Lyrics and Meanings (Keerthana)

Śhrī Purandharadhāsa was in a way, the founder of Kīrthana form which it its melody is based on technical compositions like Gītha whose purpose is to elucidate Rāga forms and Thāḷa patterns. The emphasis in the Kīrthanas is on its aesthetic excellence and that is why it is considered as the most important part of Karnātic classical music. It was the genius of Śhrī Purandharadhāsa that created Kīrthanas on the basis of which Kruthi form was evolved.

The great master composers who came after Śhrī Purandharadhāsa faithfully followed the tradition and form which he established. The Rāga and Thāḷa aspects are followed by composers like Dīkṣhitar and Śhāma Śhāsthri and purely Rāga aspects by composers like Kśhethragna. But it was Thyāgarāja who brought out the fullest measure all the three aspects – Rāga, Bhāva and Thāḷa of the tradition, founded by Śhrī Purandharadhāsa.

Thāḷa: Ādhi
Composer: Purandhara Dhāsa
Language: Sanskrit

Meanings –Word by word & overall: R.Shankar – rasikas.org

(Meanings –Word by word & overall: Charaṇam 1 – Team Ambalam)

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Pallavi

Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam
Pankaja Nethram Parama Pavithram
Śhankha Chakra Dhhara Chinmaya Rūpam
Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam

Anupallavi

Ambujodhbhava Vinutham Agaṇitha Guṇa Nāmam
Thumburh Nāradha Gaṇa Vilolam Ambudhiśhayanam Āthmābhirāmam
Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam

Charaṇam 1

Pāhi Pāṇḍava Pakṣham Kaurava Madhaharaṇam
Bahu Parākrama Pūrṇam
Ahalyā Śhāpa Bhaya Nivāraṇam
Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam

Charaṇam 2

Sakala Vedha Vichāram Sarvajīvana Karam
Makara Kunḍala Dhhara Madhana Gopālam
Bhaktha Pośhaka Śhrī Purandhhara Viṭhalam
Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam

Meanings:

Pallavi

Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam
Pankaja Nethram Parama Pavithram
Śhankha Chakra Dhhara Chinmaya Rūpam
(Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam )

Venkaṭāchala Nilayam = the one who is established in Venkaṭāchala  (Thirupathi);
Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam =  one who is the resident of Vaikunțha ;

Pankaja Nethram = with lovely, long eyes like a lotus;

Parama Pavithram = is also the supremely sacred one;
Śhankha Chakra Dhhara = holding the conch (Pānchajanyam) and wields the discus (Sudharśhana Chakram) ;
Chinmaya Rūpam =  embodies the spiritual presence.

He, who lives on the Venkata mountain; he who lives in Vaikunțha; he, who has lotus like eyes, he who is divinely pure, he who has the divine form, carrying the conch and the wheel.
 

Anupallavi

Ambujodhbhava Vinutham Agaṇitha Guṇa Nāmam
Thumburh Nāradha Gaṇa Vilolam Ambudhiśhayanam Āthmābhirāmam
(Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam)

Ambujodhbhava

Vinutham = one who is praised by Brahmā ;

Agaṇitha =

Guṇa Nāmam = one whose very name symbolizes countless sterling character traits;
Thumburu Nāradha

Gāna

Vilolam = one who delights in the music/song of the celestial bards like Nāradha

He who is worshipped by Brahma, he who has innumerable names and characters,
he who enjoys music by Nāradha and Thumburu.

Note: Ambujodhbhava - originating - udhbhava - from a lotus - ambuja - in Vishnu's navel - hence Padhmanābha - Annamāchārya refers to this in his Mohanam krithi - cheri yaśhodhaku śhiśhu īthaḍu, dhāruni brahmaku thanriyunīthaḍe - he is the son of Yaśhodhā and the father of Brahmā)

Charaṇam 1:

Pāhi Pāṇḍava Pakṣham Kaurava Madhaharaṇam
Bahu Parākrama Pūrṇam
Ahalyā Śhāpa Bhaya Nivāraṇam
(Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam )

Pāhi

Pāṇḍava Pakṣham - Protector of the Pāṇḍavas;

Kaurava

Madha

haraṇam – the destroyer of the arrogance of the Kauravas;

Bahu

Parākrama

Pūrṇam – one who is completely strong;
Ahalyā

Śhāpa

Bhaya

Nivāraṇam – the remover of fear of the curse of Ahalyā.

The protector of the Pāṇḍavas, the destroyer of the arrogance of the Kauravas, one who is completely strong and the remover of fear of the curse of Ahalyā.

Charaṇam2:

Sakala Vedha Vichāram Sarvajīvana Karam
Makara Kunḍala Dhhara Madhana Gopālam
Bhaktha Pośhaka Śhrī Purandhhara Viṭhalam
(Venkaṭāchala Nilayam Vaikunṭha Pura Vāsam )

Sakala Vedha

Vichāram – the subject of all Vedhas;

Sarvajīvana Karam - the cause of all life;

Makara Kunḍala

Dhhara = adorned with crocodile shaped ear-rings;

Madhana Gopālam = you are the handsome one and you who herded cows;

Bhaktha

Pośhaka

Śhrī Purandhhara Viṭṭhalam = you are Śhrī Purandhhara Viṭṭhala, who protects his devotees

The Gopala who is the subject of all Vedhas, the cause for all life, who is like the god of love, who herds cows, who wears golden ear studs which are crocodile shaped, that  Purandhara Viṭțhala who looks after devotees.(he resides in the mountains of Thirupathi)

Note: I have also heard that go can also mean senses, and hence Gopāl not only herded cows in Bhrundhāvan during Dhwāparayuga, but continues to herd our senses in Kaliyuga.