Bhavayami Gopala balam...


It doesn't require one to be an ardent carnatic fan to appreciate the real beauty of this song. Till now until I publish this post, I am also not aware of the lyrics either. However who can forget the meticulous composition of this song (by Shri Kadayanallur Venkataraman) or the stunning rendition of this song by our great M.S.S.

If you like to fall in peace, if you want to fall in trance or if you probably like to have a glimpse of Meditation state, please listen to this song rendered by MSS. While I was hearing this song lately, I was reminded by a song sequence short for the film Jodhaa Akbar. In one of the song sequence, Akbar (played by Hrithik) dances in a trance state during the qawwalli 'Khwaja mere khwaja. I feel it is brilliantly picturised and for a second it actually sent a jolt on my senses too. It again reiterates the fact how divine songs can give you the spiritual experiences. This also relates to Bhakti Yoga, if I’m not wrong.

So coming back to the song by MSS, I wanted to have a look at the lyrics of this song in English and also its related meaning of the song. Thanks to some rare souls, I could get it.

Lyrics:

BAvayAmi gOpAlabAlaM mana- | ssEvitaM tatpadaM ciMtayEhaM sadA ||
| kaTi GaTita mEkhalA khacita maNi GaMTikA- | paTala ninadEna viBrAjamAnaM |
kuTila pada GaTita saMkula SiMjitAnataM | caTula naTanA samujjvala vilAsaM ||
| niratakara kalitanavanItaM brahmAdi- | sura nikara BAvanA SOBita padaM |
tiruvEMkaTAcala sthita manupamaM hariM | parama puruShaM gOpAlabAlaM ||

(source: http://www.sistla.org)

Meaning:

I meditate upon the Baby Gopala, Who is served by my mind. I always meditate on those feet.||1||

I meditate upon the Baby Gopala, Who is glittering forth due to immense rhyming sound coming from jewel and bell studded waist girdle, and Who is shining forth trembling dances adorned by the sound of feet running in curved trajectories.||2||

I meditate upon the Baby Gopala, Who is engrossed in the beautiful new butter-ball in His hand, Whose feet are adorned by the various devoted emotions of Brahma and demi-gods, Who is situated at the mountain of Tirupati¹ as Venkat, Who is without a comparison, Who is Hari, and Who is the best person.||3||

(source: http://www.stutimandal.com/gif_misc/bhavayami_gopalabalam.htm)

You can here the song here (http://www.sawf.org/audio/kalyani/mss.ram) .

Fortunate are those who are peacemakers, also fortunate are those who are actually benefited by it.

12 comments:

Aboorva said...

M S Subbulakshmi is a legend who transcends time and whose golden voice brings joy and serenity whenever it is heard lifted in song.

Unknown said...

MY favorite carnatic classical singer is M.S.SUBBA LAKSHMI who is thelegend carnatic classical music.she sings any song with the complete devotion and dedication which inspires any classical singer. she looks like the goddess kanaka durga.The song bhavayami gopalam is my favorite song which always rings in my mind. M.S.SUBBALAKSHMI IS "NA BHOOTO NABHAVISHYATI"

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post and lyrics. Isn't this a composition of Annamacharya rather than 'Kadayanallur Venkataraman'?

PraksT said...

he meant the music composition...The great Annamacharya wrote the song....The MS , Sadasivam, venkataraman took up these(upon Thirumala devaswam's request?) rendered the music and popularised it(by the touch of MS)!

Sri kalyan said...

Eternal Annamacharya and MS Subbulakshmi definitely touches our soul but Jodha Akbhar doesnt make me feel spiritual...
Thanks
kalyan

Unknown said...

i love music and ms subulakshmi a fabulous singer.this raga is very nice

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post! I was looking for the meaning of the song and your post came up first!

lalitha sindhuri said...

defenetely this song takes me into the cosmos....the divinity is marvellous..we can forget all our sorrows..M.S.Subbu lakshmi garu is great..singer like her is"na bhuto na bhavishyathi"

Joana Wild said...

Thanks for this post! I think you`ve captured the atmosphere of this song with great sensibility.
It reminds me of the time when I had the opportunity to learn a little bit of carnatic vocal. I try to get more songs through internet and thanks to people like you we can have access to it even being so far away from Mother India...

My best regards from Brazil!

Joana

vinayak said...

M S Subbulakshmi was the incarnation of Saint meera who became the doyen of carnatic music and played the vital role in spreading the name of lord Hari through annamacharya keertanas.....

bhavayami gopalabalam is just one of the best songs in worlds music,and the trance it creates is just something to experience which can not be explained in words,its trance reaches at its peak at the word ''tiruvenkatachala sthitam''...and takes me to the tirumala.....


vinayak

Anonymous said...

I cant find the swaras for this song anywhere.
If anyone has it, Please share it for the rest of us.

V said...

Has anyone found the notations for this song?