Aandal's Tiruppavai in Englist with explanation

8/8/2019 Aandal's Tiruppavai in Englist with explanation

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TiruppavaiSECTIONIINTRODUCTION:ThefirstfivepasuramsofTiruppavaiformonesection.

Paasuram1

maargazhiththingaLmadhiniRaindhanannaaLaal

neeraadappOdhuveerpOdhuminOnErizhaiyeer

seermalgumaayppaadiccelvacciRumeergaaL

koorvERkodunthozhilannandhagOpankumaran

EraarndhakaNNiyasOdhaiiLaNYsingam

kaarmEniccengaNkadhirmadhiyampOlmugaththaan

naaraayaNanEnamakkEpaRaitharuvaan

paarOrpugazhappadindhElOrembaavaay

Thefirststanzawhichstatesthecentralpremisetobeelaboratedintherestofthepoem

containsthefollowingideas:

1.Andal

praises

the

day

(NANNAL)that

has

appeared

of

its

own

accord

for

the

observance

ofthevow.Whatitmeansisthatforasoul,thatdayistheGoodDaywhenheunderstands

allabouthimselfandGodandtheirmutualrelationshipofLordandServantwhichisstated

intheTirumantram.

2.Thefruitingettingone'sbodyisforservingtheLordhereandhereafter(NEERADA

PODUVIR)

3.AllthosewhohavealongingfortheserviceoftheLordarequalifiedtojoin

her.(PODUVIRPODUMINO)


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4.Shespeaksoftheradiancethatattendedonthefaceofhercompanionsonhearingher

requisition.(MADINIRAINDA;themoonisnotintheskyalone!)

5.TheprosperityofGokulaconsistsofSriKrishna'samiablepranksinstealingbutterand

girls;i.e.,thewealthofaSriVaishnavaconsistsofhisintoxicatingloveforandenjoymentof

Lord'scompany.

6.Nandagopa'svigilanceinguardingKrishnawithhisverysharpspearinhandsymbolizes

the"ASTHANE

BHAYA

SANKA"

and

"MANGALASASANA

PARATA"

which

characterizes

aSri

Vaishnava.

7.Yasoda'soverindulgenceofKrishnaisresponsibleforallhispranksandmisbehavior

towardstheyounggopis.

8.SrimanNarayanaistheSOLEMEANSofattainingHisFeet.Thisstrikesthekeynoteofthe

SongDivineTIRUPPAVAI.NARAYANANE(UpayaSwarupam)NAMAKKE(AdhikariSwarupam)

PARAI(PhalaSwarupam)TARUVAN.ThesafestmeansofsecuringHimisnotKarmayogaetc

butHisGraceonly.Thatisthesumandsubstanceofthisverse.

Paasuram2

vaiyaththuvaazhvIrkaaL!naamumnampaavaikkuc

ceyyumkiricaikaLkELIrO paaRkataluL

paiyaththuyinRaparamanatipaati

neyyuNNOmpaaluNNOmnaatkaalEnIraati

maiyittezhuthOmmalarittunaammutiyOm

ceyyaathanaceyyOmthIkkuRaLaicenROthOm

aiyamumpiccaiyumaan^thanaiyumkaikaatti

uyyumaaRueNNiukan^thuElOrempaavaay

Ather

cordial

invitation

ahuge

crowd

gathered

and

the

wonder

struck

ANDAL

exclaims,

in

thisignorancespreadingworld,aretheresomanyinterestedinEmancipation!".She

proceedstoprescribe"dos"and"don'ts"(whichactuallyaretheSAMBHAVITASWABHAVA,

thenaturalcharacteristicsoftheAdhikari).

Whileweappeartobeperformingthisvowforgettingrain,inrealityitisdifferent.She

stressesthewords"NAMUMNAMPavaikku" NAMUM WEarequitedifferentfromothers;

welongforHiscompanyandfirmlybelievethatHealoneistheMeansforachievingit.NAM


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PavaiIndrajitdidamaleficritetoputanendtoRama;butOURbeneficentriteisfor

securingLord'sandHisWorld'sprosperityandhappiness.

TheSriVaishnaviteCodeofConductasprescribedbyherisasfollows:RecitetheSamskrita

andDravidaVedawhichsingsthegloryoftheFeetoftheLordrecliningontheSerpentinthe

MilkyOcean,allthewhilethinkingaboutone'sRedemption.

Eschewall

carnal

and

even

worldly

desires

like

eating

ghee,

drinking

milk

etc.

Batheearlyinthemorning.Don'tadornyoureyeswithcollyrium,oryourhairwithflowers

tillthecompletionofthevow;meaningtherebythataSriVaishnavaneedsdecorationetc

onlywhenheisinunionwiththeLord.Neverindulgeinanactwhichwasnotpracticedby

ourrighteousmindedancestors.Bharatarefusedthekingshipthoughgrantedbyhisfather

andpermittedbyRamaonthegroundsthatthetraditionofSolarKingsdidnotpermita

youngersontorulewhentheelderwasliving.

ASriVaishnavashouldnotspeakillofothersoreventhinkaboutit(whichistantamountto

reportingittotheGodinsidetheheart,therebyensuringtheirfall);Sitaneveruttereda

wordtoRamaabouttheilltreatmentbytheRakshasis.Heshouldeverbereadytodo

charityandimpartknowledgeaboutGodtoallthosewhoneedit.

Inshortheshouldconstantlybethinkingabouthisupliftmentandkeephismindfilledwith

peaceandhappiness.

Paasuram3

ONGkiulakaLan^thauththamanpErpaati

naaNGkaLnampaavaikkuccaaRRinIraatinaal

thINGkinRinaatellaamthiNGkaLmummaaripeythu

ONGkupeRuNY

cen^n^el

Utu

kayal

ukaLap

pUNGkuvaLaippOthilpoRivaNtukaNpatuppath

thENGkaathEpukkirun^thucIrththamulaipaRRi

vaaNGkak kutamniRaikkumvaLLalperumpacukkaL

nINGkaathacelvamniRain^thuElOrempaavaay

InthisverseANDALwishesforrainandconsequentialprosperityforthewholeworldasthe

worldisthepropertyofherLord.SowhoisaSriVaishnava?Itishewhowhilebeing


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detachedwithreferencetotherichesoftheworld,isatthesametimeaspiringforthem

consideringthemashisLord'sriches.HenceallSriVaishnavasafterdailyprayerrecitethe

versewhichsays"SarveJanahSukhinoBhavantu"everyoneshouldbehappy.

Andaltellsthegirls,"Ifwe,girls,recitetheNAMEoftheLordwhomeasuredtheentire

universewithhisthreestepsandobservethisvowthenthewholeworldwillbecome

prosperous."Notethetextwhichsays"UthamanPER"(hisNAME).Shecouldhavesimplysaid"ifwesing

thegloryoftheLord."Butshesaysinstead,theNAMEoftheLord.Whichmeansthatthe

NAMEOFTHELORD(theTiruAshtaksharaMantra,theEightSyllableone)ismoreefficacious

thantheLordHimself.InthecourthallofDuryodhana,whenDraupadiwasbeingdisrobed

byDussaasana,itwasonlytheNAME"Govinda"whichsavedhermodestywhiletheLord

failedher.

ButwePrapannas(Surrenderers)seeksalvationonlyfromHim.TheMantraisonlyfor

understandingthetruenatureoftheSoul,Lordandthemutualrelationship;itisessentially

topromotetheARTHAPANCHAKAknowledge.

NEENGATHA

Selvam

we

see

that

riches

do

not

remain

for

long

with

any

man;

then

what

doesNEENGATHAmean?ItreferstotheMokshaAiswarya,ServiceofGod,obtainedthrough

therecommendationofSriMahalakshmi.

Paasuram4

aazhimazhaikkaNNaa!onRunIkaikaravEl

aazhiyuLpukkumukan^thukotuaarththERi

UzhimuthalvanuruvampOlmeykaRuththup

paazhiyan^thOLutaip

paRpanaapan

kaiyil

aazhipOlminnivalampuripOlninRathirn^thu

thaazhaathEcaarNGkamuthaiththacaramazhaipOl

vaazhaulakinilpeythitaay naaNGkaLum

maarkazhinIraatamakizhn^thuElOrempaavaay


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ThePresidingDeityofRainwaskeenlyobservingthehappeningsinthisworld.Hesawhis

masterSrimanNarayanaservingallthegopis.Sohethoughtthattakingordersfromthe

gopisandcarryingouttheircommandswasthebestandeasiestmeansofpleasinghis

master.SoapproachingAndalwhowasintheguiseofagopiherequestshertocommand

him;andshedoessoinadetailedmannerinthisverse.

Theinner

significance

is

as

follows:

Just

as

the

heir

apparent

to

the

throne

is

always

feared

andrespectedbyallministersandofficerssoaretheSriVaishnavasbyinferiorgods.Hence

WhenaSriVaishnavaworshipsotherdeitieslikeIndra,RudraVarunaetc,heisdoing

somethinginappropriateaswellasridiculous.Itwillonlycausehisdownfallandruinhis

chanceofgettingsalvation.SoBeware!

SoheretheRainGodwhohascometohearhercommandistold,"Gotothemiddleregion

ofthesea,drinktheentirewaterleavingnotadrop,thenpouritoutinitsentiretywithout

discriminatingbetweentheplaceswherethegoodandbadlive.Therain,whichresembles

thearrowsshotbySriRamatoshatterthedemonstopieces,shouldinsteadbringforth

happinessandprosperitytotheentireland."

A

Sri

Vaishnava

is

one

who

always

thinks

of

everything

good

for

everyone

in

this

world.

Paasuram5

maayanaimannuvatamathuraimain^thanaith

thUyaperunIryamunaiththuRaivanai

aayarkulaththinilthOnRumaNiviLakkaith

thaayaikkutalviLakkamceythathaamOtharanaith

thUyOmaayvan^thunaamthUmalarthUviththozhuthu

vaayinaalpaati

manaththinaal

cin^thikkap

pOyapizhaiyumpukutharuvaanninRanavum

thIyinilthUcaakumceppuElOrempaavaay

Amongtheassembledgopis,oneexpressedadoubt,"weareplanningelaboratelyfor

gettingthecompanyofKrishna.Butremember,wearesinnersandoursinswillthrow

obstaclesinourpath.Italwayshappenswhenagooddeediscontemplated.Itisthewayof

theworld.TakethecaseofDasarathawhoplannedthecoronationofRama;thegreat


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omniscientsageVasishtafixedthedate;thecitizensclamoredforhimandapplaudedthe

decision.Butwhathappened?Ramawenttotheforestforsakingthecity,anditwasHis

Paduka(holysandals)whichsatonthethroneforfourteenyears.Sowhatisthesuretythat

wewillsucceed?"

Theanswerisgiveninthisverse:RecitethenameofKrishna;thinkofhim;offerflowers;and

allobstacles

will

vanish.

All

sins

committed

before

taking

Refuge

with

Him,

as

well

those

unwittinglyaccruingafterSurrender(Saranagati)willperish.ThePurvaAgha(earliersins)

willbeburnttoasheslikecottonbalesinafire;andtheUttaraAgha(subsequentsins)will

notsticktothepersonlikedropsofwatertoalotusleaf.

Milkisbothapleasurablefoodaswellasamedicinetocurebile.Thesameisthecasewith

Him.(Maruttuvanaaininramamanivanna)

SECTIONIIINTRODUCTION:Thesecondtenpasurams615formthenextsection.These10stanzas

describethesleepinggirlsbeingwokenupbythosewhoarealreadyup.Thesetwogroups

representKAINKARYA

NISHTHA

(those

impatient

to

serve

God,

like

Lakshmana)

and

GUNANISHTHA(thosewhoarecontenttomeditateonthegloriousqualitiesofGod,like

Bharata).NammazhwarspeaksoftheirpresenceeveninVaikunthaloka VAIKUNTATTU

AMARARUM(serviceminded)MUNIVARUM(enjoyingHisVirtues).

Poisonactsondifferentpeopleindifferentways somefaintandsomerunhereandthere;

sodotheattributesofSriKrishna.Hencethesleepinggirlisnotabitinferiorintheirlonging

forKrishnatothosewhowakethem.ThoughonecouldgotoKrishnaonone'sown,itisnot

advisable"VEDAMVALLARGALAIKKONDU,VINNORPERUMANTIRUPPADAMPANINDU"says

Nammazhwar.WeshouldalwaysapproachHimthroughsomegodlyperson;becausewe

havesinnedagainstHimandbeingaSWATANTRA(freetoactasHepleases),Hemaypunish

us.HenceaRecommendingAuthorityisverymuchneeded.MoreoverHisvirtuesarelikea

hugeriverinspateduringrains,andsoifamanwantstocrossithewouldneedthehelpof

others.Further

unlike

in

the

case

of

carnal

company,

enjoyment

of

His

company

will

be

sweeterinthecompanyofBhaktas.

Thosegopiswhoarevigilantaregoadedonbytheirhaste(twara)togetKainkarya,while

thosethatareasleephavefirmfaith(adhyavasaya)intheLordasUpaya.Hencepasurams6

15giveroomforinterpretingthemasreferringtoAzhwarsandacharyas.

Paasuram6


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puLLumcilampinakaaNpuLLaraiyankOyilil

veLLaiviLicaNGkinpEraravamkEttilaiyO

piLLaayezhun^thiraaypEymulainaNYcuNtu

kaLLaccakatamkalakkazhiyakkaalOcci

veLLaththaravilthuyilamarn^thaviththinai

uLLaththukkoNtu

munivarkaLum

yOkikaLum

meLLaezhun^thu"ari"enRapEraravam

uLLampukun^thukuLirn^thuElOrempaavaay

Thegirlsapproachthemansionofagopiandwakeherupbyindicatingsignsofearlydawn,"

eventhebirdsareupandchirping.Getup."Thesleepinggirlrejectsthisreason,"ohgirls,

youneverallowthebirdsinyourtowntosleep,withyourchantingofHisnamesandmaking

themchanttoo.Thisisnosignofdawn!"Thentheymentionanoteworthysign,"

PULLARAYANKOILetc...TheblowingconchinthetempleofVishnuforearlymorning

worship,isinvitingusallforHisservice.Getup."

Herethe

phrase

PULLARAYAN

KOIL

brings

out

an

excellent

quality

of

the

Lord:

PULisbird,hereGaruda;ARAYANking;KOYILtemple ThetempleofVishnu.Butwhythis

circumlocution?Thereisareason.

InRamayanawhilenarratingtoHanumanherabductionbyRavana,Sitasays,"Onthat

fatefuldayIwasluredbythatdemondisguisedasadeer,andwasseparatedfromRama's

youngerbrotherandLakshmana'selderbrother(RAMANUJAMLAKSMANAPOORVAJAM

CHA)." Suchphraseologyisusedforapurpose.TheLordfeelshappywhenHisnameis

coupledwithHisdevotee'sandsodoesthedevoteewhenheisreferredtoasbeing

subservienttotheLord.ThemessageofSita(SriDevi)andAndal(BhuDevi)tousisthat

whenaSriVaishnavanameshischildheshouldfollowthisprinciple.

ULLATHUKKONDUetcinthisverseisnoteworthy.Themunisandyoginsgetupinthe

morningvery

slowly

from

their

beds

so

that

the

Lord,

taking

eternal

abode

in

their

hearts

maynotbedisturbed.Prahladawaspusheddownfromthetopofahugemountain,and

whilefallingheheldfasthisbosomwithgreatconcernforSriHarilivingthere,never

botheringaboutwhatwashappeningtohimself.ButtheLordwaitedforhimatthebottom

ofthemountainandreceivedhiminhisspreadarms.

ParasaraBhattarusedtoembellishhisbodywithsilkenrobe,ornaments,sandalpasteetc,

andwhenaskedaboutitsproprietyinrespectofthedespicablebody,hesaidinhisviewit

wasnotdespicablebutadorablebeingthesanctumsanctorumoftheAlmighty.

Andalalsoleavesthislessoninthisverse:Whenyougetupinthemorningchantthename

ofHari(HARIRHARIRHARIRITIVYAHARETVAISHNAVAHPUMAN).Letusdoso.

Paasuram7


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keechukeechenRueNGkumaanaiccaaththan kalan^thu

pEcinapEccaravamkEttilaiyOpEyppeNNE

kaacumpiRappumkalakalappakkaipErththu

vaacanaRuNGkuzhalaaycciyar maththinaal

Ocaipatuththa

thayiraravam

kEttilaiyO

naayakappeNpiLLaaynaaraayaNanmUrththi

kEcavanaippaatavumnIkEttEkitaththiyO

thEcamutaiyaaythiRaElOrempaavaay

Inthisstanza,fromthetwoaddressesinvocativecasePEYPENNE!andNAYAKA

PPENPILLAY!whicharediametricallyoppositeinmeaning,wearetounderstandthatthey

aresaidoutofloveandaffectionforthesleepinggirl.Whatevermaybetheapparent

contradiction,theinnerfeelingismostimportantwhilemovingwithSriVaishnavas.

Inthe6000Padicommentarywefindveryinterestingandenlighteningcommentsandto

illustratethemanepisodenarratedwithexquisitecharm.Havingwokenupahandfulofgirls

Andalcould

have

proceeded

on

to

Krishna.

Why

go

to

EVERY

house?

If

one

is

aSri

Vaishnava

heshouldthinkofthewelfareofALL notjustafew.Notevenasinglegirlshouldlosethe

goldenopportunityofgetting

thegraceofSriKrishna.Aman'srelationshipwithSrimanNarayanaistrueonlyifherejoices

atthegoodluckofanothermanasifitwerehisownson's.Ifhefailstofeelthatwayheis

noSriVaishnava.

ALKONDAVILLYJEEYAR,asincerepupilofSRIRAMANUJAoncemetinSriRangam

NANJEEYAR,thediscipleofPARASARABHATTAR.Theformerexclaimed,"OJeeyar!ReallyI

havenotdevelopedatasteforBhagavadVishaya(i.e.,God)."Nanjeeyarwasamazedand

asked"Howisthispossible?YouarethefaithfulstudentofSriRamanuja,servinghim

assiduously still yousaythis?"Theformersaid,"IfamanhasrealtasteforBhagavanhe

mustenjoy

the

sweet

company

of

His

devotees.

If

not

he

is

no

Sri

Vaishnava.

Have

we

developedthatpleasurableattitudetowardsSriVaishnavas?HenceIsayso."

Unlessthemeeting,minglingandderivingsupremesatisfactionandhappinessinthe

companyofBhagavatasaresecuredhereinthisworld(whichistheintensivetraining

groundforourlifeinSriVaikuntha),Mokshawillnotbedelectable.NAMMAZHWARsaysat

theendofTiruvaymozhi,"ADIYAARODUIRUNDAMAI".Heaspirednotforthemereunionof

theLordbutforthesameinthecompanyofHisdevotees,whichalonewouldmakeit

delectable.


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Paasuram8

keezhvaanamveLLenRuerumaiciRuveetu

mEyvaanparan^thanakaaNmikkuLLapiLLaikaLum

pOvaanpOkinRaaraip

pOkaamal

kaaththu

unnaik

kUvuvaanvan^thuninROm kOthukalamutaiya

paavaayezhun^thiraaypaatippaRaikoNtu

maavaaypiLan^thaanaimallaraimaattiya

thEvaathithEvanaiccenRunaamcEviththaal

aavaavenRuaaraayn^thuaruLElOrempaavaay

HereagirlwhoisKrishna'sparticularsweetheartisbeingwokenup.Shecanbecomparedto

NAMMAZHWAR(Krishnatrishnatatvam)theveryembodimentofdeepdevotiontoSri

Krishna.Hercompanyiscertaintoaccomplishtheirdesire.KOTHUGALAMUDAYAPAVAAI!is

amostbeautifulformofaddress.

"Thehorizonhasbecomebright.Getup."saythegirls.Butsheastonishesthembyreplying,

"ItisthelusterfromyourmoonlikefaceswhichhasbrightenedtheEasternquarter.Theday

isyettodawn."

ThesecondsignofdaybreakmentionedinthisstanzaindicatesthatAndalhasindeedbeen

transformedintoagopi "Thebuffaloesarefastdispersinginthefieldssearchingforthe

tendergreengrasswiththedewdropsofdawnclingingtothem.Ifwedelay,Krishnawould

havefollowedthemintotheforestandourpurposewouldbelost." Thisstatementcould

nothavecomeoutofthelipsofanyoneotherthanatruecowherdess.SoAndalhastotally

identifiedherselfwithagopi,livingwiththecowherdsandtakingpartinalltheirdaily

chores.

HerfatherSriVishnuchittawasalearnedVedicauthorityandhadevenwrittenarulebook

forconductingsacrificescalledKalpaSutra.HetooassumedtheroleofYasodatotheextent

ofparticipatingineverychildishactivityofKrishna.Forthishisdaughteraffectionatelycalls

him,"BhogattilVazhuvadaPuduvayarkon"(onewhohasnotmissedasingleopportunityto

enjoyKrishna).Nowhisdaughterdoesthesame.

Theconclusionisthis:Onlythatcasteisdesirable,whichiscongenialfortheenjoymentof

GodandwhichiscalculatedtobringdownHisGraceonus.SRILOKADESIKAsaysinSRI


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VACHANABHUSHANAM,"PeriyazhvarumTirumagalarumGopaJanmattaiAsthanam

Panninargal."

Paasuram9

thUmaNi

maataththuc

cuRRum

viLakkeriyath

thUpamkamazhaththuyilaNaimElkaNvaLarum

maamaanmakaLE!maNikkathavamthaaLthiRavaay

maamIr!avaLaiezhuppIrO unmakaLthaan

UmaiyO?anRiccevitO?anan^thalO?

Emapperun^thuyilman^thirappattaaLO?

maamaayanmaathavanvaikun^thanenRenRu

naamampalavumnavinRuElOrempaavaay

ThegopiwokenupinthisversehasunflinchingfaithintheLord'sUPAYABHAVA.Inthis

regardshematchesverywellwithSitawho,whenHanumansuggestedthathecarryher

backtoRama,sternlyrefusedandrebukedhimsayingthathewasequaltoRavana,(Ravana

tulya)inthisthatwhileRavanarobbedRamaofoneofhispossessions,Sita;Hanumanis

tryingtorobHimofanother,His"Sarvalokarakshakatvam"(solerighttoprotectall).Then

sheadded,"Withmypowerofchastitywhichcooledyourburningtail,Icouldhavesaved

myself;butthatwouldhaveonlydestroyedRama'sreputation.HealonebyHisprowess

shouldrescuemeandestablishhisvalour.TatTasyaSadrusamBhavet.Thatalonewouldbe

befittingtoHim."Hanumanapplaudedthesewords.

SoalsothisgirlhavingtransferredherburdentoSriKrishna,sleepshavingtotalfaithinHis

words,"Ananyahchintayantomam......Yogakshemamvahamyaham".ANDALteachesusin

thisstanzathatasoulaftersurrenderingtotheLordshouldbelikethisgopi.

"MAMANMAGALE!" Oh,myuncle'sdaughter!.Thoughbloodrelationshipiscondemnedas

itcontributestoworldlyattachment,thesameismostwelcomeifithelpstodoserviceto

GodandHisdevotees.NAMMAZHWARrecommendslivingwithallrelationsin

TIRUVAYMOZHI8.10,11,butcondemnsthesamein9.1.1fortheabovereasons.KOORATHU

AZHWANusedtoremarkwithasadheart,"IdonothavebloodrelationshipwithSri

RAMANUJA.Fieuponme!ThatgoodfortuneiswithMUDALIANDANandEMBAR!"Thisidea

isnoteworthyinthisverse.


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Paasuram10

nORRuccuvarkkampukukinRaammanaay!

maaRRamumthaaraarOvaacalthiRavaathaar

naaRRaththuzhaaymutinaaraayaNan nammaal

pORRappaRai

tharum

puNNiyanaal

paNtu

orun^aaL

kURRaththinvaayvIzhn^thakumpakarNanum

thORRumunakkEperun^thuyilthaanthan^thaanO

aaRRaanan^thalutaiyaay!aruNGkalamE

thERRamaayvan^thuthiRaElOrempaavaay

Therearetwoaddressesinthevocativecaseinthispasuram NOTRUSUVARGAM

PUKUKINRAAMMANOY!andARUNKALAME! bothbringouttheexcellencesofthisgopi

andtherebyimplytheexcellentcharacteristicsofgoodSriVaishnavas.

1.SUVARGAMheremeansonlyunionwithGod.Sitasays,whilepressingRamatotakeher

with

Him

to

the

forest,"

If

I

am

with

you

that

is

heaven

for

me.

Separation

from

you

means

hell."ThegirlherehascompletedallherritesbysurrenderingtotheLordandhenceis

enjoyingHiscompany.SoalsoforaSriVaishnavathereremainsnothingtobedonebyway

of"Upaaya"afteracceptingHimasthesolerefuge(SARANAGATI).

2.ARUNKALAME!"Kalam"hastwomeanings(a)vesseland(b)ornament;ASriVaishnavais

thevesseltocontainHisGrace.ASriVaishnavapossessessuperiorornamentsintheformof

virtues;orhehimselfisthebestornamentembellishingthegatheringsofotherSri

Vaishnavas.

SUVARGAcanalsobebrokenupintoSU+VARGA(SU=goodVARGA=gathering).Ifaman

possessesallgoodqualitieshewillbetakenintothefoldofSriVaishnavites.(Refto

PERIYAZHWARTIRUMOZHI3.6.11 Saadukottiyulkollappaduvare.)

Paasuram11


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kaRRukkaRavaikkaNaNGkaLpalakaRan^thu

ceRRaarthiRalazhiyaccenRucerucceyyum

kuRRamonRillaathakOvalarthampoRkotiyE

puRRaravalkulpunamayilEpOtharaay

cuRRaththuthOzhimaarellaarumvan^thu nin

muRRampukun^thumukilvaNNanpErpaata

ciRRaathEpEcaathEcelvappeNtaatti nI

ERRukkuuRaNGkumporuLElOrempaavaai

Inthispasuramagopireputedforherexquisitebeautylikeagoldencreeper(PORKODI)and

bornofaverynoblefamily,isbeingwokenup.Herfatherandkinsmenareknownfor

dischargingthedutiespertainingtotheircowherdcaste,whichentailsmilkinganendless

numberofcows.SoAndalseemstosaythatperformanceofone'sdutyasenjoinedinthe

ScripturesiscalculatedtobringhappinesstotheLordandtherebyfallsintothecategoryof

HisService.Oneshouldhenceneverdiscardone'sduty.

SETTARTIRALAZHIYAisnoteworthy.SETTARmeansenemies.Whoaretheenemiesmeant

here?NotthosewhodespisethembutthosewhowanttoharmSriKrishna.ForaSri

Vaishnavathereisnodirectenemy;hewillnotmindormayevenwelcome(asitwilltake

awayhissin)someonetryingtoharmhim.Butheconsidershimhisenemywhointends

harmtotheLord.

SUTTATTUTHOZHIMAR thegirlcompanionsofthisgopi whoarethey?Theyarethose

whoevenafterperformingallkindsofservicestotheLord,donotexpectanythinginreturn

exceptHisSupremeSatisfactionandHappiness."Praharshayishyamisanathajeevitah" I'll

makemylifeworthwhilebypleasingHim saysSriALAVANDAR.ThestanzainNACHIYAR

TIRUMOZHI"Naarunarumpozhil"(9.67)isalsotoberememberedinthiscontext.

Paasuram12


13/33

kanaiththuiLaNGkaRRerumaikanRukkuiraNGki

ninaiththumulaivazhiyEninRupaalcOra

nanaiththuillamcERaakkumnaRcelvanthaNGkaay

paniththalaivIzhaninvaacaRkataipaRRic

cinaththinaalthennilaNGkaikkOmaanaicceRRa

manaththukkuiniyaanaippaatavumnIvaaythiRavaay

iniththaanezhun^thiraayIthennapEruRakkam

anaiththuillaththaarumaRin^thuElOrempaavaay

Thisgopiisthesisterofacowherdwho,unlikethedutyconsciousoneinthepreviousverse,

totallyneglectsthedailydutyofmilkingtheyoungshebuffalosoastobeclosetoKrishna

andservingHim.HeiscalledNARSELVAN;therebyindicatingthatforaSriVaishnavaitisnot

thedoingorneglectofNityaKarmawhichhelpsattainingsalvation,butitisGodalonewho

istheMeansforsalvation.Forexampleforatemplepriestwhoisalwaysengagedin

AntarangaKainkaryatheremaybeneglectofhisdailyduties;thiswouldhowevernotbe

consideredassin.

MANATTUKKUINIYAN SriRama,unlikeKrishnabringsjoytothemindsofhisdevoteesas

wellasadversaries.ThisissaidbyAndal,theverypersonificationoftheLoveforSriKrishna,

andhenceistherichesttributepaidtoSriRama.Itmightberecalledthatshe,inNACHIYAR

TIRUMOZHIgoestotheextentofblamingYashodaforbringingupKrishnatobeaverybad

boy.(Vembeyaagavalarthaale).ItisnotsuchanextraordinarythingoragreatwonderifSri

RamaislovedbyHisdevoteesandsubjects;butwhenevenRavanaisfascinatedbyHis

valour,itmakesthederivationofHisnameapt(RanjaneeyasyaVikramaih).

SINATTINAAL outofangerbutwithouthatred.RamahadnohatredtowardsRavana.

ActuallyHewantedRavanaasadevotee;itwasRavana'sownhatredwhichcausedhis

downfall.It

was

only

when

he

tried

attack

Hanuman

that

Rama

became

furious

and

showeredarrowsonRavana(kopasyaVasameyivaan).SoHeisalwaysreadytoforgivesins

againstHimselfbutnotagainstHisdevotees.

Paasuram13


14/33

puLLinvaaykINtaanaippollaaarakkanai

kiLLikkaLain^thaanaikkIrththimaipaatippOyp

piLLaikaLellaarumpaavaikkaLampukkaar

veLLiezhun^thuviyaazhamuRaNGkiRRu

puLLumcilampinakaaNpOtharikkaNNinaay

kuLLakkuLirakkutain^thunIraataathE

paLLikkitaththiyO?paavaay!nInannaaLaal

kaLLamthavirn^thukalan^thuElOrempaavaay

Agirlwithbewitchingeyes(PODARIKKANNINAAY)iswokenupinthisverse.Sheisof

theviewthatKrishnawillcometoherfascinatedbythebeautyofhereyes.Toadd

tothissheislying,broodingoverKrishna'sheroicexploits,inthebedformerly

sharedwithHimandwhichstillretainsHisfragrance.

ThestatementinthepreviousversethatSriRamascoredoverKrishnainbeing

"MANATHUKKUINIYAAN"createdasortofmutinyamongthegirls,someofwhom

disputedthisbysaying,"howcanRamabesaidtobethereceptacleofallthe

virtues?DidHe,likeKrishnawhoactedasPandavaduta,goasmessengerfor

anyone?Didn'tKrishna'scharmsallureeventhesages?EvenHismischievouspranks

aremeantforusonly.MoreoverKrishnaisourhusbandandirrespectiveofhowhe

treatsus,itisnotproperforustopraiseanotherasbeinggreater."

SomemediatorsintervenedandpointedoutthatbotharethesameSriman

Narayana,andsowhereisthecausefordispute.Thusreconciledthegirlssplitinto

twohalves

each

praising

the

glory

of

Krishna

and

Rama.

This

is

the

excellence

of

this

verse.

Paasuram14


15/33

uNGkaLpuzhaikkataiththOttaththuvaaviyuL

ceNGkazhunIrvaaynekizhn^thuaampalvaaykUmpinakaaN

ceNGkalpotikkUraiveNpalthavaththavar

thaNGkaLthirukkOyilcaNGkituvaanpOthan^thaar

eNGkaLaimunnamezhuppuvaanvaaypEcum

naNGkaayezhun^thiraaynaaNaathaaynaavutaiyaay

caNGkOtucakkaramEn^thumthatakkaiyan

paNGkayakkaNNaanaip

paatu

ElOr

empaavaay

Agopiwhoisanexpertoratorandwhoisalsochiefamongthesegirlsiswokenup.Shehad

promisedthatshewouldgetupbeforetherestandwakethemup.Shehasconveniently

forgottenallaboutitandissleepingcomfortablyandpeacefully.Thisisanunpardonable

crime.Butstillherinclusioninthegroupismostessentialas,withhersilvertongue,shecan

easilysubdueKrishna.MoreoveritisessentialthatnotasinglegirllosesHisgrace.Ifshe

weretosingofKrishnaasHeappearsbearingthediscusandconchHeissuretorelent.

IncidentallyAndaltellsus,"Useyourtonguenotmerelyfortastingdeliciousdishes,butfor

singingabouttheLotuseyedOne.Thatwasthemainpurposeforwhichitwasgiftedtoyou

inthefirstplacebyGod."

Paasuram15

ellEiLaNGkiLiyE!innamuRaNGkuthiyO!

cillenRuazhaiyEnminnaNGkaimIrpOtharukinREn

vallaiunkatturaikaLpaNtEunvaayaRithum

vallIrkaLnINGkaLEnaanEthaanaayituka

ollainIpOthaayunakkennavERutaiyai


16/33

ellaarumpOn^thaarOpOn^thaarpOn^thueNNikkoL

vallaanaikonRaanaimaaRRaaraimaaRRazhikka

vallaanai maayanaippaatuElOrempaavaay

ThispasuramwhichbringsoutthecharacteristicsofaSriVaishnavaisconsideredtobethe

very

essence

of

Tiruppavai

by

our

Acharyas.

Thegirlwhoiswokenupbeginstosing.

1. YELLEILANKILIYE theimpliedsenseisthatthespeechofthedevoteesismostwelcome.2. INNAMURANGUDIYO Itiswrongtoindulgeinotherthingsifthecompanyof

Bhagavatasisavailable.

3. CHILENRUAZHAYENMIN NotasingleharshwordshouldbeusedwiththeBhaktas.4. NANGAIMIRPODARGINREN Devoteesshouldbeaddressedrespectfully.5. VALLAIUNKATTURAIGAL EventhechastisementbyaBhakta(whichwillalwaysbe

constructive)shouldbeacceptedgratefully.

6. VALLEERGALNEENGALENAANETHANAAYIDUGA owningothersmistakesasone'sownisthehallmarkofaSriVaishnava.Fore.g.BharataholdshimselfresponsibleforRama's

exile.

7. OLLAINEEPODAAY Separationfromdevoteesevenforasecondisunbearable.8. UNAKKENNAVERUDAYAI Thepathlaiddownbyone'sancestorsistobefollowed,not

whatisdictatedbyone'sownmind.

9. ELLAARUMPONDAAROPONDUENNIKKOL seeingacongregationofdevoteesisthemostdesiredfruitinthislife.Theenjoymentisnotcompleteevenifonedevoteeis

missing.Theirsightandtouchareallcontributoryfactorstoone'senjoyment.

10.VALLAANAI SingingHisvirtues,valor,victoryetcarevitaltoaSriVaishnavaasameansofpleasingotherSrivaishnavas;assuchitresultsintheserviceofBhagavatas.

TheseTenCommandments(goldenrules)aretobecherishedastheyconstitutetheacidtest

fortestingwhetheroneisreallyaSriVaishnava.

Paasuram16

naayakanaayninRanan^thakOpanutaiya

kOyil

kaappaanE!

kotith

thOnRum

thOraNa

vaayilkaappaanE! maNikkathavamthaaLthiRavaay

aayarciRumiyarOmukku aRaipaRai

maayanmaNivaNNannennalEvaaynErn^thaan

thUyOmaayvan^thOmthuyilezhappaatuvaan

vaayaalmunnamunnammaaRRaathEammaa! nI

nEyanilaikkathavamnIkkuElOrempaavaay


17/33

ThusintenpasuramsAndalwokeupgirlsofdifferingnaturesandtherebyallthegirlsof

GokulawerewokenupandtheyallproceedtoSriNandagopan'smansionandrequestthe

doorkeepertoletthemin.

CowherdcoloniesinthosedaysmayhavecontainedonlyhutsandNanda'smansionmaybe

abighut,withoutadoorkeeper.AndallthismaybeAndal'sfertileimagination.Butwhat

sheis

doing

is

to

tell

us

how

one

should

enter

atemple

in

Archavatara,

and

worship

the

Lord.

SriPARASARABHATTARinhisSRIRANGARAJASTAVAlaysdowntheprocedurefortemple

entrybasedonthisstanza.ThedoorkeepersarereallyourAcharyas.Inourdailypoojawe

openthedoorofour'koyilazhwar'(theboxwherethehomeidoliskept)byrecitingthe

AcharyaParamparaandfinallythisversewithoutfail.

TUYOMAAYVANDOM wehavecomewithpurity.Whatisthepuritymeanthere?Notthe

usualphysicalorevenmentalpurity.Thephysicalpurityofcowherdsiswellknown,saythe

commentators.Thepurityreferredtohereisthefactthattheyhavecometodoserviceto

theLordWITHOUTASKINGANYTHINGINRETURN.Kainkaryaitselfistheend(Swayam

Purushaartha)andisnotthemeanstoanend.Thispointshouldbeeverfixedintheheartof

aSriVaishnava.

Paasuram17

amparamEthaNNIrEcOREaRaNYceyyum

emperumaannan^thakOpaalaaezhun^thiraay

kompanaarkkuellaamkozhun^thEkulaviLakkE

emperumaattiyacOthaayaRivuRaay

amparamUtaRuththuONGkiuLakuaLan^tha

umparkOmaanEuRaNGkaathuezhun^thiraay

cempoRkazhalaticcelvaapalathEvaa

umpiyumnIyumuRaNGkElOrempaavaay

HavingenteredNandagopala'spalacewiththepermissionoftheguards,theGopis(Andal)

wakeupNandagopa,yashoda,KrishnaandBalarama,panegyrisingtheirgreatness.

Nandahasplacedhisbedneartheentranceforfearthatthegopis,likeUshainthecaseof

Aniruddha,maystealKrishna;especiallyasKrishnaismorehandsomethanHisgrandson!

AndalglorifiesNandaasamunificentdonorofclothes,waterandfood;butwedonotcome

acrossanysuch


18/33

referenceelsewhere.Thecommentatorsays:"AsKrishnawasseengivingclothesto

Draupaditosavehermodesty;watertothechariothorsesatKurukshetra;andfoodtohis

boyhoodcompanionsintheforest itcouldbepresumedthathisqualitieswereinherited

fromHisfather."

Butthegopisarenotherefortheseitems;theyneedonlyKrishna(VAASUDEVAHSARVAM).

Yashodagave

birth

to

Krishna

only

to

make

Him

their

husband;

and

being

awoman

she

knowstheirplight.Sotheynextwakeherup.

SriKrishnainhispastincarnationasTrivikramahadobtainedIndra'skingdomforhim.But

thegopisdonotwantHimtodoanysuchthingforthem.ItisenoughifHeallowsthemto

doservicetoHim.Krishnadoesnotrespond.

RealizingtheirmistakeinnotapproachingHimthroughBalarama,theydosonowandask

himtohelpthemashehadoncedoneinthecaseofthegopisseparatedfromKrishnawhen

HewenttoMathura.

Paasuram18

un^thumathakaLiRRan

Otaatha

thOL

valiyan

nan^thakOpaalanmarumakaLEnappinnaay

kan^thamkamazhumkuzhalikataithiRavaay

van^thueNGkumkOzhiazhaiththanakaaN maathavip

pan^thalmElpalkaalkuyilinaNGkaLkUvinakaaN

pan^thaarviraliunmaiththunanpErpaatac

cen^thaamaraikkaiyaalcIraarvaLaiolippa

van^thuthiRavaaymakizhn^thuElOrempaavaay

Thisisaveryimportantpasuram.EvenafterwakingupallfromNandatoBalarama,when

Krishnadoes

not

open

His

lips,

they

realize

their

folly

in

not

waking

up

first

NAPPINNAI,

the

chiefqueenandPurushakara(recommendingauthority)duringHissojourninthisworldas

Krishna.Theydoitinthisverse.

NappinnaiisSriNEELADEVI,theothertwobeingSRIDEVI(Rukmini)andBHOODEVI

(Satyabhama).Nappinnai'snameisnotfoundanywhereinthePuranasandinSanskrit

poemsexceptinSRIYADAVABHYUDAYAMofSriDESIKA,wheresheisreferredtoasNeela;

andinthestotrasofSriKURATTAZHWAN.Seealso the"Taniyan"ofSriAndal "NEELA

TUNGA..."bySriPARASARABHATTAR.


19/33

AswearesinnersandtheLordisknownforHis"Swaatantrya"(actingaccordingtoHisown

will),itisnecessarytoapproachHimthroughsomebodywhoisverynearanddeartoHim

andwhoseadviceisinfallible.HenceNappinnai'sinterventionisessential.

SheisaddressedasNanda'sdaughterinlaw,becauseshethinksthatthatiswhatgivesher

prestigeand

status

in

society.

Sita,when

asked

by

Hanuman

said,"

I'm

the

daughter

in

law

of

Dasarathafirst,andthenonlythedaughterofJanaka."SotoanIndianwomanAndal's

exhortationis:"Aftermarriageagirlshouldalwayspreferherselftobereferredtoasthe

daughterinlawofherfatherinlaw;whichmeansthatthewelfareofherhusband'sfamily

shouldweighmorewithherthanthatofthefamilyofherorigin.Thisattitudewould

enhanceherownprestigeandbringimmensejoytoherownfamily."

ThispasuramwasthespecialfavouriteofourAcharyaSriRamanuja.Hewasinthehabit

recitingtohimselfTiruppavaistanzaswhilehewentforhisMaadhukaraVritti(forcollecting

thealmsthehouseholdersusedtogive).OncejustashereachedthedoorofhisGuru's

househewasmeditatingonthisverse.Whilethelastline"SEERAARVALAIOLIPPAetc"was

onhislipsthedooropenedtotheclinkingofthebanglesofthedaughterofhisguru.Sri

Ramanuja

thought

that

it

was

Nappinnai

herself

who

opened

the

door

and

overwhelmed

withjubilationpromptlyprostratedhimselfbeforeher.Theterrifiedgirlrantoherfather

andnarratedtheincident.Theguru TIRUKKOTTIYURNAMBIexclaimed,"Jiya!wereyou

recitingUNDUMADAKALIRU?"WhatanunderstandingbetweentheTeacherandthe

taught!Maythatrelationshipsaveusall!

Paasuram19

kuththuviLakkeriyakkOttukkaalkattilmEl

meththenRapaNYcacayanaththinmElERi

koththalarpUNGkuzhalnappinaikoNGkaimEl

vaiththukkitan^thamalarmaarpaavaaythiRavaay

maiththataNGkaNNinaaynIunmaNaaLanai

eththanaipOthumthuyilezhaottaaykaaN

eththanaiyElumpirivu

aaRRakillaayaal

thaththuvamanRuthakavuElOrempaavaay

AcholakingwhowasconstructingoneoftherampartsofthetempleatSriRangamfound

thatthebeautifulcirculardesignwasbeingspoiltbythehouseofadiscipleof

KURATTAAZHWANcalledPILLAIPILLAIAZHWAN,andorderedittobedemolished.Sri

PARASARABHATTARadvisedhimagainstitexplainingthatitisnothisrampartbutthe

mangalasaasana(PALLAANDU)ofthedevoteeswhichwouldensuresafetytotheLord;and


20/33

alsothatdemolishingthehouseofaSriVaishnavawouldbesuretobringdownthewrathof

God.Butthekingturnedadeafeartothisadvice,andbecomingfuriouscausedtroubleto

SriBHATTAR,asaresultofwhichhehadtoleaveforTirukkoshtiyur.Whilehewassuffering

thegriefofseparationfromSriRangamandtheLord,hisdiscipleNANJEEYARrequestedhim

tocomposeasonginpraiseofANDALtomitigatehisfeelingofsorrow.Thereappearedfrom

hislipsthe'taniyan'"NEELATUNGAetc",whichistheessenceofthepresentpaasuram

(KUTTUVILAKKU).

NAPPINNAIislyingonthecostlycouchalongwithKrishna.Thecotstandsonfourivory

bases,theivoryforwhichwasobtainedbyKrishnabyhisvalorousactofpluckingthefour

tusksfromthemurderousmightyelephantKuvalayapida.Beingthewifeofagreatheroshe

cannotgetsleepanywhereelseexceptonsuchacot.Thereferencestothevariouskindsof

pleasuresinthisstanzaisasuggestionbyAndalthatallgopisshouldgettheminSriKrishna's

companyandonlyforthatreasonNappinnaiiskeepingcompanywithHim."Ifyoudon't

ensurethis,yousurelydon'thavemercy,"AndalrebukesNappinnai.

Paasuram20

muppaththumUvaramararkkumuncenRu

kappamthavirkkum

kaliyE

thuyilezhaay

ceppamutaiyaaythiRalutaiyaay ceRRaarkku

veppamkotukkumvimalaathuyilezhaay

ceppennamenmulaiccevvaaycciRumaruNGkul

nappinnainaNGkaaythiruvEthuyilezhaay

ukkamumthattoLiyumthan^thuunmaNaaLanai

ippOthEemmainIraattuElOrempaavaay

Despitetherebuke,NAPPINNAIwasmovedtopitybythewailingoftheGopisandgettingup

approachedthedoortoopenit.Krishnathought,"Nappinnaithinksthatmydevoteesare

herown

just

as

Iconsider

hers

to

be

mine.

Hence

she

should

not

open

the

door

and

get

agoodname,leavingmeout.ItisIwhoshouldopenit."SoHecamefrombehindandlifting

herupbodilythrewheronthebedwithHim.Butthemutualtouchwassopleasanttothem

thattheypromptlyforgotallaboutthemselvesandthepoorGopis.

Theinnermeaningofthishighdrama,asgivenbythecommentatoristhatthereisaDivine

Couplewhoarevyingwitheachothertolookafterthewelfareofallofus(souls).Hencewe

havenocauseforconcernatall.Allwehavetodoistoaccepttheirprotection.


21/33

AndalsaystoSriKrishnainthisstanza:"Youhaveonseveraloccasionsinthepastdispelled

fearfromthemindsoftheDevasandrescuedthemfromtheAsuras.Nowbydelayingin

grantingourboonyouaregoingtoloseallthathardearnedreputationasasavior.Notealso

thatwearenotaskingyoutobecomethetargetoftheweaponsofaHiranyaoraRavana.

Wemerelywanttoseeyougetupfromyourbedandgrantustheboonofservingyou.We

areANANYA

PRAYOJANA

ADHIKARIs.

Paasuram21

ERRakalaNGkaLethirpoNGkimIthaLippa

maaRRaathEpaalcoriyumvaLLalperumpacukkaL

aaRRappataiththaanmakanEaRivuRaay

URRamutaiyaayperiyaay ulakinil

thORRamaayninRacutarEthuyilezhaay

maaRRaarunakkuvalitholain^thuunvaacaRkaN

aaRRaathuvan^thuunatipaNiyumaapOlE

pORRiyaamvan^thOmpukazhn^thuElOrempaavaay

NAPPINNAIopenedthedoorandtoldtheGopis:"KnowthatIamoneamongstyou.Don't

thinkIwaskeepingquiet.Iwasjustwaitingforanopportunitytoadvocateyourcausetothe

Lord.Iwillcertainlyaccomplishyourend."

Soshejoinsthem.TheGopisnoweulogizetheLord:"YourfatherNanda'sprosperityis

immeasurable;hiscattlewealthisendless.Itissufficientifyouunderstandourdistress."

ThephrasesUTTRAMUDAYAAYetchavedoublemeanings:

UTTRAMUDAYAAY:

1)

You

are

perfectly

described

in

a

holy

Scripture

called

Veda,

which

is

unshakable,

is

not

of

knownauthorship,permanent,flawlessandisanAuthoritybyitself.

2) Youhaveaverystrongdeterminationnottoabandonthosewhosurrendertoyou(asyouexhibitedinthecaseofVibhishana).

PERIYAAY:

1) EventhoseVedascannotfullydescribeyouasyoupossessanindescribablegreatness.2) Evenafterdoingeverythingforyourdevoteesyouthinkyouhavedonenothingfor

them;andthatwhatyoudidwasyourownpersonalwork.Thisisyourgreatness.

ULAGINILTOTRAMAAYetc


22/33

1) VedasarerenderedtrustworthybyyourincarnationsasRama,Krishnaetc.Youhaveshownyourformeventothelowliestamongthelowinthisworld.

2) Youhaveapredilectionforyourdevotees;youshowthisbygoingasmessengerforthePandavasandactingascharioteerforArjuna.Somuchsothatyour'Aasrita

Pakshapaata'(unduepredilectiontowardsdevotees)becameevidenteventoenemies

likeDuryodhanaandSisupala.

SUDARE:1) Whilethelusterofallthesoulswhotakebirthduetotheirgoodandbaddeedsgets

dimmerwitheachbirth,yourluster(SUDAR)getsenhancedeachtime,asyourbirthsare

outofyourMercy(Kripa)forthedistressedsouls.

2) Bywillinglysubjectingyourselftoslaveryinrespectofyourdevoteesyouenhancethelustreofyourgreatness.

Paasuram22

aNGkaNmaaNYaalaththuaracar apimaana

paNGkamaayvan^thuninpaLLikkattiRkIzhE

caNGkamiruppaarpOlvan^thuthalaippeythOm

kiNGkiNivaayc

ceytha

thaamaraip

pUp

pOlE

ceNGkaNciRucciRithEemmElvizhiyaavO

thiNGkaLumaathiththiyanumezhun^thaaRpOl

aNGkaNiraNtumkoNtueNGkaLmElnOkkuthiyEl

eNGkaLmElcaapamizhin^thuElOrempaavaay

SriKrishnaenquireswiththeGopisthereasonfortheirvisit;andtheyreply:

OLord!eventhoughyouknowverywellthatwehaveapproachedyouasrefugees,having

nooneelsetogiveusprotection,youhavenotcondescendedtocastyournectarineglances

onus.Wearebornofafamily(ofAzhwars)whoseconstantprayerisforyourGraceandthat

youshould

talk

to

them

by

moving

your

coral

like

lips.

We,

like

vanquished

arrogant

kings,

havecastasideouregoandassembledunderyourbedsteadinsearchofrefuge.Oursole

ambitionistobethetargetofyourmercifuleyes.Yourenquiryregardingthepurposeofour

visitappearstobeanewpracticeinyourrelationswithus.Knowthatwe,whoshouldbe

alwaysunitedwithyou,aretodaypininginseparation.Thissituation,whichappearstobe

duetosomecurse,canbemodifiedonlybyyournectarineglance.Itisonlyforthiscoollook

thatwehavecometoyouandnotforanyotherfavour.Soopenyoureyesslowlyand

steadilylookatus."


23/33

ThisistheverypatheticbutgentleandsweetprayerofANDALtoSriKrishnawhichwould

meltevenanadamantineheart.

NOTE:EachlimboftheAlmightyiscapableofnullifyingtheevileffectofacurseascanbe

seeninthesecases:

1) HISFEET Ahalya'scursebyherhusband2) HISKNEES NalaKubaraandManigriva,sonsofKuberatransformedintojoinedtrees.3) HISTHIGHS MadhuandKaitabhawhowerecrushedtodeathbythem4) HISCHEST Durvasa'scurseonIndra,removedbySrideviwhoresidesinHisbosom5) NowHISEYES curseofseparationinthecaseofANDALPaasuram23

maarimalaimuzhaiNYcilmannikkitan^thuuRaNGkum

cIriyaciNGkamaRivuRRuththIvizhiththu

vErimayirpoNGkaeppaatumpErn^thuuthaRi

mUrinimirn^thumuzhaNGkippuRappattup

pOtharumaapOlEnIpUvaippUvaNNaa un

kOyilninRu

iNGNGanE

pOn^tharuLi

kOpputaiya

cIriyaciNGkaacanaththuirun^thu yaamvan^tha

kaariyamaaraayn^thuaruLElOrempaavaay

SriKrishnafeltsadonhearingthispatheticappealfromtheGopiswhohadcomeasrefugees,

whentheywereattendantsofNappinnai.HealsorecollectedtwosimilarincidentsinHis

previousbirthasRama:

1) TheDandakaforestsagescameandexhibitedtheirbodiesmutilatedbythedemons;andHehadtoapologiesforHistardiness

2) WhenVibhishanacametoHim,HethoughtHealonewasresponsibleforallthehumiliations

he

had

suffered

at

Ravana's

hands.

WhenthisisHisbehaviortowardsevenmen,whatthentospeakofwomen!SoSriKrishna

consoledthemandpromisedtodowhatevertheywanted.TheyrequestHimtostiroutof

Hisbedchamberwithallsplendorandgrandeur.TheyhadseenHissleepingposture,but

nowtheywanttoseeHisgrandgaitaswellasHissittingpostureonHisroyalthrone.

(NinravarumIrundavarumKidandavarum)."Likealionsleepingwithalionessinamountain

caveduringtherainyseason,yousleepwithNappinnai,beingajewelforHerbosom.NowO

Lord,Awakeandstrideout".


24/33

Krishnaasked:DoyouwantmetoappearbeforeyoulikeRAGHAVASIMHAorYADAVA

SIMHAorNARASIMHA?"Gopisreplied:"Wemerelygavethesimileoftheliontostressthe

factthatyourgreatnessisnaturaltoyou,justasalioncubevenatbirthisthekingofthe

jungleanddoesn'tneedanycoronation.FurtheritislikecallingyouPOOVAIPPOOVANNA

whenthiscomparisonofyoursupremebodilycomplexiontothisflower'sisunworthyand

highlyimproper."

UNKOYILisnoteworthy.Inthe16thversetheGopissaid"NANDAGOPANKOYIL"(Nanda's

mansion).Nowtheysay"Krishna'smansion.Strictlyspeakingtowhomdoesitbelong?It

belongstoboth;justliketheHridayaKamalam(heartofman)whereboththesoulandGod

reside;orlikeAZHWARTIRUNAGARIwhichbelongstobothSaintNAMMAZHWARandthe

deityPOLINDUNINRABIRAAN.

Paasuram24

anRuivvulakamaLan^thaayatipORRi

cenRaNGkuth

thennilaNGkai

ceRRaay

thiRal

pORRi

ponRaccakatamuthaiththaaypukazhpORRi

kanRukuNilaaeRin^thaaykazhalpORRi

kunRukutaiyaayetuththaaykuNampORRi

venRupakaiketukkumninkaiyilvElpORRi

enRenRuuncEvakamEEththippaRaikoLvaan

inRuyaamvan^thOmiraNGkuElOrempaavaay

IndaysofyoreArjunaorderedSriKrishna,ontheholybattlefieldofKurukshetra,toparkhis

chariotinbetweenthearrayofthetwoarmiesandthecharioteerdidso.Soalsonowthe

GopisearnestlysolicitedHimtowalkoutandembellishtheroyalthronebyoccupyingit.He

didit.

When

He

stirred

out

all

the

Gopis

with

Nappinnai

followed

Him

with

prayers

for

His

safety(Mangalaasaasanam)andwhenHesatonthethroneheldHisfeetwiththeirvery

tenderhandsandpressedthemtotheirheartandeyeswithveneration.Theybeheldquickly

thechangeinhue(i.e.,thefeetbecameveryredowingtothestrainofwalkingandbeing

pressedbytheirsofthandsgently).

ThisremindedthemofSriKrishna'sformerheroicfeatofmeasuringthewholeuniversewith

Hisverydelicatefeet.TheythoughttheywerealsoascruelheartedasIndraandthedevas

whoneverthoughtaboutHistenderness(Saukumaarya).


25/33

ThatAndalistheveryworthydaughterofPeriyaazhwarisprovedinthisverse.Shesays:"O

Lord!YoumeasuredthisuniverseforthesakeofIndra,whowasintentongettingbackhis

kingdom;whileBaliwasafterfame.Noonegaveathoughttoyourtenderness;sowehave

cometopraythatyoumustbefreefromallevils.

Ravanawas

worse;

he

had

neither

the

generosity

nor

the

aesthetic

sense

of

Bali.

Just

like

enteringacaveandwakingupandfightingawildbeastyouwalkedtoLankaandfoughtwith

him.Henceweareafraidforyou.

Thatwaswhenyouwere37yearsofage.Whatabouttheasurawhoenteredthecartwhich

wastheretoprotectyou,atthetimewhenyouwereaninfantandunabletodistinguish

betweenfriendandfoe?Sowefearallthemoreforthat.

Thentwoasurasassumingtheguiseofacalfandfruittriedtoputanendtoyourlife.They

werehiddenenemies.Wefearthatallthemore.

Thesewereevilactsbyyourfoes;butwhataboutIndraforwhomyoustrainedeverynerve?

He

suddenly

became

an

adversary,

for

the

flimsy

reason

that

you

consumed

his

food,

and

rainedstonyrainforsevendays.YouliftedupthemountainandsavedtheentireGokulam.

Mangalametc..."

UNSEVAKAME onlyyour(Krishna's)heroicfeat.Butitmayberemarkedthatinthis

paasuramAndalhassungthegloryofVamana,RamaandKrishna.Howeverthereisno

contradictionherebecausetheywereallHisownpreviousbirths.SimilarlyherfatherSri

Vishnuchittasingsofthemall "VarugavarugaingeVamananambi..kariyakuzhal..Kaakutta

nambietc"AsSriNanjeeyardelectablyputsit,"Bothfatheranddaughterhadthehabitof

buildingdamsafterallthewaterhadflownthroughtothesea."

Paasuram25

oruththimakanaayppiRan^thu Oriravil

oruththimakanaayoLiththuvaLarath

tharikkilaanaakiththaanthINGkuninain^tha

karuththaippizhaippiththukkaNYcanvayiRRil

neruppennaninRanetumaalE! unnai

aruththiththuvan^thOmpaRaitharuthiyaakil


26/33

thiruththakkacelvamumcEvakamumyaampaati

varuththamumthIrn^thumakizhn^thuElOrempaavaay

LordKrishnaafterhearingtheirmangalaasaasanasaidwithameltingheartandan

affectionatetone:"Ogirls!Byyourbirth(asthedaughterofPeriyaazhwaar)youareever

interestedinmywelfareandprayforthat.Youhaveallcomeherebravingthebitingcold

andunmindful

of

your

health.

Have

you

anything

else

on

your

mind

except

PARAI

(accessoriesfortheNONBUrite)?"

Gopisreplied:"Wehavecomeunderthepretextofpetitioningyoufortheaccessories,but

actuallyourrequestisforyourServiceonly."

LordKrishna:Imayfinditdifficulttograntyourrequestimmediately.Afterallitisnotall

thatsimple.Theremaybesomanyimpedimentsintheway."

Gopis:YouwerebornasthesonofDevakiandonthesamenightyoubecamethesonof

Yasoda.Totheformeryougavethepleasureofgivingbirthtoyou(avataararasa),andtothe

latterthepleasureofenjoyingyoursport(leelarasa).HavingfalsifiedKamsa'sevilintentions

andyou

made

them

fall

on

his

own

head.

All

this

you

did

because

of

your

love

for

your

votaries.Sonothingisimpossibleforyou.Youcandoawaywithallobstructions.Theonly

thingneededisthatyoushouldhavethemindtoblessuswithyourService."

Paasuram26

maalE!maNivaNNaa!maarkazhinIraatuvaan

mElaiyaarceyvanakaLvENtuvanakEttiyEl

NYaalaththaiellaamnatuNGkamuralvana

paalannavaNNaththuunpaaNYcacanniyamE

pOlvanacaNGkaNGkaL

pOyp

paatutaiyanavE

caalapperumpaRaiyEpallaaNtuicaippaarE

kOlaviLakkEkotiyEvithaanamE

aalinilaiyaayaruLElOrempaavaay

LordKrishna:"OGopis!Yourwordsareselfcontradictory.Yousayyouhavecomeforgetting

materialsfortheNONBU,andinthesamebreaththatitisforenjoyingmycompany.Those


27/33

whodesiremycompanyneedtoeschewallotherdesires.Moreoverwhatisthisvowyou

mention?Whohasprescribeditandwhataretheaccessoriesneeded?"

Gopis "Thecowherdsproposedthisvow.Asitcameinhandytoseeyourfaceandsingyour

gloryandasitisinnowayopposedtoourprimarypurposeofenjoyingyourcompanywe

readilyresponded.Wedoitalsotoexpressourgratitudetowardsthesecowherdswhohave

broughtabout

our

union

under

this

pretext.

"AlthoughthereisnodirectVedicinjunction,wedoitbecauseourancestorshavedoneit

(Melayaarseyvanagal).Wegivemoreimportancetothepracticesofourverylearned

ancestors,thantoanyotherinjunctions."

Ageoldcustoms,traditionsandpracticesofourAcharyasaretoberespectedandobserved

withgreatcare isthemessageofAndalinthispaasuram.Byenumeratingallthe

accessoriesfortheNonbu,AndalisactuallyspeakingaboutSAAMYAAPATTI wherethe

deliveredsoulgetsemblemssimilartotheLord'sinSriVaikuntha;andthewarmwelcomeit

receivesthereaftercastingoffthishumanmantle.

MAALE

depicts

the

LORD's

excessive,boundless

and

unlimited

loving

care

and

affection

for

thesoul.ItisthemeaningofMAAMinGeetaCharamaSloka.

AALINILAYAAY mentioningHisimmeasurableandmostwonderfulprowessbringsoutthe

senseofAHAMinthesamesloka.

MAAMshowsHisSOULABHYA(accessibility)andAHAMHisomnipotence.

Paasuram27

kUtaaraivellumcIrkkOvin^thaa un^thannaip

paatippaRaikoNtuyaampeRucammaanam

naatupukazhum

paricinaal

nanRaakac

cUtakamEthOLvaLaiyEthOtEcevippUvE

paatakamEenRanaiyapalkalanumyaamaNivOm

aataiutuppOmathanpinnEpaaRcORu

mUtaneypeythumuzhaNGkaivazhivaarak

kUtiirun^thukuLirn^thuElOrempaavaay


28/33

SriKrishna,afterhearingtheirlistofarticlesneededforthevowsaid "Ogirls!Ifthereisa

GodequaltoMethenyoumayfindaconchequaltomyPaanchajanya.Youhaveaskedfor

'manyconches'IcangivetheconchblownatthetemplePULLARAYANKOILyoumentioned

inSt.6,and theoneIusedtoblowtobringbackthecattlefromgrazingandmy

Paanchajanya.

"AsregardsPARAI IcangivethekettledrumJAAMBAVAANbeatwhenImeasuredthe

wholeuniverse;

and

the

huge

drum

beaten

to

celebrate

my

victory

at

Lanka;

and

the

big

one

Itietomywaisttoattractallgirlstomydanceofthepots(Kudakkoottu).

PALLAANDUISAIPPAAR areyourfatherSriVishnuchittarandSriNammaazhwaar.

KOLAVILAKKU isNappinnai;KODI Garuda;andVITAANAM(canopy)isAnanta.Areyou

satisfied?Nowyoumaygo."

Gopis "Thesearefortheobservanceofourvow.Butafterthevowwehavetoreceive

certainhonours.Theyareexclusivelyforus.Youhavetogivethemtoalltous."

ThisistheprayerofANDALinthispaasuram;theinnermeaningbeingMUKTABHOGA the

deliveredsoul'senjoymentintheLord'scompanyatSriVaikuntha.

Incidentally

Andal

leaves

a

message

for

posterity.

The

Lord

can

punish

a

soul

for

a

wrong

onlyifthethesoulisnotpreparedtotakerefugeuntoHimi.e.,onlyaslongthesoulisbent

onprotectinghimselfbyhimself.

ThemomentheacceptsHisprotection,theLordcannotpunishhimforhissins.Thisisthe

meanstosecureavictoryoverhim.ThisistheinnermeaningofthefirstlineKOODAARAI

VELLUMSEER.E.g.,

1) Parasurama,insteadofconfrontingRamawithabowandlosing,couldhavecomewithclaspedhands,andwon.This,perhapshewasnotawareof.

2) RavanawasallowedbyRamatogetbacktohispalacewhenhehadlosteverythingandstoodthereunabletodefendhimself.Hecamebackthenextdayfullyfurnishedwith

chariotandweapons,andlosthislife.Hadhecomewithoutweaponshecouldhave

conqueredRama.GopiswonHimoverbytheirhumblesubmissiontoHim.

Theornamentsreferredtointhisstanzaareornamentsnotonlyforthebodybutthesoul

also.Thefood(SORU)istheLord;gheeandmilkareHisvirtues(KALYANAGUNA).MUKTA

BHOGAisthequintessenceofthisstanza.

Paasuram28


29/33

kaRavaikaLpincenRukaanamcErn^thuuNpOm

aRivuonRum

illaatha

aaykkulaththu

un^thannaip

piRavipeRun^thanaippuNNiyamyaamutaiyOm

kuRaionRumillaathakOvin^thaa un^thannOtu

uRavElnamakkuiNGkuozhikkaozhiyaathu

aRiyaathapiLLaikaLOmanpinaal un^thannai

ciRupErazhaiththanavumcIRiaruLaathE

iRaivaa!nIthaaraaypaRaiElOrempaavaay

IntheveryfirstpaasuramSriANDALdeclaredunequivocallythatSrimanNarayanaalonewas

theMeans(UPAAYA)forgettingemancipationandHisService."NarayananETaruvaan" the

"E"is

very

significant.

Similarly

Lord

Krishna

in

His

CHARAMA

SLOKA

commanded

"Maam

EKAMSaranamVraja." "EKAM"=MeALONE.ThisisverywellbroughtoutBySriAndalin

thisverse.

APrapannawhofirmlybelievesthattheLordaloneiscapableofputtinganendtoourever

revolvingcycleofbirthsanddeathsshouldpossessSIXessentialcharacteristics:

1) Heshouldhavenotruckwithanyother"means"likeKarmayogaetc(thisishisAAKINCHANYA).

2) MoreovertoobservesuchYogashedoesnothaveanylegitimateright,assanctionedbytheScriptures.Hehastodeclarehis"lowness".(ANANYAGATITVA)

3) HehastokeepthinkingconstantlyoftheFullnessorunimaginablecapabilitiesofLordAlmightywhoisthe"MOOLASUKRITA".

4) HeshouldconcentrateontheindissolublerelationshipthathehaswithGod.5) HeshouldbegpardonoftheLordforallhiscountlessactsofmisbehaviorinthepast.6) HeshouldpraytoGodfortherealizationofhisaspiration,namelyServicetothe

Almighty.

SriAndalinaverydramaticmannerbringsoutalltheseinthisverse.

SriKrishnaobserved,"OGirls!WhenyouraspirationisforthehighestEnd myService

(KAINKARYA),youmusthavealsoperformedtheprescribedritesforitlikeKarmaYogaetc.

Haveyoudoneso?


30/33

Gopis:(emphatically)No,OLord!Toperformthemweshouldinthefirstplacehavelearnt

theVedasbysittingattheholyfeetofagreatAcharya(Prasaantachittaayasamaanvitaya

etc)reputedforhiseruditionandpracticeofrites.Butour"gurus"arethemilchcattleand

ourvocationistendingthemtofillourstomachs.(KARAVAIGALPINSENRUetc).Toaddto

thiswearebornofaracewhichhasnoclaimforknowledge.(ARIVONRUMILOM)

Krishna:IfthatisthecaseIcan'thelpyou.

Gopis:Weareimperfectcreaturesbutyourperfectionshouldfillupthisgap.

(KURAIVONRUMetc)

Krishna:Nowyouclaimarelationshipwithme,butthiscanbebrokenoffveryeasilyby

performingaritecalled"GhataSraaddha"

Gopis:ThatriteisapplicableonlytotherelationshipswhicharetheresultofKarma.Butour

relationship(namelytheonebetweentheSoulandGod)isindissolubleeitherbyyouorus

orbothtogether.(UNTHANNODUetc)

Krishna:Nowyoucorrectlyunderstandourrelationshipandcallme"Govinda"signifyingmy

beingoneamongstyou.Butinthepastyouhavecalledmeas'Narayana"whichhascaused

meconsiderablepain.(NOTE:NARAYANAindicatestheLord'srelationshipwithevery

createdbeing,prapannaaswellasnonprapanna;whereasGOVINDAwasthetitleHe

receivedindicativeofHisspecialAccessibility(SOULABHYA)andcompassiontowardscalves,

cowsandcowherds.)

Gopis:weapologizetoyouforthisoversightonourpart.Butafterallweareinnocent

cowherdgirls.Outofouraffectionforyouwelostourbalanceofmind.Pleaseforgiveus.

(ARIYAADAPILLAIGALOMetc)

KrishnathensummonedNAPPINNAIandorderedhertogivethemwhattheydesired.

Gopis:No!Shehasplayedherrolebyrecommendingourcasetoyou.

(PURUSHAKAARATVA).Nowitisyourturn.YouaretheUPAAYA,thebestowerofyourvery

valuableandmuchsoughtafterService.(NOTE:inasimilarcaseSriRAMANUJAin

SARANAAGATIGADYAprayedtoSRILAKSHMIforintercessionandwhenshesaid,"Astute;

tayaivasarvamsampatsyate",heproceededtopraytotheLordforKainkarya.)Pleasedoit.

(IRAIVAetc)

"SrimanNarayanacharanau...etc" theFirstLineoftheDVAYAMantraiswellillustratedin

thispaasuram.Thestanzaneedstobeunderstoodwithanelaborateexplanationbyan

eruditeGuru.ThesumandsubstanceofthestanzaisthatHealoneisthesoleMeansof

Salvation;andapersonwhohasnoclaimforanySatKarmaastheMeansofsalvationanda

refugee,aloneisfitforsurrenderinghimselfuntotheLord.

Paasuram29


31/33

ciRRaNYciRukaalEvan^thunnaicEviththu un

poRRaamaraiatiyEpORRumporuLkELaay

peRRammEyththuuNNumkulaththilpiRan^thu nI

kuRREvaleNGkaLaikkoLLaamalpOkaathu

iRRaippaRaikoLvaananRukaaNkOvin^thaa

eRRaikkumEzh

Ezh

piRavikkum

un

thannOtu

uRROmEaavOmunakkEnaamaatceyvOm

maRRainamkaamaNGkaLmaaRRuElOrempaavaay

ThisstanzaclearlytellsusofthehighestPurushaartha(theendofhumanlife),explainingthe

meaningofPARAI.Asking forParaiisapretext;asthecowherdsproposedthis"nonbu'for

gettingrainandasitcameinhandyforGopis(Andal)tokeeplookingatthefaceofLord

Krishnaforaslongastheyliked,theyacceptedit.TheirrealintentionistogetKAINKARYA

(eternalservice)attheLotusfeetoftheLord.ThewordNARAYANANEusedinthefirst

stanzawasexplainedinthepreviousverse;thewordPARAIisexplainedhere.

Both"Means"

and

"End"

are

the

same

in

Sri

Vaishnava

Sampradaaya;

it

is

Sriman

Narayana

himself.IfthosewhotakeHimasthe"Means'havecontactwithother"Means"like

Karmayogaetc,itisakintopollutionduetocontactwithadeadbody(becauseKarmaYoga

etcarebynatureinertandneedHisPresencetogiveResult).Andiftheyconsidertheiract

ofSurrendertotheLord(Prapatti)itselftobethe"Means",itislikeaccretionofsindueto

contactwithachandaala(becauseanythingwhichhasthetaintoftheegopollutesthe

purityofthePrapanna).

Similarlyregardingthe"End"alsotherearetwomistakeswhichneedtobeavoided:

1) DesiringothermundanethingsfromHim,whichwouldbelikedesiringtoeatpoisonedorcontaminatedfood;and

2) ServingtheLordforone'sownenjoymentratherthanexclusivelyforHispleasure(Swaartha

Kainkarya),which

would

be

like

eating

food

left

over

from

another

eater(UchchishthaBhojana).

BoththesetypesofPurities(UPAAYASUDDHIandUPEYASUDDHI)needtobestrictly

ensuredbyaPrapanna.Thepreviousverse(28)speaksofUPAAYASUDDHI

"UNTANNAI...PUNNIYAMYAAMUDEYOM" YouALONEareourMeans.Thepresentverse

enjoinsUPEYASUDDHI "UNAKKENAAMAAT_SEYVOM" Weserveyouforthesakeofyour

happinessALONE,andwederivehappinessonseeingyourenjoyment.


32/33

EventheleasttraceofselfishenjoymentistobetotallyerasedintheserviceofGod.Itisjust

asinthecaseofsandalpaste,coolbreeze,flowers,andornamentsetcwhichgivepleasure

toman,withoutthemfeelingany;theonlydifferencebeingthatmannotbeinginertlike

themfeelshappylookingatthepleasureoftheLord.

KrishnaorderedHisservantstobringthehugekettledrum(PARAI).ThenAndalsays,"O

Wonder!you

have

not

understood

us.

We

require

only

your

everlasting,

most

enjoyable

service.Wewishtobealwaysbornalongwithyou,andkeepcompanywithyoualwaysto

serveyou.(LikeLakshmanawhoservedRamawhetherHewasinAyodhyaorinthe

forest.).Kindlyguardusfromevincinginterestinanythingexceptyou."

Justasthebodyservesaman,theSoul,whichisthebodyoftheLord(Yasyaaatma

sareeram),shouldserveHim.Thisisthenaturallaw.ThisisthemessageofAndalinthis

crowningverse.

Paasuram30

vaNGkakkatalkatain^thamaathavanaikEcavanaith

thiNGkaLthirumukaththuccEyizhaiyaarcenRiRaiNYci

aNGkappaRai

koNtavaaRRai

aNi

puthuvaip

paiNGkamalaththaNtheriyalpattarpiraankOthaiconna

caNGkaththamizhmaalaimuppathumthappaamE

iNGkipparicuraippaarIriraNtumaalvaraiththOL

ceNGkaNthirumukaththuccelvaththirumaalaal

eNGkumthiruvaruLpeRRuinpuRuvarempaavaay

ThosewhostudythisTiruppavaiareforeveracceptabletoSriMahalakshmiandSriman

Narayana thisisthegistofthisstanza.Indaysofyore,inDwaaparaYuga,Gopisactually

performedthisNonbu.LateronSriAndalimitatedtheminherheart.BothGopisandAndal

gottheserviceoftheLord.

Soalso

even

without

performing

the

rite

or

imitating

it,

just

by

chanting

this

Divya

Prabandha,peoplewillgetthesamefruit(Kainkarya).SriPARASARABHATTARsaid,"Justas

themothercowgivesmilkeveninthepresenceofitsdeadandstuffedcalf(TOL

KANRUKKUMIRANGUMAPOLE)soalsotheLordwillblessuseventhoughweareabsolutely

devoidofthesupremedevotionofAndal,merelybecausewearerepeatingherwords."

GopishadsurrenderedthemselvestoSriKrishna;buttheirSaranaagatiwouldgainfruitonly

throughthePURUSHAKAARA(recommendation)ofSriMahalakshmi.TheLordhadchurned

theMilkyOceantogether;andsotheGopisbeginbychantingthatherculeaneffortofthe


33/33

Lord.VANGAKKADALwaschurnedonlytogetSriDeviwhohadremainedhiddenthere.Thus

HebecameMAA(Lakshmi's)DHAVA(husband).Instanza2AndalsaidADIPAADI singingthe

gloryofHisFeet;herein30shesaysKESAVANAI ofHimwhohasfascinatinglocksofhair.

ThussheenjoystheLord'sFormfromHisHolyFeettoHisHead(Aapaadachoodam).

ThemeaningofthePOORVAKHANDA(firsthalf)oftheDVAYAMantraisimpliedinthisfirst

line.

Theword"SRIMAT"(HewhoiseverinthecompanyofSRI)inDVAYAmantraisrepresented

herebyMAADAHAVANAI.

"NARAYANA"inDVAYAmeansHewhohasthenoblequalitiesofVAATSALYA,SWAAMITVA,

SAUSHILYA,SAULABHYA,GNAANAandSHAKTI.

Thesearebroughtoutinthepresentpaasuramasunder:

1) KADALKADAINDA LordVishnu,turningablindeye(Kaanaakkannittu)towardstheblemishesofallthegodsanddemons,churnedtheoceantogetthemnectar;thisis

VAATSALYA.

2) HeestablishedHisSupremacybymanagingtheentireoperationsinglehandedly;thisisSWAAMITVA.

3) Heevenworkedincooperationwithworstcriminals thelowliestofthelowly;thisisSAUSHILYA.

4) Hetooktheguiseofacharmingcherubandpersonallydistributedthenectar;thisisSAULABHYA.

5) Hehadtherequisiteknowledge,theknowhowtochurntheocean;thisisGNAANA.6) AndHehadtherequiredstrengthtocompletethetaskuptotheend;thisisSHAKTI.KESAVANAI Byreferringtothelocksofhair,HisFormisimplied;thatisthemeaningof

"CHARANAU"intheDVAYA.

ThosewhorecitetheTiruppavaipaasuramsaresuretobeblessedbyHim.Theywillget

everythinghereandfinallyattainSalvation.SriPARASARABHATTARusedtosay,"everyone

shouldeverymorningreciteallthe30verses;oratleastthe29thoneSITTAMSIRUKALE;if

hefindseventhatdifficult,heshouldatleastbringtohismindhowmuchexquisitejoyWE

addedtoourdaysandnightsthroughchanting,understanding,discussingandinfactliving

withtheseDivineVerses(Naamirundairuppaininaippadu)."

ThosewhothustakerefugeuntoHimwillserveHimforeverandever;norebirthforthem.

LetusalsochantthesesweetsongsandmakeourmotherSRIGODADEVI'sappearancein

thisworldusefulandpurposeful.

Aandal's Tiruppavai in Englist with explanation

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