Tiruviruttam taniyan 

Kiḍāmbiyāccān aruḷic ceydadu

karu viruttak kuḻi nītta pin kāmak kaḍuṅgkuḻi vīḻndu * 

oru viruttam pukku uḻaluṛuvīr! uyirin poruḷgaṭku * 

oru viruttam puhudāmal kurugaiyar kōn uraitta * 

tiruviruttattu ōraḍi katṛṛirīr tirunāṭṭahattē

“O people leading an animal-like life! After escaping from the hellish birth-hole, you fall into the terrible hole of lust, and, attain useless old age, (thus wasting a precious human life). Please learn at least one line from the Divya Prabhandam called Tiruviruttam—kindly rendered by Nammāḻvār, the chief of Tirunagari, which cleanses the jīvātmā—and attain Vaikuṇṭha-loka.”       

Note: Some say that Sīrāmappiḷḷai or Āḷavandār has rendered this. 

2478 * poynninṛa jñānamum * pollā oḻukkum aḻukkuḍambum * 

 inninṛa nīrmai ini yām uṛāmai ** uyir aḷippān 

 enninṛa yōniyumāyp piṛandāy! imaiyōr talaivā! * 

 meynninṛu kēṭṭaruḷāy * aḍiyēn seyyum viṇṇappamē           1 

“O Lord who appeared from different wombs (various incarnations) to protect all the living beings! O Lord of demigods! Kindly listen to my humble request that we no longer take birth in the material world falling into ignorance and bad traits.  

2479 seḻunīrt taḍattuk * kayal miḷirndāl oppa * sēy arikkaṇ 

 aḻunīr tuḷumba alamaruginṛana ** vāḻiyarō 

 muḻunīr mugil vaṇṇan kaṇṇan viṇṇāṭṭavar mūduvarām * 

 toḻunīr iṇai aḍikkē * anbu sūṭṭiya sūḻ kuḻaṛkē    2 

(The friend of Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī (Nammāḻvār in the mood of a lover of the Lord) comments on her mood of separation)

“O lady with thick hair who loves the dark rain cloud-hued Kaṇṇan with lotus feet worshipped by the nitya-muktas in Vaikuṇṭha! Your eyes, resembling an agitated fish in a pond, are brimming with tears; let this love live long!” 

2480 kuḻaṛ kōvalar maḍappāvaiyum * maṇmagaḷum tiruvum * 

 niḻaṛ pōlvanar kaṇḍu niṛkuṅgkol? mīḷuṅgkol? ** taṇṇantuḻāy 

 aḻaṛ pōl aḍuñjakkarattu aṇṇal viṇṇōr toḻak kaḍavum * 

 taḻaṛ pōl sinatta * appuḷḷin pin pōna tani neñjamē   3 

(Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī laments in separation)

“My lonely heart—which went after Garuḍa, angry like fire with the enemies, carrying the Lord adorned with a garland of cool tulasī leaves, wielding the fiery disc weapon, and worshipped by the demigods—will stay in Vaikuṇṭha looking at the chaste Nappinnai, Bhūmā-devī, and mother Lakṣmī who always stay like a shadow with the cowherd-Lord playing flute or come back (to me)?”  

2481 tani neñjam munnavar * puḷḷē kavarndadu * taṇṇantuḻāykku 

 ini neñjam iṅguk kavarvadu yāmilam ** nī naḍuvē

 muni vañjap pēycci mulai suvaittān muḍi sūḍu tuḻāyp * 

 pani nañja mārutamē! * emmadāvi panippu iyalvē?    4 

(Lamenting about the tormenting cool wind)

“Garuḍa has already taken away my lonely heart; (so) now I don’t have another heart to be taken by the garland of cool tulasī leaves; O poisonous cool wind from the garland of cool tulasī leaves adorning the head of Kaṇṇan who enjoyed sucking the breast of the envious and evil demon Pūtanā! Is it proper for you to enter and torment my soul? (No)”   

2482 panippu iyalvāha * uḍaiya taṇvāḍai * ikkālam ivvūrp 

 panippu iyalvellām * tavirndu eri vīsum ** antaṇṇantuḻāy 

 panip puyal sōrum taḍaṅgkaṇṇi māmait tiṛattuk kolām? * 

 panip puyal vaṇṇaṇ * seṅgkōl oru nānṛu taḍāviyadē    5 

(Her friend feels sad for her becoming pale because of the cool wind)

“She desired the Lord’s lovely garland of cool tulasī leaves (which she didn’t get); the cool wind, which normally cools up, now and here only has changed its cool nature and is blowing hot; has the cool rain cloud-hued Lord’s unchanging natural law now been changed (cool wind blowing hot) just to make this large-eyed girl’s body hue pale (longing for the garland of cool tulasī leaves)?”       

2483 taḍāviya ambum * murinda silaihaḷum pōha viṭṭu * 

 kaḍāyina koṇḍu olgum valli īdēnum ** asurar maṅgak

 kaḍāviya vēhap paṛavaiyin pāgan madana seṅgkōl * 

 naḍāviya kūtṛṛam kaṇḍīr * uyir kāmiṅgaḷ jñālattuḷḷē   6 

(Āḷvār eulogises the beauty of the lady and cautions the devotees)

“Her beauty is not like bent arrows or broken bows but (very attractive) like a flowering creeper and shooting sharp arrows from strong bows and is the nemesis representing the Cupid, the son of the driver (Kaṇṇan, killer of the asuras) of the swift Garuḍa; O those who have seen this beauty! Please save yourselves (control your senses).” 

2484 jñālam panippac ceṛittu * nannīr iṭṭukkāl sidaindu * 

 nīla vallēṛu porā ninṛa vānamidu ** tirumāl 

 kōlam sumandu pirindār koḍumai kuḻaṛu * taṇ pūm 

 kālaṅgkolō? aṛiyēn * vinaiyāṭṭiyēn kāṇginṛavē    7 

(Her friend denies the rains and tries to console her by telling a lie to the lady waiting for the Lord to come back in the rainy season as promised)

The friend says, “Strong black bulls (clouds) in the sky strike each other (thunder), scratching the ground with their legs (lightning) and pouring the body waters (rains); or is it the cool rainy season reminding the unkindly nature of the dark-hued Lord who is yet to return as promised? This sinful me is unable to discern what I see.” 

2485 kāṇginṛanahaḷum * kēṭkinṛanahaḷum kāṇil * innāḷ 

 pāṇkunṛa nāḍar * payilhinṛana ** idellām aṛindōm

 māṇkunṛam ēndit taṇ māmalai veṅkaṭattu umbar nambum * 

 sēṇkunṛam senṛu * poruḷ paḍaippān katṛṛadiṇṇanavē   8 

(Nāyakī tells her friend that she understands from the acts of Nāyaka that He would leave her soon to earn money)

“I infer from the (loving) acts and the (sweet) talks of the king of the mountain country that they are a cover-up for the real intention of Kaṇṇan, who lifted the noble Govardhana Hills, to leave for the cool Veṅkaṭa Hills, worshipped by the demigods, to accumulate wealth.”     

2486 tiṇ pūñjuḍar nudi nēmi añjelvar * viṇṇāḍu anaiya 

 vaṇpū maṇivalli * ārē piribavar tām? ** ivaiyō

 kaṇ pūṅgkamalam karuñjuḍarāḍi veṇmuttu arumbi * 

 vaṇpūṅgkuvaḷai * maḍa mān viḻikkinṛa māyidaḻē    9 

(Nāyaka describes how difficult it is to leave the beautiful Nāyakī)

“Her eyes, are they just eyes? (No) They are lotus flowers or lovely red lilies with large petals, lined with luminant collyrium, shedding shiny pearls-like teardrops, and fearfully looking like a doe. Is it possible to leave this lovely flower creeper-like lady who is (precious) like the Vaikuṇṭha of the all-opulent Lord who wields the mighty, effulgent, and sharp disc weapon? (Not at all possible)”

2487 māyōn vaḍa tiruveṅkaṭa nāḍa * vallik koḍigāḷ! 

 nōyō uraikkilum * kēṭkinṛilīr uraiyīr ** numadu 

 vāyō? adu anṛi valvinaiyēnum kiḷiyum eḷgum 

 āyō? * aḍum toṇḍaiyō? * aṛaiyō! idu aṛivaridē    10 

(Nāyaka indicates to Nāyakī and her friend about His (love) disease)

“O dames like the flower creepers of Tiruveṅkaṭa Hills of the incredible Lord! You are not listening to me at all trying to tell you about my (love) disease; (my disease) is it because of (your) ‘āyō’ shout which has debilitated this sinful me and the parrot? Or because of your ivy-gourd fruit-like reddish lips? Or because of your elegant throat? I cannot understand which of these is killing me; please tell me.”   

2488 ariyanayām inṛu kāṇginṛana * kaṇṇan viṇṇanaiyāy! 

 periyana kādam * poruṭkō pirivena ** jñālam eydaṛku 

 uriyana oṇmuttum paimponnum ēndi ōrō kuḍaṅgaip * 

 periyana keṇḍaik kulam * ivaiyō vandu pērhinṛavē    11 

(Nāyaka describes the incredible reaction of the Nāyakī due to the imminent separation)

“O lady who gives immense pleasure like Vaikuṇṭha! I casually asked, ‘If going away to a far-off place is to earn money?’ The reaction (from you) I see is incredible! These eyes which can win over all the worlds, as large as a palm and like the carp fish look at me with tear drops like lovely pearls and shining gold, what a wonder!

2489 pērhinṛadu maṇi māmai * piṛaṅgi aḷḷal payalai * 

 ūrhinṛadu kaṅgul ūḻihaḷē ** idellām inavē 

 īrhinṛa cakkarattu emperumān kaṇṇan taṇṇantuḻāy * 

 sārhinṛa nanneñjinār * tandu pōna tani vaḷamē    12 

(Nāyakī laments about her heart in separation)

“My lovely skin colour has faded; it is becoming paler; nighttime seems like yugas; these are the opulences left behind by my good heart which has gone away desiring the lovely garland of cool tulasī leaves adorning my disc-wielding Lord Kaṇṇan.”    

2490 tani vaḷar seṅgkōl naḍāvu * taḻal vāy arasaviyap 

 pani vaḷar seṅgkōl * iruḷ vītṛṛirundadu ** pār muḻudum 

 tuni vaḷar kādal tuḻāyait tuḻāvu taṇvāḍai taḍindu * 

 ini vaḷai kāppavar ār? * enai ūḻihaḷ īrvanavē     13 

(Nāyakī laments about night and cool wind tormenting her)

“The warm, glowing, and all-pervasive rule of the sun king (daytime) has ended and the cold rule of the night princess has started making all shiver; now who is there to punish the cool breeze coming to torment me from the Lord’s tulasī garland, the object of my desire and to save my bangles falling from my hands (because of my thinning down due to separation)? (No one) Alas! These never-ending nights are torturing me.”      

nalam pārāṭṭu 

 2491 īrvana vēlum añjēlum * uyir mēl miḷirndu ivaiyō 

 pērvanavō valla * deyva nalvēḷ kaṇai ** pēroḷiyē

 sōrvana nīlac cuḍar viḍu mēni ammān * visumbūr

 tērvana * deyvamannīra kaṇṇō? icceḻum kayalē    14 

(Glorifying Nāyakī)

“Your (beautiful) eyes, resembling sharp spears or lovely carp fish, have taken control of my soul; they are bright like the arrows of the elegant Cupid; they are divine like Vaikuṇṭha of the blue sapphire gemstone-hued Lord; your divine eyes are like fat carp fish.”   

2492 kayalō numa kaṇgaḷ? enṛu * kaḷiṛu vinavi nitṛṛīr * 

 ayalōr aṛiyilum īdenna vārttai? ** kaḍal kavarnda 

 puyalōḍu ulām koṇḍal vaṇṇan puna veṅkaṭattu emmoḍum * 

 payalōvilīr * kollai kākkinṛa nāḷum pala palavē     15 

(The friend understands the true intention of the Nāyaka and replies sarcastically)

“You started asking about a mad elephant (if it came there) and ended saying, ‘Are your eyes carp fish?’ if others hear they might suspect (some relationship between us); you did not (bother to) come on those days when we were guarding the fields on the Veṅkaṭa Hills of the fresh rain cloud-hued Lord.”    

2493 pala pala ūḻihaḷ āyiḍum * anṛi ōr nāḻigaiyaip 

 pala pala kūṛiṭṭa kūṛāyiḍum ** kaṇṇan viṇṇanaiyāy!

 pala pala nāḷ anbar kūḍilum nīṅgilum yām melidum * 

 pala pala sūḻaluḍaittu * amma! vāḻi ippāyiruḷē    16

(Nāyakī in separation sadly tells her friend about the effect of the night)

“O my friend dear (to me) like Kaṇṇan’s Vaikuṇṭha! (When in separation) the night stretches to thousands of yugas and (when in union with Nāyaka) it shrinks to one part of the many small parts of one hour; if my lover remains with me for many days, I feel sad (because the time shrinks greatly) so also if he is away for many days (because the days stretch greatly). Alas, long live this vast night with many ways to torment me!”      

2494 iruḷ virindāl anna * mānīrt tirai koṇḍu vāḻiyarō * 

 iruḷ pirindār anbar tēr vaḻi tūral ** aravaṇai mēl 

 iruḷ viri nīlak karunāyiṛu suḍar kālvadu pōl *

 iruḷ viri sōdi * perumān uṛaiyum eṛikaḍalē!     17 

(Nāyakī requests the sea not to wipe off the chariot track mark)

“Long live o stormy ocean on whom effulgent like a dark blue sapphire gemstone-hued Lord eternally reclines on the serpent bed! Please do not wipe off with your dark waves the track marks of the chariot of my master who went away during the night.”   

2495 kaḍal koṇḍu eḻundadu vānam  * avvānattai anṛic cenṛu * 

 kaḍal koṇḍu oḻinda adanāl idu ** kaṇṇan maṇṇum viṇṇum 

 kaḍal koṇḍu eḻunda akkālam kolō? puyal kālam kolō? * 

 kaḍal koṇḍa kaṇṇīr * aruvi seyyā niṛkum kārihaiyē   18 

(According to Nampillai Jīyar, the friend tells a lie that the rainy season has not yet set in to alleviate the Nāyakī as the Nāyaka is supposed to return in the rainy season. According to Vādikēsari Jīyar, the friend consoles the Nāyakī who is in distress seeing the rains as the Nāyaka is supposed to return in the rainy season)

“O lovely lady whose tears are filling the ocean! The sky (clouds) took away the water from the sea and the sea rose to attack the sky and because of this, it looks like the rainy season has started; or is it the pralaya waters swallowing the earth and the sky? Or is it the rainy season? (I don’t know)”         

2496 kārihaiyār niṛai kāppavar yār enṛu * kār koṇḍu innē 

 mārikai ēṛi * aṛai iḍum kālattum ** vāḻiyarō 

 sārihaip puḷḷar antaṇṇantuḻāy iṛai kūyaruḷār *

 sērihai ērum * paḻiyāy viḷaindadu en sinmoḻikkē    19 

(The wet mother feels sorry for the Nāyakī’s plight)

“The dark rain clouds gather and roar challenging, ‘O ladies, who amongst you can protect her charity?’ (Implying that in the rainy season, the lovers normally unite); (despite her suffering in separation in the rainy season) the Nāyaka, whose carrier is the swift Garuḍa, is not merciful to give her His garland of cool tulasī leaves (to assuage her hardship); the village is now ridiculing my little daughter; let her (get out of this sad plight and) live happily.”     

2497 sinmoḻi nōyō kaḻi perundeyvam * innōy inadenṛu 

 inmoḻi kēṭkum * iḷandeyvam anṛidu ** vēla! nil nī 

 en moḻi kēṇmin en ammanaimīr! * ulagu ēḻum uṇḍān

 sol moḻi * mālai antaṇṇantuḻāy koṇḍu sūṭṭuminē    20 

(The friend stopping the rituals to chase away the ghosts supposed to be haunting the Nāyakī)

“O my dear mothers! This little girl is not suffering from any undetectable disease like being haunted by ghosts or evil demigods; o ghost-hunter! Keep away from her; (o mothers!) please listen to me (since I know her true problem), her situation has been caused by (separation from) the Lord; (so) chant the holy names of the Lord who swallowed and protected the seven planetary systems (during pralaya) and make her wear the elegant garland of cool tulasī leaves adorned by the Lord.”       

2498 sūṭṭu nanmālaihaḷ * tūyana ēndi * viṇṇōrhaḷ nannīr 

 āṭṭi * antūbam tarā niṛkavē aṅgu ** ōr māyaiyināl 

 īṭṭiya veṇṇai toḍuvuṇṇap pōndimil ētṛṛuvan kūn * 

 kōṭṭiḍai āḍinai kūttu * aḍal āyar tam kombinukkē   21 

“While the nitya-muktas in Vaikuṇṭha bathed You with holy water and offered fragrant incense (in that short time when the incense smoke covered You), with Yoga-māyā power, You appeared in Gokula with the desire to gobble up the freshly churned butter, and, to marry Nappinnai, the tender flower creeper-like cowherd girl who was waiting with garlands of fresh fragrant flowers, You danced between the curved horns of the seven demoniac bulls and tamed them.”    

2499 kombār taḻaikai * siṛu nāṇ eṛivilam * vēṭṭai koṇḍāṭṭu 

 ambār kaḷiṛu * vinavuvadu aiyar ** puḷ ūrum kaḷvar 

 tam pāragattu enṛum āḍādana tammil kūḍādana * 

 vambār vināc collavō * emmai vaittadu ivvān punattē   22 

(The friend ridicules the pretensions of the Nāyaka)

“Sir, you are holding a tree branch and we didn’t hear the twang of the bowstring, but you are asking if we saw any elephant struck with an arrow; your actions and words are contradictory and never happen in this world of the mischievous Lord who flies on Garuḍa; are we here in this grain-field to answer your funny questions?”      

2500 punamō? punattayalē * vaḻi pōhum aruvinaiyēn  * 

 manamō? magaḷir! num kāval sollīr ** puṇḍarīkattu aṅgēḻ 

 vanamōr anaiya kaṇṇān kaṇṇan vāṇāḍu amarum * deyvat 

 tinamōr anaiyīrhaḷāy * ivaiyō num iyalvuhaḷē?    23

(Nāyaka expresses his suffering due to separation)

“O ladies! Please tell me whether this grain field or the heart of this sinful me passing by this way needs your protection. Is it right on your part—who have qualities similar to the nitya-muktas in Vaikuṇṭha of Kaṇṇan whose eyes are shining like a forest of red lotus flowers—to steal other’s heart?”  

 2501 iyalvu āyina * vañja nōy koṇḍu ulāvum * ōrō kuḍaṅgaik 

 kayal pāyvana * peru nīrk kaṇgaḷ tammoḍum ** kunṛam onṛāl 

 puyalvāyina nirai kātta puḷḷūrdikaḷ ūrum tuḻāyk * 

 koyalvāy malar mēl * manattoḍu ennāṅgkol eṅgkōl vaḷaikkē?  24 

(The wet mother wonders what more suffering her daughter has to undergo)

“What will happen to my daughter who has been afflicted by the secret love disease, whose palm-sized carp fish-like eyes are tearful and restless, whose heart desires the fragrant tulasī garland of Kaṇṇan who protected the herds of cows from the torrential rains by holding Govardhana Hills (as an umbrella), and wearing lovely bangles?”   

2502 eṅgkōl vaḷai mudalāk * kaṇṇan maṇṇum viṇṇum aḷikkum * 

 seṅgkōl vaḷaivu viḷaivikkumāl ** tiṛal sēr amarar 

 taṅgkōnuḍaiya taṅgkōn umbar ellāyavarkkum taṅgkōn * 

 naṅgkōn uhakkum tuḻāy * en seyyādu ini nānilattē?   25 

(Nāyakī laments due to her intense desire for the garland of tulasī of Nāyaka)

“The garland of tulasī leaves adorned by (Kaṇṇan) the Lord of Brahmā, master of the mighty demigods, the nitya-muktas in Vaikuṇṭha, and of us (on this earth) has created a blemish on the protection of the Lord of both the spiritual and material worlds (the crime committed by the tulasī garland is that it has caused misery to the Nāyakī by not being available to her and caused her elegant bangles to slip off as she lost weight); now what more misery that tulasī garland cannot cause in this world?”         

2503 nānilam vāyk koṇḍu * nannīr aṛam enṛu kōdu koṇḍa * 

 vēnilam selvan suvaittumiḻ pālai ** kaḍanda ponnē! 

 kālnilam tōyndu viṇṇōr toḻum kaṇṇan veqkāvudu * ampūn 

tēniḷam sōlai appāladu * eppālaikkum sēmattadē   26

(Nāyaka indicates to Nāyakī, tired because of the long walk, that the city is just ahead)

“O precious lady! We have crossed the desert created by the hot sun by sucking away the water from the four types of land; next is Tiruveqkā, the holy city of Kaṇṇan, where the demigods stand waiting to worship Him; just beyond that is Tiruttaṇkā which is a lovely garden, ever fresh and with beautiful honey-rich flowers; that place gives relief to all our troubles.”

Four types of land: mullai – forest lands; kurinji – hilly lands; marudham – urban lands; pālai – desert lands caused by the drying of the other types of land.     

2504 sēmam seṅgkōn aruḷē * seruvārum naṭpu āhuvar enṛu * 

 ēmam peṛa vaiyam sollum meyyē ** paṇḍu ellām aṛai kūy 

 yāmaṅgaḷ tōṛu eri vīsum nam kaṇṇan antaṇṇantuḻāyt * 

 tāmam punaiya * avvāḍai īdō vandu taṇ enṛadē    27 

(Nāyakī feels happy on getting the tulasī garland adorned by the Lord)

“The worldly saying that ‘When the Lord who is the proprietor of all objects is merciful, we are protected and even the enemy becomes a friend’ is true; the cold wind which was blowing hot and tormenting me in the nights earlier adding to my suffering from separation, now that I have the cool tulasī garland adorned by the Lord is blowing very soothingly.”    

2505 taṇṇan tuḻāy vaḷai koḷvadu yām iḻappōm * naḍuvē 

 vaṇṇan tuḻāvi * ōr vāḍai ulāvum ** vaḷvāy alagāl 

 puḷnanduḻāmē poru nīrt tiruvaraṅgā! aruḷāy * 

 eṇṇam tuḻāvum iḍattu * uḷavō paṇḍum innannavē?   28 

(The earlier song was only a dream. In reality, the Nāyakī continues to be tormented by the cold wind)

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam which is surrounded by the river Kāverī which is wavy and thus protects the snails from being pecked up by the birds! Your cool and lovely garland of tulasī has already robbed me of my bangles (because of becoming thin due to yearning); now, this cold wind is blowing and trying to drain me of my colour, please help me; has anyone suffered like this earlier to the extent of mental instability?”   

2506 innanna tūdu emmai * āḷatṛṛap paṭṭirandāḷ ivaḷ enṛu * 

 annanna sollāp peḍaiyoḍum pōy varum ** nīlam uṇḍa

 minnanna mēnip perumān ulagil peṇ tūdu sellā *

 annanna nīrmai kolō? * kuḍic cīrmaiyil annaṅgaḷē !    29 

(Nāyakī belittles the swans)

“These low-bred swans, thinking, ‘This Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī, who belittles us, doesn’t have anyone; so, she requested us to go as messengers,’ didn’t go and tell the message to the Nāyaka but roam around with their female birds; is it not customary in the world of the blue lightning-hued Lord to go as a messenger of a lady?”   

2507 annam selvīrum * vaṇḍānam selvīrum toḻudu irandēn * 

 munnam selvīrhaḷ maṛavēnminō ** kaṇṇan vaikuṇṭhanōḍu

 en neñjināraik kaṇḍāl ennaic colli * avariḍai nīr 

 innam sellīrō? * iduvō tagavenṛu isaimingaḷē!     30 

(Nāyakī requests the swans and the storks to go as messengers)

“O swans and storks flying above! I pray to you; whoever of you go first (to Kaṇṇan) don’t forget my request; if you happen to see my heart with Kaṇṇan, the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, mention me and ask my heart, ‘Why haven’t you gone back to her yet? Is it right on your part?’” 

2508 isaimingaḷ tūdu enṛu isaittāl isaiyilam * en talai mēl 

 asaimingaḷ enṛāl asaiyuṅgkolām? ** ampon māmaṇihaḷ

 tisaimin miḷirum tiruveṅkaṭattuvan tāḷ * simaya 

 misai * min miḷiriya pōvān vaḻik koṇḍa mēhaṅgaḷē !   31

(Nāyakī requests the clouds to go as messenger)

“O clouds of Tiruveṅkaṭa Hills which is effulgent with valuable gemstones and gold! When I request you to go as my messenger, you seem uninterested. If I request them, ‘At least when you go there to illuminate the peak of the mighty Hills with lightning, kindly bless my head and go,’ will they accept to go as a messenger?”      

2509 mēhaṅgaḷō! uraiyīr * tirumāl tirumēni okkum * 

 yōgaṅgaḷ uṅgaḷukku evvāṛu petṛṛīr? ** uyir aḷippān

 māgaṅgaḷ ellām tirindu nannīrhaḷ sumandu * nuntam 

 āgaṅgaḷ nōva * varuttum tavamām aruḷ petṛṛadē    32 

(Nāyakī lauds the clouds)

“O clouds! Tell me how did you get the same colour of the body hue of the Lord? To sustain living beings, you roam all over the sky carrying the life-giving water; is it because of this painful austerity that you got the grace of the Lord?”  

2510 aruḷār tiruccakkarattāl * agal visumbum nilanum * 

 iruḷār vinai keḍac ceṅgkōl naḍāvudir ** īṅgōr peṇpāl 

 poruḷō enum ihaḻvō? ivatṛṛin puṛattāḷ enṛu eṇṇō? * 

 teruḷōm aravaṇaiyīr! * ivaḷ māmai sidaikkinṛadē    33

(On seeing the distress of the Nāyakī, her friend admonishes the Nāyaka)

“O Lord reclining on a serpent bed! You rule the vast spiritual and the material worlds preventing dark sinful activities with the merciful disc weapon; (but) You are taking away the body-hue of Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī; is it because that protecting a lady is not a rightful act of a man? (Or) Do You think that she is outside the spiritual and material worlds? I don’t understand.”

2511 sidaikkinṛa tāḻi enṛu * āḻiyaic cīṛi * tan sīṛaḍiyāl

 udaikkinṛa nāyakan * tannoḍu mālē! ** unadu taṇtār

 tadaikkinṛa taṇṇantuḻāy aṇivān aduvē manamāyp * 

 padaikkinṛa mādhin tiṛattu * aṛiyēn seyaṛpāladuvē   34 

(The friend tells the Nāyaka about the pitiable condition of the Nāyakī)

“O my Lord! This lady draws circles and angrily erases them with her little toes because they give the wrong omen; she longs to wear Your garland of fresh and cool tulasī leaves and flowers; I do not know what to do about her.”   

2512 pālvāyp piṛaip piḷḷai * okkalaik koṇḍu * pahal iḻanda 

 mēlpāl tisaip peṇ * pulambuṛu mālai ** ulagaḷanda

 mālpāl tuḻāykku manam uḍaiyārkku nalhitṛṛai ellām * 

 sōlvān puhundu * iduvōr panivāḍai tuḻāhinṛadē    35 

(Nāyakī laments about the torture by the cold wind over the suffering caused by the evening)

“To destroy whatever good things given by the evening—characterised by the crying of the west-direction lady who keeps her luminous moon child with a milk-stained mouth on her hip and laments for the loss of her sun husband—to those who desired for the tulasī garland of the Lord who measured the planetary systems, this chill wind is blowing; alas!”     

2513 tuḻā neḍuñjūḻ iruḷ enṛu * tantaṇ tāradu peyarā * 

 eḻā neḍu ūḻi eḻunda ikkālattum ** īṅgu ivaḷō! 

 vaḻā neḍuntunbattaḷ enṛu iraṅgār ammanō! * ilaṅgaik

 kuḻā neḍu māḍam * iḍitta pirānār koḍumaihaḷē!    36

(The friend laments about the hard heart of the Nāyaka)

“Even in the pitch-dark night—when one has to search for things by the hands as they cannot be seen and which stretches like a kalpa—this poor lady, suffering in separation, keeps blabbering about the Lord’s cool tulasī garland; (but) the Lord does not think, ‘She is suffering eternally,’ and comes pitying her; alas! He who destroyed many huge palaces in Laṅkā (for the sake of mother Sītā) is hard-hearted (in this lady’s case).”   

2514 koḍuṅgāl silaiyar * nirai kōḷ uḻavar kolaiyil veyya * 

 kaḍuṅgkāl iḷaiñjar tuḍi paḍum kavvaittu ** aruvinaiyēn 

 neḍuṅgkālamum kaṇṇan nīḷ malarp pādam paravip petṛṛa * 

 toḍuṅgkāl osiyum iḍai * iḷamān senṛa sūḻ kaḍamē    37

(The mother of Nāyakī laments about the difficult terrain of the desert through which Nāyakī went in search of Nāyaka or both of them went together)

“This sinful me, after worshipping the lotus feet of Kaṇṇan for a long time, was blessed with my daughter who has a slender waist and a fawn-like look; now she is walking through the dangerous vast desert land where there are cruel men who keep their bow bent and armed with a deadly arrow ready to kill, men who don’t hesitate to kill cows, also men who kill people for money or because of enmity or just for fun, and young men who can go swiftly to a place even one hundred miles or more away to acquire anything they desire whose drums’ tumultuous noise is always heard.”       

2515 kaḍam āyinahaḷ kaḻittu * tan kāl vanmaiyāl pala nāḷ 

 taḍam āyina pukku * nīr nilai ninṛa tavam idu kol? ** 

 kuḍamāḍi immaṇṇum viṇṇum kuluṅga ulagaḷandu * 

 naḍamāḍiya perumān * uruvottana nīlaṅgaḷē     38 

(Nāyakī feels happy to see Nāyaka’s body hue in blue lotus flowers)

“Did the blue lotus flowers which avoided the forests and grew in the lakes obtain the same colour of the body hue of Kaṇṇan—who displayed incredible pot dance and (as Trivikrama) measured the lower and upper planetary systems to the happiness of all—because of having stood in the water and performed austerities for a long time, thanks to the strength of their legs (stems)?      

2516 nīlat taḍavarai mēl * puṇḍarīka neḍuntaḍaṅgaḷ 

pōla * polindu emakku ellā iḍattavum ** poṅgu munnīr 

jñālap pirān visumbukkum pirān matṛṛum nallōr pirān * 

kōlam kariya pirān * empirān kaṇṇin kōlaṅgaḷē    39 

(Nāyakī visualises and describes to her friend the beautiful eyes of Nāyaka)

“The beautiful eyes of my dark-hued Lord—the Lord of all knowledge, the earth surrounded by ocean, the spiritual world, and for everyone—look like large red lotus flowers in lakes on a huge bluish mountain and appear wherever I look.”

2517 kōlap pagaḷ kaḷiṛu * onṛu kalpuyya * kuḻām virinda 

 nīlak kaṅguḷ * kaḷiṛellām niṛaindana ** nēriḻaiyīr ! 

 jñālap pon mādhin maṇāḷan tuḻāy naṅgaḷ sūḻkuḻaṛkē * 

 ēlappunaindu ennaimār * emmai nōkkuvadu enṛu kolō?   40 

(When the night arrives, Nāyakī tells her friend about her feeling of separation)

“The glittering elephant, the majestic sun, just disappeared down the western hills, and the dark bluish elephants, the dense night crowded everywhere; O bejeweled ladies! When that day—when the husband of Bhū-devī and Śrī-devī decorates my dense hair with (His) garland of tulasī and my mother happily looks on—will come?”      

2518 enṛum pun vāḍai * idu kaṇḍaṛidum * ivvāṛu vemmai 

 onṛum uruvum suvaḍum teriyilam ** ōṅgasurar 

 ponṛum vahai puḷḷai ūrvān aruḷ aruḷāda innāḷ * 

 manṛil niṛai paḻi tūtṛṛi * ninṛu ennai vankātṛṛu aḍumē   41 

(Nāyakī laments about the torture of the cool wind)

“We know very well about the torture always caused by this cool wind (when separated from Nāyaka)! But, we do not understand anything about the nature, intensity, and effect of the heat (of this cool wind); there is no kind support from the Lord who flies on Garuḍa and destroys the powerful asuras; at this time, this strong cool wind (makes me suffer and) makes the neighbours talk ill about me and spread the accusation that I am a shameless lady and because of this I am unable to go out.”      

2519 vankātṛṛu aṛaiya * oruṅgē maṛindu kiḍandu alarnda * 

 menkāl kamalat taḍam pōḷ polindana ** maṇṇum viṇṇum

 enkāṛku aḷavinmai kāṇmin enbān ottu vān nimirnda * tankāṛ

paṇinda enpāl * empirāna taḍaṅgkaṇgaḷē    42

(Nāyakī describes the amazing beauty of the Nāyaka’s eyes)

“When looking at me, the large eyes of the Lord—who told (the people in various planetary systems), ‘Look at this amazing feat! These vast upper and lower planetary systems are too small for my feet!’ and grew up covering the upper world and whose lotus feet are worshipped by me—look like lotus flowers with their stems leaning on one side because of the blowing strong wind.”  

2520 kaṇṇum centāmarai * kaiyum avai aḍiyō avaiyē * 

 vaṇṇam kariyadōr māl varai pōnṛu ** madi vikaṛpāl

 viṇṇum kaḍandu umbar appāl mikku matṛṛu eppāl yavarkkum * 

 eṇṇum iḍattaduvō? * empirānadu eḻil niṛamē    43 

(Nāyakī describes Nāyaka’s wonderful form)

“My Lord’s eyes are like lotuses; His hands and feet are the same! His dark radiant body looks like a huge mountain that rises over the skies, over the upper world, boggling the mind, and beyond anyone’s comprehension.”     

2521 niṛamuyar kōlamum * pērum uruvum ivai ivaiyenṛu * 

 aṛamuyal jñānac camayigaḷ pēsilum ** aṅgu aṅgellām

 uṛavuyar jñānac cuḍar viḷakkāy ninṛadanṛi onṛum * 

 peṛa muyanṛār illaiyāl * empirāna perumaiyaiyē    44 

(Nāyakī glorifies the Nāyaka)

“Even the great scholars of religious scriptures that speak of the Lord’s hue, His jewels, His names, and forms as ‘This is how this is,’ only catch partial glimpses of that Supreme Truth which stands as a radiant beacon but can never know Him fully.”  

talaivi talaivanadu nīriḍai udaviyai ninaindu uraittal 

2522 perum kēḻalār tam * peruṅgkaṇ malarp puṇḍarīkam * nam mēl 

 oruṅgē piṛaḻa vaittār ivvakālam ** oruvar nam pōl 

varuṅgkēḻpavar uḷarē? tollai vāḻiyam sūḻ piṛappu * 

 maruṅgē varap peṛumē? * sollu vāḻi maḍa neñjamē!   45 

(Nāyakī recollects Nāyaka’s help in the past)

“O foolish heart! When it was tough (to uplift the earth from the depths of the ocean) the Lord’s large lotus-like merciful and glowing eyes fell on us (He lifted the earth and saved it); Is there anyone else with such a close relationship with us? Will we, who have a long-standing relationship with Him, be afflicted by the tough material miseries? Reply; (drop your doubts and) live happily!    

2523 maḍa neñjam enṛum tamadu enṛum * ōr karumam karudi 

 viḍa neñjai utṛṛār viḍavō amaiyum ** appon peyarōn 

 taḍaneñjam kīṇḍa pirānār tamadu aḍikkīḻ viḍap * pōyt 

 diḍaneñjamāy * emmai nīttu inṛu tāṛum tirihinṛadē   46 

(Nāyakī regrets having sent her heart as a messenger)

“Anyone who thinks that his/her heart is obedient and reliable and wants to send it as a messenger on an important work, better drop it; (because) when I sent my heart to the lotus feet of the mighty Lord who easily split the massive chest of the cruel Hiraṇyakaśipu, it went fast to Him, forgot me and with a firm mind remains there happily till date.”   

2524 tirihinṛadu vaḍamārudam * tiṅgaḷ ventī muhandu * 

 sorihinṛadu aduvum adu ** kaṇṇan viṇṇūr toḻavē

 sarihinṛadu saṅgam taṇṇantuḻāykku vaṇṇam payalai * 

 virihinṛadu muḻu meyyum * ennāṅgkol en melliyaṛkē?   47 

(Mother feels sorry for the miserable condition of the Nāyakī)

“The north wind is blowing hot; the moon spreads scorching heat; since her desire to always worship the holy abode of Kaṇṇan did not happen, (she became thin and) the conch-bangles are slipping away; since she could not get His cool elegant garland of tulasī leaves, her whole body has become pale; what will happen to my tender girl?”    

2525 melliyal ākkaik kirumi * kuruvil miḷir tandu āṅgē 

 selliya selgaittu * ulagai en kāṇum? ** ennālum tannaic 

 colliya sūḻal tirumāl avan kavi yādu katṛṛēn * 

 palliyin sollum sollā * koḷvadō uṇḍu paṇḍu paṇḍē    48

(Nāyakī stays calm after seeing good omen)

“The soft maggot in a wound remains in it only and does not know anything about the world; (similarly, though) the Lord of mother Lakṣmī tricked me into singing His glories, do I understand His glories? (Anyway) It’s an old custom to accept even a lizard’s chirping as a good omen.”  

2526 paṇḍum pala pala * vīṅgiruḷ kāṇḍum * ippāyiruḷ pōl 

 kaṇḍum aṛivadum * kēṭpadum yāmilam ** kāḷa vaṇṇa

 vaṇḍuṇ tuḻāyp perumān madhusūdanan dāmōdaran * 

 uṇḍum umiḻndum kaḍāya * maṇṇēranna oṇṇudalē!   49

(Nāyakī complains about the night to her friend)

“O girl whose forehead is bright and beautiful like that of mother earth who was swallowed and brought out by the dark-hued Supreme Lord adorned with a garland of tulasī leaves swarmed by honey bees, also known as Madhusūdana and Dāmōdara! I have seen many long nights, but I have never seen or heard about this never-ending night (because of separation).”  

2527 oṇṇudal māmai *  oḷi payavāmai * viraindu nantēr 

 naṇṇudal vēṇḍum * valava! kaḍāginṛu ** tēn navinṛa 

 viṇ mudal nāyahan nīḷmuḍi veṇmutta vāsihaittāy * 

 maṇ mudal sērvutṛṛu * aruvi seyyā niṛkum māmalaikkē   50

(The returning Nāyaka instructs the chariot driver)

“O expert chariot driver! Please drive the chariot fast to reach before the bright skin hue of the lovely fore headed Nāyakī turns pale; (where to?) now drive the chariot to the huge Tirumala Hills where the waterfalls, like the white pearl string adorning the long hair of the Lord from the crown of Vaikuṇṭha, fall to the base.”    

2528 malai koṇḍu mattā aravāl suḻatṛṛiya māyap pirān * 

 alai kaṇḍu koṇḍa amudham koḷḷādu kaḍal ** bharadar

 vilai koṇḍu tanda saṅgam ivai vērit tuḻāy tuṇaiyāt * 

 tulai koṇḍu tāyam kiḷarndu * koḷvān ottu aḻaikkinṛadē 51

(Nāyakī laments about the noise of the ocean)

“The ocean—which was churned with Mandara Hill as the churning rod and serpent Vāsuki as the rope by the mystical Lord—peeved on losing the ambrosia, accompanied by the fragrant garland of tulasī leaves (of the Lord which I could not get) is calling me loudly (for a fight), like the relatives fighting for a property, (as if to) get back my conch bangles sold to me by the fishermen.”    

2529 aḻaikkum karuṅgkaḍal * veṇtiraik kaik koṇḍu pōy * alar vāy 

 maḻaikkaṇ maḍandai * aravaṇai ēṛa ** maṇmādar viṇvāy 

 aḻaittup pulambi mulai malai mēl ninṛum āṛuhaḷāy * 

 maḻaik kaṇṇa nīr * tirumāl koḍiyān enṛu vārhinṛadē!   52

(Mix-up in season)

“The black Ocean of Milk (looks black because of the shadow of the dark-hued body of the Lord) calls lovingly and with its ‘white hands of waves’ carries up mother Lakṣmī, living on a lotus flower and with ‘cool like rain’ eyes, and she climbs up on the bed of Ananta Śeṣa; (looking at this) mother earth cries loudly - the thundering clouds - and her copious ‘tears of rains’ run down her ‘breasts of mountains’ as rivers declaring that ‘Lord is cruel.’’’       

2530 vārāyina mulaiyāḷ ivaḷ * vānōr talaimahanām * 

 sīrāyina deyva nannōy idu ** deyvat taṇṇantuḻāyt

 tārāyinum taḻaiyāyinum taṇkombadāyinum * kīḻ 

 vērāyinum * ninṛa maṇṇāyinum koṇḍu vīsuminē    53 

(The gypsy foreteller recommends a remedy)

(The gypsy foreteller says): “This corset-breasted lady is suffering from an auspicious affliction by the divine qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; (the remedy is) bring a divine, cool, and elegant garland of tulasī leaves (adorned by the Lord) or even a leaf from it or a cool branch of tulasī or its root or at least the sand (where the tulasī plant was) and wave her body with it.”         

2531 vīsum siṛahāl paṛattir * viṇṇāḍu nuṅgaṭku eḷidu * 

 pēsumpaḍi anna pēsiyum pōvadu ** ney toḍuvuṇḍu

 ēsumpaḍi anna seyyum em īsar viṇṇōr pirānār * 

 māsil malaraḍik kīḻ * emmaic cērvikkum vaṇḍuhaḷē!    54 

(Sending bumblebees as messengers)

“O bumblebees, you can fly fast and even reach Vaikuṇṭha! You are capable of reaching me under the blemish-less red lotus feet of my Lord who was scolded for having stolen and gobbled up the ghee and who is the Lord of the demigods too; (before you go to Him as my messengers) please tell me the message you will give Him.”     

2532 vaṇḍuhaḷō! vammin * nīrppū nilappū marattil oṇpū * 

 uṇḍu kaḷittu uḻalvīrkku onṛu uraikkiyam ** ēnam onṛāy 

 maṇ tugaḷāḍi vaikuṇṭham annāḷ kuḻalvāy virai pōl * 

 viṇḍukaḷ vārum * malar uḷavō num viyaliḍattē?    55 

(Nāyakan eulogising Nāyakī)

Nāyakan tells the bumblebees: “O bumblebees come! You enjoy drinking honey from flowers in water, on land and trees; I want to ask you something; are those honey-rich fragrant flowers decorating the hair of this Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī—glorious like Vaikuṇṭha of the Lord Varāha who measured the earth as a dust particle—found in those places do you roam around?”

2533 viyaliḍam uṇḍa pirānār viḍutta tiruvaruḷāl * 

 uyaliḍam petṛṛu uyndam añjalam tōḻi! ** ōr taṇtenṛal vandu 

 ayaliḍai yārum aṛindilar ampūntuḻāyin intēn * 

 puyaluḍai nīrmaiyināl * taḍavitṛṛu en pulan kalanē    56 

(Nāyakī indicates to her friend about uniting with the Nāyakan)

“O come my friend! Because of the mercy of my Lord who swallowed the planetary systems now I can live peacefully without any fear (of the cold wind); a cool spring breeze, sprinkling the honey from the tulasī flowers like raindrops, came without anyone’s knowledge and caressed my limbs and the senses.” 

2534 pulakkuṇḍalap * puṇḍarīhatta pōrk keṇḍai * valli onṛāl 

 vilakkuṇḍu ulāginṛu * vēl viḻikkinṛana ** kaṇṇan kaiyāl 

 malakkuṇḍu amudham suranda maṛi kaḍal pōnṛavatṛṛāl * 

 kalakkuṇḍa nānṛu kaṇḍār * emmai yārum kaḻaṛalarē

(Nāyakan justifying his attraction to the Nāyakī)

When his friend criticises Nāyakan for losing his body form because of his relationship with a lady, Nāyakan justifies it: “Whoever has seen her eyes, which are like the ocean agitated due to the churning by the Lord to get the ambrosia, will not criticise my attraction to her; the eyes, which resemble two sparring carp fish separated by a twiner (her nose) swimming angrily, on her lotus-like face decorated by earrings, look piercingly like a lancer.”    

2535 kaḻal talam onṛē nila muḻudāyitṛṛu * oru kaḻal pōy 

niḻal tara * ellā visumbum niṛaindadu ** nīṇḍa aṇḍattu 

 uḻaṛalar jñānac cuḍar viḷakkāy uyarndōrai illā * 

 aḻaṛalar tāmaraik kaṇṇan * ennō iṅgu aḷakkinṛadē?   58

(Nāyakī’s friend consoles her by telling her the glories of the Nāyakan)

“One of His lotus feet stretched over the entire earth and another stretched above everything and shadowed all the planetary systems; He is the light of knowledge; there is nobody equal to or above Him; He is the Lord with eyes like the red lotus flower present in the vast Vaikuṇṭha planet; there is nothing that He can not do.”   

 2536 aḷapparum tanmaiya * ūḻiyam kaṅgul * antaṇṇantuḻāykku

 uḷapperum kādalin  * nīḷiya vāyuḷa ** ōṅgu munnīr 

 vaḷapperu nāḍan madhusūdanan ennum valvinaiyēn * 

 taḷapperu nīḷ muṛuval * seyya vāya taḍa mulaiyē    59 

(The mother feels sorry about the suffering of the Nāyakī due to the long lonely night)

“My daughter with a sweet smile and teeth like jasmine buds, coral lips, and large breasts laments, ‘Alas! These lonely nights, longer than the immeasurable yugas, are growing like the desire in my heart for the garland of cool tulasī leaves of my Lord Madhusūdana who rules the vast and opulent kingdom surrounded by a deep ocean.’”      

2537 * mulaiyō muḻu mutṛṛum pōndila * moypūm kuḻal kuṛiya 

 kalaiyō araiyillai * nāvō kuḻaṛum ** kaḍal maṇṇellām

 vilaiyō ena miḷirum kaṇ ivaḷ paramē? * perumān

 malaiyō * tiruveṅkaṭam enṛu kaṛkinṛa vāsagamē     60

(Mother considers her daughter too young for love)

“Her breasts are yet to be formed fully; her soft hair is too short; her clothes aren’t worn properly; she still talks like a small girl; her bright eyes are dreamy; she keeps saying, ‘Is Tiruveṅkaṭam the abode of my Lord? It is a wonder!”   

2538 vāsagam seyvadu nam paramē? * tollai vānavar tam 

 nāyakan * nāyakarellām toḻum avan ** jñāla mutṛṛum 

 vēyagam āyinum sōrā vahai * iraṇḍē aḍiyāl 

 tāyavan * āykkulamāy vandu tōnṛitṛṛu nam iṛaiyē    61

(The friend explains the simplicity of Nāyakan to Nāyakī)

“(Though) Our Lord is the chief of the nitya-muktas; all the demigods worship Him; (and) He covered all the planetary systems, without missing even a bit of land, with just two steps; (yet) He appeared and lived in the cowherd community; is it possible for us to glorify His simplicity?”   

2539 iṛaiyō irakkinum * īṅgōr peṇpāl enavum iraṅgādu * 

 aṛaiyō! ena ninṛadirum karuṅgkaḍal ** īṅgu ivaḷ tan 

 niṛaiyō ini un tiruvaruḷāl anṛik * kāpparidāl 

 muṛaiyō? * aravaṇai mēl paḷḷi koṇḍa muhil vaṇṇanē    62

(The friend explains the pitiable condition of Nāyakī to Nāyakan)

“Alas! Despite repeated requests, without any consideration that she is a lady, the sea keeps howling as if challenging her; O dark rain cloud-hued Lord who reclines on a serpent bed! Her condition is so bad that except Your mercy nothing else can protect her; is it right on Your part (to neglect her)?”  

2540 vaṇṇam sivanduḷa *  vānāḍu amarum kuḷir viḻiya *

 taṇmen kamalattaḍam pōl polindana ** tām ivaiyō 

 kaṇṇan tirumāl tirumugam tannoḍum kādal seydēṛku * 

 eṇṇam puhundu * aḍiyēnoḍu ikkālam irukkinṛadē    63

(Nāyakī speaks in support of Nāyakan when her friend critcises Him)

“The reddish lotus eyes which have a cool gaze that makes the nitya-muktas in Vaikuṇṭha happy and which are like the cool and soft lotus pond—of Kaṇṇan, the consort of mother Lakṣmī, whose lotus face is loved by me—have entered my heart and are still with me.’

2541 irukkār moḻiyāl * neṛi iḻukkāmai * ulagaḷanda 

 tiruttāḷ iṇai * nilat devar vaṇaṅguvar ** yāmum avā 

 orukkā vinaiyoḍum emmoḍum nondu kaniyinmaiyin * 

 karukkāy kaḍippavar pōl * tirunāmac col katṛṛanamē    64

(Nāyakī tells her friend that by chanting the name of Nāyakan she survives)

“The brāhmaṇas, the demigods of this world, worship the lotus feet of the Lord who measured the planetary systems by chanting the Vedic mantras; I too, unable to control my love which is hindered by my sins, curse myself, and like one who tastes a raw fruit when they don’t get a ripened fruit, keep chanting His names (to survive in His absence).”     

2542 katṛṛup piṇai malark *  kaṇṇin kulam venṛu * ōrō karumam 

 utṛṛup payinṛu * seviyoḍu usāvi ** ulagam ellām 

 mutṛṛum viḻuṅgi umiḻnda pirānār tiruvaḍik kīḻ * 

 utṛṛum uṛādum * miḷirnda kaṇṇāy emmai uṇginṛavē   65 

(Nāyakan describes the enchanting eyes of Nāyakī)

“Her eyes, defeating the soft look of the gentle does, with an intent gaze, connecting with what is heard, looking (at me when I don’t look) and avoiding (my gaze), have overtaken me totally unlike anything else in this world under the lotus feet of the Lord who swallowed and later brought out all the planetary systems.”

2543 uṇṇādu uṛaṅgādu * uṇarvuṛum ettanai yōgiyarkkum * 

 eṇṇāy miḷirum iyalvinavām ** eri nīr vaḷi vān 

 maṇṇāhiya emperumān tanadu vaikuṇṭham annāḷ * 

 kaṇṇāy aruvinaiyēn * uyirāyina kāvihaḷē     66 

(Nāyakan justifies his attraction to (the eyes of Nāyakī))

“She—enjoyable like Vaikuṇṭha of the Lord who has transformed into fire, water, air, ether, and earth—has eyes like red lotus which are the sustenance of this sinful me and shine with such a radiance that they agitate the mind of even the yogis who engage in meditation without eating and sleeping.      

2544 kāviyum nīlamum * vēlum kayalum pala pala enṛu * 

 āviyin tanmai aḷavalla pārippu ** asuraic cetṛṛa

 māviyam puḷ valla mādhavan govindan veṅkaṭam sēr * 

 tūviyam pēḍai annāḷ * kaṇgaḷāya tuṇai malarē    67

(Nāyakan accepts his weakness)

“She, like a swan with beautiful wings living on Tiruveṅkaṭa Hills of the husband of Śrī-Lakṣmī who flies on the huge and incredible Garuḍa to kill the asuras and the Lord who protects the cows, has eyes which easily win over twin lotus flowers or red lotus flowers or blue lotus flowers or a spear and many similar objects; her gaze torments me and subdues my soul.”   

2545 malarndē oḻindila * mālaiyum mālaippon vāsigaiyum * 

 pulam tōy taḻaip pandar taṇḍuṛa nātṛṛi ** porukaḍal sūḻ 

 nilam tāviya emperumān tanadu vaikuṇṭhamannāy! * 

 kalandār vara edir koṇḍu * vankonṛaihaḷ kārttanavē   68

(Confusion over season: The friend clarifies that it is not yet rainy season when the Nāyakan has promised to return).

“O lady who is like Vaikuṇṭha of the Lord who measured this earth surrounded by stormy oceans! The strong Golden shower trees have sprouted buds (but) they have not yet flowered into strings of fresh blooms over a canopy of branches and leaves.”    

2546 kārētṛṛiruḷ segilētṛṛin * suḍarukku uḷaindu * velvān 

 pōrētṛṛedirndadu * pun talai mālai ** bhuvani ellām 

 nīrētṛṛu aḷanda neḍiya pirān aruḷā viḍumē? * 

 vārētṛṛiḷa mulaiyāy! * varundēl un vaḷait tiṛamē    69

(The friend consoles Nāyakī who feels sad about the evening)

“O young lady with tender breasts that have overgrown the corset! Don’t feel sad and lose your bangles; the bull of the dark night which was defeated earlier by the bull of the red sun is just now approaching it again to fight (it’s only evening, not yet night); Won’t the incredible Lord who accepted the water from Bali and measured all the planetary systems, be merciful (to you) on this lovely evening? (Don’t worry, He will come).”         

2547 vaḷaivāyt tiruccakkarattu * eṅgaḷ vānavanār muḍi mēl * 

 taḷaivāy naṛuṅgkaṇṇit taṇṇan tuḻāykku vaṇṇam payalai ** 

 viḷaivān miha vandu nāḷ tiṅgaḷ āṇḍu ūḻi niṛka * emmai 

 uḷaivān puhundu * idu ōr kaṅgul āyiram ūḻihaḷē    70

(Nāyakī laments about the long night)

“Because of my desire for the lovely, cool, and fragrant garland of tulasī adorning the head of our Lord in Vaikuṇṭha who wields the sharp-edged disc weapon, my skin has lost its glow; every night has been like a day, a month, a year, and a kalpa but tonight alone is like a thousand kalpas (without Him).”   

2548 ūḻihaḷāy ulagēḻum uṇḍān enṛilam * paḻaṅgkaṇḍu 

āḻi * kaḷām paḻa vaṇṇam enṛēṛku ** aqdē koṇḍu annai 

 nāḻivaḷō ennum jñālam uṇḍān vaṇṇam sollitṛṛu ennum * 

 tōḻihaḷō! uraiyīr * emmai ammanai sūḻhinṛavē    71

(Nāyakī tells her friends about her mother’s anger)

“O my friends! I did not say anything about the Lord who is the Master of Kāla and who swallowed the planetary systems (at the end of a Mahā-kalpa); I just said, ‘The colour of this Bengal currant fruit is the colour of the ocean;’ on hearing this, my mother accuses me, ‘This girl is arrogant and acts independently; what she said now indicates the body hue of the Lord who swallowed the planets;’ please talk to my mother and ask her not to accuse me.” 

2549 sūḻhinṛa kaṅgul * suruṅgā iruḷin karuntiṇimbai * 

 pōḻhinṛa tiṅgaḷ ampiḷḷaiyum pōḻha ** tuḻāy malarkkē 

 tāḻhinṛa neñjattu oru tamiyāṭṭiyēn māmaikku inṛu * 

 vāḻhinṛavāṛu iduvō? * vandu tōnṛitṛṛu vāliyadē   72

(Nāyakī, tormented by the night, becomes agitated on looking at the crescent moon)

“Let the crescent moon, which removes the thick darkness of this increasingly dark night, break my heart too; alas! This crescent moon has risen to spoil my skin hue when all I want is the Lord’s garland of tulasī leaves and when I am suffering alone.”   

2550 vāl veṇṇilavu ulagārac curakkum veṇtiṅgaḷ ennum * 

 pāl viṇ suravi suramudir mālai ** paridi vaṭṭam

 pōlum suḍar aḍalāḻip pirān poḻil ēḻaḷikkum * 

 sālbin tagaimai kolām? * tamiyāṭṭi taḷarndaduvē    73

(The friend feels sorry for the suffering of Nāyakī due to the night with the crescent moon)

“In this evening, when the pouring of the milk-like moonlight by the cow-like white moon floods the whole world with its milk-like white light, suffering by this lonely lady, does not at all befit the Lord, wielder of the powerful sun-like disc which can swallow this moonlight, who is supposed to be the protector of the seven planetary systems, alas!”  

2551 taḷarndum muṛindum * varu tiraip pāyal * tiru neḍuṅgkaṇ 

 vaḷarndum aṛivutṛṛum * vaiyam viḻuṅgiyum ** māl varaiyaik 

 kiḷarndumaṛi tarak kīṇḍeḍuttān muḍi sūḍu tuḻāy * 

 aḷainduṇ siṛu pasuntenṛal * andō! vandu ulāhinṛadē   74

(Nāyakī happily tells her friend about the gentle air bringing the scent of the Lord’s garland of tulasī leaves)

“O! A fresh and gentle air is blowing with the smell of the garland of tulasī leaves that adorns the hair of the Lord who is reclining in the wavy ocean ever sentient; who protected the planetary systems by swallowing them; and, who held the Govardhana Hills as an umbrella.”      

2552 ulāhinṛa keṇḍai oḷi ambu * em āviyai ūḍuruvak 

 kulāhinṛa veñjilai vāḷ mugattīr! ** kuni saṅgiḍaṛip

 pulāhinṛa vēlaip puṇari ampaḷḷi ammān * aḍiyār

 nilāhinṛa vaikuṇṭhamō? * vaiyamō? num nilai iḍamē    75

(Nāyakan questions Nāyakī and her friends to indicate his mood)

“O bright-faced ladies with wandering carp fish-shaped luminant arrows (eyes) that pierce our soul and shot by the arched bow (brow)! Is your residence Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of the eternal devotees of the Lord who reclines in the wavy ocean smelling of fish that feed on the abundant conch fish or this earth?”        

2553 iḍam pōy virindu * ivvulagaḷandān eḻilār taṇtuḻāy * 

 vaḍam pōtinaiyum maḍa neñjamē! ** naṅgaḷ veḷvaḷaikkē

 viḍam pōl viridal idu viyappē? viyan tāmaraiyin * 

 taḍam pōdu oḍuṅga * mellāmbal alarvikkum veṇtiṅgaḷē   76

(Nāyakī who desires the garland of tulasī leaves tells her heart about the cruelty of the moon)

“O gentle heart who longs for the lovely, cool garland of tulasī leaves of the Lord who extended beyond the worlds and measured the planetary systems! The moon which makes the lovely large lotus close and the little water lily bloom has schemed to get my white bangles to fall and is spreading its poisonous bright light; is this surprising?”       

2554 tiṅgaḷampiḷḷai pulamba * tan seṅgkōl arasu paṭṭa 

 seṅgkaḷam patṛṛi * ninṛeḷgu punmālai ** tenpāl ilaṅgai 

 veṅgkaḷam seyda nam viṇṇōr pirānār tuḻāy tuṇaiyā * 

 naṅgaḷai māmai koḷvān * vandu tōnṛi nalihinṛadē   77

(Nāyakī laments for the approaching evening)

“Leaving the crescent moon, her son, all alone and crying, the lady, the twilight, who stands in the reddish sky, the battlefield, and bemoans the death of the sun, her husband, who wielded the ruling rod, his wide-spreading reddish sun rays, has approached to take the garland of tulasī leaves adorned by our Supreme Personality of Godhead who made Laṅkā a terrible battlefield, and also to grab my body hue.”

2555 naliyum narakanai vīṭṭitṛṛum * vāṇan tiṇtōḷ tuṇitta 

 valiyum perumaiyum * yām sollum nīrttalla ** mai varai pōl 

 poliyum uruviṛ pirānār punai pūntuḻāy malarkkē * 

 meliyum maḍa neñjinār * tandu pōyina vēdanaiyē    78 

(Nāyakī thinks about the might of Nāyakan and laments pitiably in separation)

“It is not possible for me to fully glorify the might of the Lord who killed the demon Narakāsura and who cut off the strong shoulders of Bāṇāsura; desiring the lovely garland of tulasī leaves adorned by the Lord who looks like a collyrium hill (blackish), my gentle heart has left me leaving the miseries with me.”    

2556 vēdanai * veṇpuri nūlanai * viṇṇōr parava ninṛa 

 nāthanai * jñālam viḻuṅgum anādanai ** jñālantattum

 pādanaip pāṛkaḍal pāmbaṇai mēl paḷḷi koṇḍu aruḷum * 

 sīdanaiyē toḻuvār * viṇṇuḷārilum sīriyarē     79 

(Nāyakī glorifies those who steadfastly worship the Lord)

“Those who steadfastly worship the Lord—of the Vedas adorned with a pure sacred thread and worshipped by the nitya-muktas as their eternal Master; who swallowed the planetary systems to protect them and has no one above Him; who measured the planetary systems; and who is the benevolent Lord reclining on the serpent bed in the Milk Ocean—are superior to even those in Vaikuṇṭha.”  

pirivātṛṛāda talaivi mālaip poḻudu kaṇḍu iraṅgudal 

2557 sīr arasāṇḍu tan seṅgkōl * sila nāḷ selīikkaḻinda * 

 pār arasu ottu maṛaindadu nāyiṛu ** pāraḷanda 

 pērarasē! em visumbarasē! emmai nīttu vañjitta * 

 ōrarasē! aruḷāy * iruḷāy vandu uṛuhinṛadē     80

(The lonely Nāyakī laments about the approaching evening)

“O Lord of Vaikuṇṭha who measured the planetary systems! The sun has set like a noble king who died after extending the scepter of his just rule for some period; O matchless Lord who left me all alone! Please be merciful to me; this dark night surrounds and torments me.”    

2558 uruhinṛa kanmaṅgaḷ *  mēlana ōrppilarāy * ivaḷaip 

 peruhinṛa tāyar * mey nondu peṛār kol? ** tuḻāy kuḻal vāyt 

 tuṛuhinṛilar tollai veṅkaṭamāṭṭavum sūḻhinṛilar * 

 iruhinṛadāl ivaḷ āgam * mellāvi eri koḷḷavē     81

(The friend of Nāyakī condemns the rituals performed by the mother)

“Without understanding (her true affliction), the rituals performed (by the mother) are aggravating the problem; it looks like the mother didn’t undergo pregnancy and delivery ordeals (so, the mother doesn’t consider her precious); the mother is not decorating her hair with the tulasī leaves adorned by the Lord; she is not considering taking her to Tiruveṅkaṭam to worship there; the fire of separation is engulfing her body and the soul.”      

2559 eri koḷ sennāyiṛu * iraṇḍuḍanē udayam malai vāy * 

 virihinṛa vaṇṇatta emperumān kaṇgaḷ ** mīṇḍu avatṛṛuḷ 

 eri koḷ sentī vīḻasuraraip pōla empōliyarkkum * 

 viriva sollīr iduvō? * vaiyam mutṛṛum viḷariyadē    82

(Nāyakī visualises the form of the Lord and describes the beauty and danger of His eyes)

“(O dear friends!) The eyes of the Lord glow like two red hot suns rising simultaneously in the east; like the mandēhar asuras, who keep falling helplessly and dying in the red fire of the brilliant suns, people like me also are burnt by those eyes; is this the way the Lord protects the world?”

Mandēhar asuras: (Taittirīya-āraṇyaka) They were inhabitants of an island called Mandēhāruṇa-dvīpa; they perform severe austerities and obtain powerful boons from Brahmā; emboldened by the boons, they keep attacking the sun; however, the arghya water offered by the brāhmaṇas while performing sandhyā-vandana in the evenings fall on them like vajrāyuda and pushes them away; further, the water causes a red flame to rise in the sun globe which burns the asuras who keep falling into it and die.    

2560 viḷarik kural anṛil * menpaḍai mēhinṛa munṛil peṇṇai * 

 muḷarik kurambai idu iduvāha ** mugil vaṇṇan pēr 

 kiḷarik kiḷarip pidatṛṛum mellāviyum naivum ellām * 

 taḷaril kolō? aṛiyēn * uyyalāvadu ittaiyalukkē    83

(The friend feels sad about the suffering of the Nāyakī on hearing the mating cry of the glossy ibis)

“On hearing the mating cry (viḷari - Madhyama or Daivata musical note), of the glossy ibis in the nest on a palm tree in front of the house, she, already very thin and weak, starts blabbering the holy names of the rain cloud-hued Lord; will she get her salvation (with the arrival of the Nāyakan) only after completely collapsing? I don’t know.”   

2561 taiyal nallārhaḷ * kuḻāṅgaḷ kuḻiya kuḻuvin uḷḷum * 

 aiya nallārhaḷ kuḻiya viḻavinum ** aṅgu aṅgellām

kaiya ponnāḻi veṇsaṅgoḍum kāṇbān avāvuvan nān * 

 maiya vaṇṇā! maṇiyē! * muttamē! endan māṇikkamē!   84

(Nāyakī rushing to meet Nāyakan)

“O collyrium-hued one! O blue gemstone-hued one! My blue-sapphire gemstone-hued Lord! I long to see You, wielding the golden disc and the white conch, be it amid a crowd of beautiful women or a grand festival celebrated by noble persons or in any similar crowd.”     

2562 māṇikkam koṇḍu * kuraṅgeṛi ottu iruḷōḍu muṭṭi * 

 āṇippon anna suḍar paḍu mālai ** ulagaḷanda 

 māṇikkamē! en maradagamē! matṛṛoppārai illā * 

 āṇip ponnē! * aḍiyēnaḍi āvi aḍaikkalamē!     85 

(Nāyakī laments about the evening)

“O blue sapphire gemstone-hued one who measured the worlds! My emerald stone! O matchless gold of high quality! When a monkey finds a dazzling gemstone, it just throws it off; similarly, the sky has thrown away the bright sun and dusk is fast approaching; I, Your eternal servant, surrender my soul to You.”   

2563 aḍaikkalattu ōṅgu kamalattu alar ayan senni ennum * 

 muḍaik kalattūṇ mun aranukku nīkkiyai ** āḻi saṅgam 

 paḍaikkalam ēndiyai veṇṇeykku anṛu āycci vantāmbugaḷāl * 

 puḍaikku alandānai emmānai * en sollip pulambuvanē?   86

(Nāyakī laments in separation)

“How to cry out to the Lord (for shelter) who removed the curse on Śiva of begging with the skull of Brahmā, who appeared on the lotus that sprouted from the navel of the Lord; who wields the disc weapon and the conch in His hands, and who stole butter and cried for having been tied by mother Yaśodā with a rope? 

2564 pulambum ganakural * pōḻvāya anṛilum * pūṅgkaḻi pāyndu 

 alambum ganakural * sūḻ tirai āḻiyum ** āṅgu avai nin 

 valambuḷḷadu nalam pāḍum idu kutṛṛamāha * vaiyam 

 silambumpaḍi seyvadē? * tirumāl ittiruvinaiyē                87

(The friend laments about the suffering of Nāyakī on hearing the mating cry of the glossy ibis and the sound of the sea)

“O Lord of mother Lakṣmī! This noble lady is tormented by the loud cry (of separation) of the glossy ibis and the loud gushing noise of the stormy ocean’s water entering the holes dug for salt harvest just because she glorified Your mighty carrier Garuḍa. Is it right on Your part to torture her like this?”      

2565 tirumāl uruvokkum mēru * ammēruvil señjuḍarōn * 

 tirumāl tirukkait tiruccakkaram okkum ** anna kaṇḍum 

 tirumāl uruvōḍu avan cinnamē pidatṛṛā niṛpadu ōr * 

 tirumāl talaikkoṇḍa naṅgaṭku * eṅgē varum tīvinaiyē?  88

(Nāyakī laments visualising the form of the Lord looking at the mountain and the sun)

“The Mount Meru resembles the body of the Lord of mother Lakṣmī and the bright red sun near the mountain the resplendent disc in His hand; looking at these we feel happy and chant His holy names in ecstasy as if He has appeared; will we be afflicted by evil effects (of separation from Him)? (Not at all).”    

talaivan kalavikku viraigiṛa talaivi iraṅgudal 

2566 tīvinaikku aru nañjai * nalvinaikku innamudattinai * 

 pūvinai mēviya devī maṇāḷanai ** punmai eḷgādu

 āvinai mēykkum vallāyanai anṛulagu īraḍiyāl * 

 tāvina ētṛṛai emmānai * eñjñānṛu talaippeyvanē?    89

(Nāyakī longing for union with the Nāyakan)

“When will I unite with the Lord who is like a terrible poison nullifying the sinful reactions of the devotees and like ambrosia for their devotional service; who is the husband of mother Lakṣmī whose abode is the lotus; who did not shy away from herding the cows; and who measured the planetary systems in two steps?” 

2567 talaippeydu yān un tiruvaḍic cūḍum tagaimaiyināl * 

 nilaippeyda ākkaikku nōtṛṛa immāyamum ** māyam sevvē 

nilaippeydilāda nilaimaiyum kāṇdōṛu asurar kuḻām * 

tolaippeyda nēmi endāy! * tollai ūḻi suruṅgaladē   90

(Nāyakī lamenting interminable stretch of time)

“O Lord who wields the disc that destroyed the asuras! It’s a wonder that I performed the austerities to obtain this body that could unite with You and be Your servant holding Your lotus feet on my head, but the eternal time is stretching interminably separating me from that day when my desire will get fulfilled.”  

2568 suruṅguṛi veṇṇey toḍu uṇḍa kaḷvanai * vaiyam mutṛṛum 

 oruṅguṛa uṇḍa * peru vayitṛṛāḷanai ** māvali māṭṭu 

 iruṅgkuṛaḷāhi isaiya ōr mūvaḍi vēṇḍic cenṛa * 

 peruṅgiṛiyānai allāl * aḍiyēn neñjam pēṇaladē    91 

(Nāyakī tells her friend that her heart is fixed only on the Nāyakan)

“My heart, surrendered to the clever husband of mother Lakṣmī—the thief who stole and gobbled the butter stored in the pots on the rope hangers; who swallowed all the planetary systems; and who went to Bali as Vāmana and made him accept to give three steps of land—will not desire anybody else.”   

vēndaṛkutṛṛuḻip pirivil talaivanaik kuṛittut talaivi iraṅgudal 

2569 pēṇalam illā arakkar munnīra perum padivāy * 

 nīḷnagar nīḷeri vaittaruḷāy enṛu ** ninnai viṇṇōr

 tāḷ nilam tōyndu toḻuvar nin mūrtti pal kūtṛṛilonṛu * 

 kāṇalumāṅgol? enṛē * vaigal mālaiyum kālaiyumē    92

(Nāyakī blames the selfish demigods for Nāyaka’s separation from her)

“The demigods come and worship You daily both in the morning and evening, their feet touching the earth, and praying that the huge city of Laṅkā, surrounded by the ocean and a huge mountain, of the evil asuras who do not worship You at all, should be burnt by You; they do not have any desire to see at least one of Your many wonderful incarnations.”      

2570 kālai veyyōṛku munnōṭṭuk koḍutta kaṅgul kuṛumbar * 

 mālai veyyōn paḍa * vaiyagam pāvuvar ** anna kaṇḍum 

 kālai naljñānat tuṛai paḍindāḍik kaṇ pōdu seydu * 

 mālai nalnāvil koḷḷār * ninaiyār avan maippaḍiyē    93

(Nāyakī is angry with the people who do not engage in devotional service)

“The wicked princesses of night, who run away unable to face the emperor sun  in the morning, spread throughout the world in the evening after the demise of the emperor sun; (even after seeing this passage of time which shortens their lives) every morning, the worldly people won’t take a dip in the water of devotional service and chant the holy names of the Lord, closing their eyes in devotion; they won’t remember the dark body of the Lord.”   

2571 maippaḍi mēniyum * sentāmaraik kaṇṇum vaidiharē * 

 meyppaḍiyāl un tiruvaḍic cūḍum tagaimaiyinār ** 

 eppaḍi ūrāmilaikkak kuruṭṭāmilaikkum ennum * 

 appaḍi yānum sonnēn * aḍiyēn matṛṛu yādenbanē?    94

(Nāyakī accepts her ignorance about Nāyakan)

“The brāhmaṇas alone possess the nature to hold the lotus feet of Yours—who has bluish body hue and lotus-like eyes—on their heads and worship You following proper method; like the blind cow too moos when the herds of cows (returning from grazing) moo once they reach home, I too worshipped You (imitating the brāhmaṇas); what else can this ignorant servant say?”   

2572 * yādānum ōr ākkaiyil pukku * aṅgu āppuṇḍum āppaviḻndum * 

 mūdāviyil taḍumāṛum uyir munnamē ** adanāl 

 yādānum patṛṛi nīṅgum viradattai nal vīḍu seyyum * 

 mātāvinaip pituvai * tirumālai vaṇaṅguvanē    95

(Nāyakī decides attain Nāyakan at any cost)

“The soul, based on its karma, takes birth in different bodies, gets bound in a body in a life, and gets bound in another body in the next life, and so on; to get out of this cycle, I surrender to Lord Nārāyaṇa, who is like a mother and a father, and who alone can get me out of the karmic cycle.”   

2573 vaṇaṅgum tuṛaihaḷ pala pala ākki * madi vigaṛpāl 

 piṇaṅgum samayam * pala pala ākki ** avai avai tōṛu 

 aṇaṅgum pala pala ākki nin mūrti parappi vaittāy * 

 iṇaṅgu ninnōrai illāy! * ninkaṇ vēṭkai eḻuvippanē    96

(Nāyakī wants to remove the misbeliefs)

“(O Lord!) You have created different types of worship, different religions disagreeing with each other philosophically, and different gods in those religions; O peerless Lord! I will worship You alone.”

2574 eḻuvadum mīṇḍē paḍuvadum paṭṭu * enai ūḻihaḷ pōyk 

 kaḻivadum kaṇḍu kaṇḍu eḷgal allāl ** imaiyōrhaḷ kuḻām 

 toḻuvadum sūḻvadum sey tollai mālaik kaṇṇārak kaṇḍu * 

 kaḻivadōr kādal utṛṛārkkum * uṇḍō kaṇgaḷ tuñjudalē?  97

(Nāyakī, unable to sleep due to separation from Nāyakan, laments)

“For those devotees who have developed love of the timeless Lord—who is surrounded and worshipped by the demigods—and desire to behold Him to their heart’s content, is there a possibility to sleep for a while instead of worrying (helplessly about the passage of time) witnessing the sun rise and setting for eons? (Not at all).”    

2576 tuñjā munivarum * allādavarum toḍara ninṛa * 

 eñjāp piṛavi iḍar kaḍivān ** imaiyōr tamakkum tan sārvu

ilāda tanipperu mūrtti tan māyam sevvē * 

 neñjāl ninaipparidāl * veṇṇey ūṇennum īnac collē    98

(The friend consoles Nāyakī who thinks of the greatness of Nāyakan and laments)

“It is incredible for the sages and the demigods to think and say that the Lord—who is worshipped by the sages performing austerities sleeplessly and the demigods; who eliminates the unlimited miseries of birth and death; for whom there is nobody equal to or superior; and who has a wonderful form—stole and ate butter!”  

2576 * īnac col āyinumāha * eṛi tirai vaiyam mutṛṛum * 

 ēnattu uruvāy iḍanda pirān ** iruṅgkaṛpagam sēr 

 vānattavarkkum allādavarkkum matṛṛellāyavarkkum * 

 jñānap pirānai allāl illai * nān kaṇḍa nalladuvē    99

(Nāyakī tells her friend that her love for Nāyakan is unshakeable)

“Even if my conclusion is slandered I do not hesitate to say it; I do not find any other benefactor than the Lord who as a boar lifted up the earth, drowned in the stormy ocean, on His horn; and who provides the Vedic knowledge to the demigods in heaven full of desire trees, the human beings and the demons in the lower worlds.”   

2577 * nallār navil kurugūr nagarān * tirumāl tiruppēr 

 vallār * aḍikkaṇṇi sūḍiya ** māṛan viṇṇappam seyda 

 sollār toḍaiyal innūṛum vallār aḻundār piṛappām * 

 pollā aruvinai * māyavan sētṛṛu aḷḷal poynnilattē     100

“Those devotees who can learn and recite these one hundred songs rendered as a garland of words by Nammāḻvār—who appeared in Tirukkurugūr which is glorified by great devotees who possess good qualities and act for the benefit of others; and who decorates his head with the garland of the lotus feet of the devotees who constantly chant the holy names of the consort of mother Lakṣmī—will not get drowned in this temporary world which is a terrible quagmire of very difficult to eradicate sinful reactions, the cause of the web of birth and death.”    

Nammāḻvār tiruvaḍihaḷē śaraṇam