Lyrics of "Saranam bhava" Song by Sri Narayana Tirthulu

రాగం సౌరాష్ట్ర - ఆది తాళం  

శరణం భవ కరుణామయి కురు దీనదయాళో

కరుణారస వరుణాలయ కరిరాజ కృపాళో ॥

అధునా ఖలు విధినామయి సుధియా సురభరితం

మధుసూదన మధుసూదన హరమామక దురితమ్‌ ॥

వర నూపుర ధర సుందర కర శోభితవలయ

సుర భూసుర భయవారక ధరణీ ధర కృపయా 

త్వరయా హర భరమీశ్వర సురవర్య మదీయం 

మధుసూదన మధుసూదన హరమామక దురితమ్‌ ॥

ఘృణిమండల మణికుండల ఫణిమండలశయన 

అణిమాది సుగుణభూషణ మణిమంటప సదన

వినతాసుత ఘనవాహన మునిమానస భవన

మధుసూదన మధుసూదనహర మామకదురితమ్‌ ॥

అరిభీకర హలి సోదర పరిపూర్ణ సుఖాబ్ధే

నరకాంతక నరపాలక పరిపాలిత జలధే

హరిసేవక శివ నారాయణ తీర్థపరాత్మన్‌

మధుసూదన మధుసూదన హర మామక దురితమ్ ‌ ॥

SaraNaM bhava karuNaamayi kuru deenadayaaLO

karuNaarasa varuNaalaya kariraaja kRpaaLO 

adhunaa khalu vidhinaamayi sudhiyaa surabharitaM

madhusoodana madhusoodana haramaamaka duritam

vara noopura dhara suMdara kara SObhitavalaya

sura bhoosura bhayavaarakadharaNidhara kRpayaa 

tvarayaa hara bharameeSvara suravarya madeeyaM 

madhusoodana madhusoodana haramaamaka duritam

ghRNimaMDala maNikuMDala phaNimaMDalaSayana 

aNimaadi suguNabhooshaNa maNimaMTapa sadana

vinataasuta ghanavaahana munimaanasa bhavana

madhusoodana madhusoodanahara maamakaduritam

aribheekara hali sOdara paripoorNa sukhaabdhae

narakaaMtaka narapaalaka paripaalita jaladhae

harisaevaka Siva naaraayaNa teerthaparaatman

madhusoodana madhusoodana hara maamaka duritam

(In the village high school we had a very entertaining, instructive math teacher. During one of his classes we heard a superb rendition of two Telugu songs from the adjacent classroom. It was my classmate's (A. K. R.) voice. He gave an extempore presentation of ‘saranam bhava’ and ‘janani sivakamini’. Thus I came to know about this classic piece of Sri Narayana Tirthulu. Though the compositions are well known across South India, we know only snippets of Sri Narayana Tirthulu’s life. Tears would roll down my eyes when I read and think of these extraordinary saints and composers of the Telugu land. I have not looked into the meaning of every word in detail, but the Sanskrit words are not too difficult to understand. These songs are apparently sung in a number of styles ranging from dance ballet, bhajana sampradaya, to Yaksha-gana. Obviously the songs were thoroughly blessed by the composer and their efficacy is truly attested by Lord Krishna. I am indebted to the creators of Andhra Bharati website. Tomorrow happens to be the most auspicious day - ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి, certainly a day suited for meditating on this composition.)