Teliyaleru Rama

An outwardly religious life can still miss the path of devotion.

Music	Detail
Composer	Tyagaraja
Raga	Dhenuka
Tala	Deshadi
Type	Kriti
Language	Telugu

Lyrics

Pallavi

teliyalēru rāma bhakti mārgamunu

Anupallavi

ilanantaṭa tirugucunu galuvariñcērē gāni

Charanam

vēgalēci nīṭa munigi bhūti būsi vallaneñci veliki ślāganīyulai
bāga paika mārjana lōlulai rēgani tyāgarāja vinuta

Meaning

Tyagaraja observes that people may move about restlessly without understanding devotion to Rama. Early bathing, sacred ash, ritual counting and public praise can all coexist with an overriding hunger for money. The sharpness of the lyric comes from that contrast between recognised signs of piety and inward purpose. It asks the listener to look beyond what appears respectable and consider whether the heart is actually directed towards the devotion being displayed.