'Jnanappana' or the Song of Divine Wisdom

Jnanappana or the Song of Divine Wisdom, a rare treasury
of transcendental knowledge and its relevance in day-to-day
life, is written in a simple, unassuming style. It is full of
comments of contemporary lifestyle in the perspective of
the short lived nature of life as well as its pleasures.


Jnanappana was composed by the famous poet PoonthanamNamboodiri. Poonthanam was a great devotee and a recipient of the grace of Guruvayoorappan. Composed in a literary style called `Panapattu,' as suggested by the title, `Jnanappana' consists of about 360 short lines in verse form simple in language, musical in sound, rich in meaning and filled with philosophical wisdom, the poem is a veritable treatise on `namasankirtan' or devotional worship.


As it contains 360 lines, I am dividing the whole song and posting each section in different posts. The verses are in Malayalam.

Krishna Krishna Mukunda Janaaradana , Krishna Govinda Naaraayana Hare
Achyuthaananda Govinda Maadhava , Sachithaananda Naarayana hare

Gurunaadhan thuna cheyka santhatham, Thirunaamangal naavinmeleppozhum
Piriyaatheyirikkanam nammude, Nara janmam saphalamaakkeduvaan

Innaleyolam enthenn arinjeela, Ini naaleyum enthenn arinjeela
Innikkanda thadikku vinaasavu- Minna neram ennethumarinjeela

Kandukandangirikkum janangale, Kandillennu varuthunnathum bhavaan
Randu naalu dinam kondoruthane, Thandiletti nadathunnathum bhavaan

Maalika mukaleriya mannante, Tholil maaraappu kettunnathum bhavaan
Kandaal ottariyunnu chilarithu,Kandaalum thiryaa chilarkkethumme

Kandathonnume sathyam allennathu, Mumbe kandariyunnithu chilar
Manu jaathiyil thanne palavidham, Manssinnu vishesham undorkanam

Palarkkum ariyenam ennittallo, Pala jaathi parayunnu saasthrangal
Karmathiladhikaari janangalkku, Karma saasthrangalundu palavidham

Saankhya saasthrangal yogangalenniva, Sankhyayillathu nilkkatte sarvavum
Chuzhannidunna samsaara chakrathi- luzhannidum mamukkarinjjeeduvaan

Arivulla mahatthukkal undoru, Paramaardham arul cheyth irikkunnu
Eluthaayittu mukthi labhippanai, Chevi thannithu kelppinellavarum

Nammeyokkeyum bandhicha sadahanam, Karmam ennariyendathu mumbinaal
Munnam ikkanda viswam aseshavum, Onnayulloru jyothi swaroopamai

Onnum chennangu thannodu pattaathe,Onninum chennu thaanum valayathe
Onnonnai ninaikkum janangalkku, Onnukond arivaakunna vasthuvai

Onnilumm ariyaatha janagalku, Onnu kondum thiriyaatha vasthuvai
Onnu pole yonnillaathe yullathi- nonnunaay ulloru jeeva swaroopamai

Onnilum oru bandham illatheyai, Ninn avan thanne viswam chamachu pol
Moonnum onnil adaangaunnu pinneyum, Onnumilla pol viswam annerath

Onnu kondu chamachoru viswathil, Moonnayittulla karmangalokkeyum
Punya karmangal paapa karmangalum, Punya paapangal misramaam karmavum

Moonu jaathi niroopichu kaanumbol, Moonnu kondum thalikkunna jeevane
Ponnin changala yonni pparanjathi-lonnirumbu kondennathre bhedangal

Randinaalumeduthu panicheytha, Changalayallo misramaam karmavum
Brahmavaadeeyayyechayerumbolam, Karmabadhanmaarennatharijaalum

Bhuvanangale srishtikkayennathum, Bhunanthya pralayam kazhivolam
Karmapaasathe lankhikkayennathu, Brahmaavinnumeluthalla nirnayam

Dikpaalakanmaarumavvannamororo, Dikku thorum thalachu kidakkunnu
Alpakarmikalaakiya naamella-malpakaalam kondororo janthukkal

Garbha paathrathil pukkum purappettum, Karmam kondu kalikkunnathingane
Narakathil kidakkunna jeevan poi, Durithangalodungi manassinte

Paripaakavum vannu kramathaale, Narajaathiyil vannu pirannittu
Sukrutham cheythu melppottu poyavar, Sukhichidunnu sathyalokatholam

Salkarmam kondu melpottu poyavar, Swargathinkal irunnu sukhikkunnu
Sukruthangalumokke odungumbol, Paripaakavumellolamillavar

Parichodangirunnittu bhoomiyil, Jaatharaai; duritham cheythu chathavar
Vannora dduddinathin bhalamai, Pinneppoi narakathil veezhunu

Suralokathil ninnoru jeevan poi, Naraloke maheesuranaakunnu
Chandakarmangal cheythavan chaakumbol, Chandaala kulathinkalppirakkunnu

Asuranmaar suranmarayeedunnu, Amaranmaar marangal aayeedunnu
Ajam chathu gajamai pirakkunnu, Gajam chathangajavumayeedunnu

Nari chathu naranai pirakkunnu, Naari chathudan oriyai pokunnu
Kripa koodaathe peedippicheedunna, Nripan chathu krimiyaai pirakkunnu

Eacha chathoru poocha yayeedunnu, Easwarante vilaasangalingane
Keezhmelingane mandunna jeevanmaar, Bhoomiyeennathre nedunnu karmangal

Seemayillatholam pala karmangal, Bhoomiyeennathre nedunnu jeevanmaar
Angane cheythu nedi marichuda- nanya lokangal oronnil oronnil

Chennirunnu bhujikkunnu jeevanmaar, Thangal cheythoru karmangal than bhalam
Odungidum athottunaal chellumbol, Udane vannu nedunnu pinneyum

Thante thante grihathinkal ninnudan, Kondu ponna dhanam kondu naamellam
Mattengaanumoredathirunnittu, Vittoonennu parayum kanakkine

Karmangalkku vilabhoomiyaakiya, Janmadesamibhoomiyennarinjaalum
Karmanaasam varuthenamenkilum, Chemme mattengum saadhiyaa nirnnayam

Bhaktanmaarkkum mumukshu janangalkkum, Saktharaaya vishayee janangalkkum
Ischicheedunnathokke kkodukkuthidum,Viswa maathaavu bhoomi siva siva

Viswanaathante moolaprakrithi thaan, Prathyakshena vilangunnu bhoomiyaay
Avaneethala paalanathinnallo, Avathaarangalum palathorkkumbol

Athukondu visheshichum bhoolokam, Pathinnaallilumthamamennallo
Veda vaadikalaaya munikalum, Vedavum bahumaanichu chollunnu

Lavanaabudhimadhye vilangunna, Jambu dweeporu yojana lakshavum
Saptha dweepukalundathilethrayum, Uthamamennu vaazhthunnu pinneyum

Bhoopadmathinnu karnikayaayittu, Bhoodharendranthilallo nilkunnu
Ithilombathu ghandangalundallo, Athiluthamam bhaaratha bhoothalam

Sammathanmaaraaya maamuni sreshtanmaar, Karmakshethramennallo parayunnu
Karma beejam atheennu mulaiakkendoo, Brahma lokathirikkunnavarkalkkum

Karma beejam varattikkalanjudan, Janmanaasam varuthenamenkilum
Bhaarathamaaya ghandamozhinjulla, Paarilengumeluthalla nirnnayam

Athra mukhyamaayulloru bhaaratha- mipradesamennellarumorkkanam
Yugam naalilum nallu kaliyugam, Sughame thanne mukti varuthuvaan

Krishna! Krishna! Mukunda! Janaardana!, Krishna! Govinda! Rama! enningane
Thirunaama sankeerthanamenniye, Mattillethume yathnamarijaalum

Athu chinthichu mattulla lokangal, Pathimoonnilumulla janangalum
Mattu dweepukalaarilumullorum, Mattu ghandangalettilumullorum

Mattu moonnu yugangalillorum, Mukti thangalkku saadhyamallaykayaal
Kalikaalthe, bhaaratha ghandathe, Kalithaadaram kaivanangeedunnu

Athil vannoru pullaayittenkilum, Ithukaalam janichukondeeduvaan
Yogyatha varautheeduvaan thakkoru, Bhaagyam poraathe poyallo daivame!

Bhaaratha ghandathinkal pirannoru, Maanusharkkum kalikkum namaskaaram
Ennellam pukazhtheedunnu mattullor, Ennathathenthinu naam paranjeedunnu?

Kaalaminnu kaliyugamallayo, Bhaarathamipradeshavumallayo
Nammalellam naranmaarumallayo, Chemme nannai niroopippenellarum

Hari naamangalillathe pokayo, Narakangalil pedi kurakayo
Naavu koodaathe janmamathaakayo, Namukkinni vinaasamillaykayo

Kashtam kashtam! Niroopanam koodaathe, Chuttu thinnunnu janmam pazhuthe naam!
Ethra janmam prayaasappettikkaalam, Athra vannu pirannu sukruthathaal

Ethra janmam malathil kazhinjathum, Ethra janmam jalathil kazhinjathum
Ethra janmangal mannil kazhinjathum, Ethra janmam marangalai ninnathum

Ethra janmam marichu nadannathum, Ethra janmam mrigunagal pasukkalai
Athra vannitteevannam labhichoru, Marthya janmathin mumbe kazhichu naam

Ethrayum panippettingu maathaavin, Garbha paathrahil veenatharinjaalum
Pathu maasam vayattil kazhinju poi, Pathu pantheeraandunniyaayittum poi

Thannethaanabhimaanichu pinnedam, Thannethaanariyaathe kazhiyunnu
Ithra kaalamirikkuminiyennum, Sathyamo namukkethumonnillallo

Neerppola poleyulloru dehathil, Veerppu maathramundigane kaanunnu
Orthariyaathe padu pedunneram, Nerthu pokumathenne parayavoo

Athra maathramirikkunna nerathu, Keerthicheedunnathilla thirunaamam
Sthaana maanangal cholli kkalhichu, Naanam kettu nadakkunnithu chilar

Mada malsaram chinthichu chinthichu, Mathi kettu nadakkunnithu chilar
Chanchalaakshimaar veeduakalil pukku, Kunchi raamanaai aadunnithu chilar

Kolakangalil sevakaraayittu, Kolam ketti njeliyunnithu chilar
Saanthi cheythu pularthuvaanaayittu, Sandhyayolam nadakkunnithu chilar

Ammaikkum punachanum bhaaryakkum, Unmaan polum kodukkunnilla chilar
Agni saakshini aayoru pathniye, Swapnathil polum kaanunnilla chilar

Sathukkal kandu sikshichu chollumbol, Sathruveppole krudhikkunnoo chilar
Vandithanmaare-kkaanunna nerathu, Nindichathre parayunnithu chilar;

Kaanka nammude samsaaram kondathre, Viswameevannam nilpuvennum chilar
Brahmanyam kondu kunthichu kunthichu, Brahmavu-meni-kkokkayennu chilar

Ardhaasaykku viruthu vilippaan, Agnihothraathi cheyyunnithu chilar
Swarnangal navaratnagale-kkondum, Ennam koodaathe vilkkunnithu chilar

Mathebham kondu kachavadam cheythu, Uthama-thuragangalathu-kondum
Athrayumalla kappal vechittu-, methra nedunnithardham siva! siava!

Vrithiyum kettu dhoortharaayeppozhum, Ardhathe kothichathre nashikkunnu
Ardhamethra valareyundaayaalum, Thripthiyaakaa manassinoru kaalam

Pathu kittukil nooru mathiyennum, Sathamaakil sahasram mathiyennum
Aayiram panam kayyil undaakumbol, Aayutha-maakil-aascharya-mennathum

Aasayaayulla paasamithin-keennu, Ver pidaathe karerunnu melku mel
Swathukkal chennirunnaalaayardhathil, Vervidaathe karerunnu melkumel

Sathhukkal chennirunnaalaayrdhathil, Swalpamaathram kodaa chila dushtanmaar
Chathupom neram vasthramthu polum- othidaa kondu povaan orutharkum

Pashchathapam orellola-millathe, Viswasapaathakathe karuthunnu
Vithamthilaasa pattuka hethuvai, Sathyathe thyagikkunnu chilaraho!

Sathyamennathu brahmam-athu-thanne, Sathyamennu karuthunnu sathukkal
Vidya kondariyenda-thariyaathe, Vidwaanennu nadikkunnithu chilar

Kumkumathinte gandhamariyaathe, Kumkukumam chumakkum garbhadam pole
Krishna Krishna ! niroopichu kaanumpol, Thrishna konde bhramikkunnithokkeyum

Enniyenni kkuraikkunnuthiyaayussum, Mandi mandi kkarerunnu mohavum
Vannuvonam kazhinju vishuvennum, Vannillallo thiruvaathirayennum

Kumbha maasathilaakunnu nammude, Janma nakshathram aswathi naalennum
Sradhamundaho vrischika maasathil, Sadyayonnum-elutahlliini-yennum

Unniyundaai velpichathiloru, Unniyundaai kandaavoo njaanennum;
Konikkal thanne vanna nilamini- Kkaana-mannann-eduppikkaruhtennum

Idhamoronnu chinthichirikkave, Chathu pokunnu paavam Siva! Siva!
Enthinithra paranju visheshippichum, Chinthicheeduvin aavolam ellaarum

Karmathinte valippavum ororo, Janmangal palathum kazhinennathum
Kaalaminnu kaliyugamaaythum, Bharatha gandathinte valippavum

Athil vannu pirannathum ethranaal, Pazhuthe thanne poya prakaaravum
Aayussinte pramaanamillathathum, Aarogyathodirikkunnavasthayum

Innu naamasankeerthanam kondudan, Vannu koodum purushaardha mennathum
Iniyulla naraka bhayangalum, Innu vendum niroopanam okkeyum

Enthinu vridhaa kaalam kaayunnu, Vaikuntathinu poikkolvinellavarum
Koodiyalla pirakkunna nerathu, Koodiyalla marikkunna nerathu

Mandheyingane kaanunna nerath, Malsarikkunnathenthinnu naam vridhaa?
Ardhamo purushaardhamirkkave, Ardhathinnu kothikkunnathenthu naam

Madhyaahnarkka prakaasamirikave, Ghandyothatheyo maanichu kollendu
Unni krishnan manassil kkalikkumbol, Unnikal mattu venamo makkalai?

Mithrangal namukkethra Siva Siva, Vishnuvum bhakthanmaarille bhuvanathil?
Maaya kaattum vilaasangal kaanumbol, Jaaya kaattum vilaasangal goshtikal

Bhuvanathile bhoothikalokkeyum, Bhuvanam namukkaithu thanne
Viswanaathan pithaavu namukkellam, Viswa dhaathri charaachara maathaavum

Aschanum punar ammayum undallo, Rakshicheeduvaanulla naalokkeyum
Bhikshaadanam nallorannavum undallo, Bhakshicheeduka thanne paniyullu

Sakthi koodaathe naamangal eppozhum, Bhakthi poondu japikkenam nmmude
Sidha kaalam kazhivolam ee vannam, Sradhayode vasikkenam evarum

Kaanaakunna charachara jeeviye, Naanam kaivittu kooppi sthuthikkanam
Harishaasru paripluthanaayittu, Purushaadikalokke sahichudan

Sajjanangale kaanunna nerath, Lajja koodaathe veenu namikkanam
Bhakthi thannil muzhuki chamanjudan, Mathane ppole nritham kuthikkanam

Paarilnagane sancharicheedumbol, Praarabdhangal ashesham ozhinjidum
Vidhicheedunna karmam onnodungumbol, Pathichidunnu deha moredath

Kothicheedunna brahmathe kandittu, Kuthicheedunnu jeevanum appozhe
Sakthi verittu sancharicheedumbol, Paathramaayilla yennathu kondethum

Parithaapam manassil muzhukkonde, Thiru naamathin maahaathmyam kettalum
Jaathi paarkiloranthyajanaakilum, Vedavaadi maheesuranaakilum

Naavu koodaathe jaathamaaraakiya, Mookareyangozhichulla maanushar
Ennamatta thiru naammullathil, Onnu maathram orikkal oru dinam

Swasthanaayittirikkumbozhenkilum, Swapnathil Thaanariyatheyenkilum
Mattonnayipparihasichennakilum, Mattorutharkkum vendiyennakilum

Ethu dikkilirikkilum thannude, Naavu kondithu cholliyennakilum
Athumalloru neram oru dinam, Chevi kondithu kettu vennakilum

Janma saaphalyamappozhe vannu poi, Brahma sayoojyam kitteedumennallo
Srredharaachaaryan thaanum paranjithu, Baadaraayanan thaanum arul cheythu

Geethayum paranjeedunnathengane, Vedavum bahumaanichu chollunnu
Aamodam poondu choolluvin naamangal, Aanandam poondu brahmathil cheruvan

Mathiyundenkilokke mathiyithu, Thiru naamathin maahathmayamaamithu
Pizhayaakilum Pizhakedennakilum, Thiruvullamarulka bhagavaane !

hi manju,

than you very much for the treasure you sent. i used to listen the song jnappanna by p.leela without knowing the lyrics. hope this is more useful for me.

thanks a ton
lal

Hi Manju,
Thanks for bringing back my childhood memories.I used to get up listening to this sung by P.Leela most of the days.Each and every line is a jewel. In our house we often quote the lines,
Kandukandangirikkum janangale, Kandillennu varuthunnathum bhavaan
Randu naalu dinam kondoruthane, Thandiletti nadathunnathum bhavaan
Love
Meena

Dear Manju

That was a nice of you to put this in English. Only recently I was in search of this particular song and when I was searching in the web I got the following link.
http://wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E0%B4%9C%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9E%E0%B4% BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BE%E0 %B4%A8&redirect=no

It is in Malayalam. It is always nice to hear and recite this song.

regards
vidhi

Thanks for posting the Jnanappana in English and for the links to the Malayalam Version.

Hi Manju,
If you know the link where we can listen to or download 'Njanappana' by P.Leela, please share.In 'RAAGA.COM'its by Chitra.
Love
Meena