence? Can naked children be called nude-ascetics? Only genuine devotion to Sri Rama, who nurtures Tyagaraja, can be the current coin.

Other information:
Lyrics contributed by Lakshman Ragde. Meaning from Compositions of Tyagaraja by TK Govinda Rao.