Rendered by sage Parāśara Muni           

nīḷā tuṅga stanagiri taṭī suptaṁ utpodya kṛṣṇaṁ

pārārdhyam svam śruti śata śiras siddham adyāpayantī

svocchiṣṭāyām srajinikaḷitam yābalād kṛtya bhuṅkte

godhā tasyai nama idam idam bhūya evāstu bhūya:  

She woke up Kaṇṇan—who sleeps resting His head on the high mountainlike breasts of Nappinnai—and declared her total dependence on Him through nectarean songs born out of her astute knowledge of Vedas and Upaniṣads. Offering the garland first worn by her, she enslaved Kaṇṇan and absolutely revelled in Him. I offer my humble obeisances again and again to that Āṇḍāḷ!   

Rendered by Uyyakkoṇḍār

1. 1. anna vayaṛ puduvaiy āṇḍāḷ araṅgarkup
   pannu tiruppāvaip palpadiyam, inniśayāl
   pāḍik koḍuttāḷ naṛpāmālai, pūmālai
   suḍik koḍuttāḷaic collu.

Āṇḍāḷ—born in Śrīvilliputtūr full of paddy fields where swans freely roam—rendered a collection of divine songs known as Tiruppāvai, and offered it as a garland of songs, singing in a melodious tune, to Lord Raṅganāta. She also offered a garland of champak and other flowers, first worn by her, to Him. Let us always chant her glories.     

2. 2. suḍik koḍutta suḍarkkoḍiyē tolpāvai

pāḍi aruḷavalla palvaḷaiyāi—nāḍi nī

veṅkaḍavaṛ kennai vidi yenṛa immāṭṛṛam

nāṅkaḍavā vaṇṇame nalhu

O radiant and graceful Āṇḍāḷ, decorated with many bangles! You offered the garland worn by you first to the Lord; and out of your mercy (for the devotees) you rendered and sang the venerable classic, Tiruppāvai. Please grant us the benediction of becoming a servant of Kaṇṇan following your mood of asking the Cupid, “O Cupid! I beseech you, make me the property of Kaṇṇan.” 

474  * mārgaḻit tiṅgaḷ, madi niṛainda nannāḷāl *

  nīrāḍap pōduvīr pōduminō nēriḻaiyīr *

  sīrmalgum āyppāḍi selvac ciṛumīrhāḷ *

  kūrvēl koḍundoḻilan nandagōpan kumaran **

  ērārnda kaṇṇi, yaśodai iḷañciṅgam *

  kārmēnic ceṅgaṇ kadir madiyam pōl mugattān *

  nārāyaṇanē namakkē paṛai taruvān *

  pārōr pugaḻap paḍindēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ wakes up the pretty young girls, “O pious young girls of opulent Gokula, bedecked with valuable ornaments! On this full moon day in this most auspicious month of Mārgaśīrṣa, celebrated by all, let us go for an early morning bath, (observe austerities) and attain loving service to Lord Nārāyaṇa—the son of Nanda Gopa, wielder of a sharp lance to kill the noxious living beings that may harm Kaṇṇan, and lovely eyed Mother Yaśodā’s lion cub who has a fresh rain cloud-hue, red lotus-like eyes, and a radiant face like the sun and the moon.”    

475  vaiyattu vāḻvīrhāḷ! nāmum nampāvaikkuc *

  ceyyum kirisaigaḷ kēḷīrō! * pāṛkaḍaluḷ

  paiyat tuyinṛa paramanaḍi pāḍi *

  neyyuṇṇōm pāluṇṇōm nāṭkālē nīrāḍi **

  maiyiṭṭeḻudōm, malariṭṭu nām muḍiyōm *

  seyyādana seyyōm tīkkuṛaḷai senṛōdōm *

  aiyamum piccaiyum āndanaiyum kaikāṭṭi *

  uyyumāṛu eṇṇi ugandēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ outlines the austerity performed by the young girls, “O people of the world! Please listen to the various activities performed enthusiastically by us as part of the austerity observed for our deliverance by the mercy of the Lord! We extol the lotus feet of Puruṣottama in mystic sleep in the Ocean of Milk; offer material help to the qualified and give food in charity (to brahmacārīs (observers of celibacy) and the sannyāsīs (mendicants)) as much as they need; will not consume ghee and milk; take bath early in the morning; will not decorate our eyes with mascara and our hair with flowers; will refrain from proscribed deeds, and avoid speaking unpleasant words.”        

476  * ōṅgi ulagaḷanda, uttaman pēr pāḍi *

  nāṅgaḷ nam pāvaikkuc cāṭṛṛi nīrāḍināl *

  tīṅginṛi nāḍellām tiṅgaḷ mummāri peydu *

  ōṅgu peṛuñ cennelūḍu kayal ugaḷap **

  pūṅguvaḷaip pōdil, poṛivaṇḍu kaṇ paḍuppat *

  tēṅgādē pukkirundu sīrtta mulai paṭṛṛi

  vāṅgak * kuḍam niṛaikkum vaḷḷal perum pasukkaḷ *

  nīṅgāda selvam niṛaindēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ points out the benefits of performing the austerity: “If we take early morning bath and perform the austerity chanting the holy names of Puruṣottama who (in the form of Trivikrama) measured all the planetary systems by stretching His leg, all over the world the evil ceases, it rains thrice every month (Every nine days shine and one day rain), (because of which) in the fields with well grown paddy crops the fish will frolic; in the pretty blue lotus flowers the bumble bees take rest, and when the teats of the swollen udders of the healthy and stout cows are massaged and pulled down gently with both the hands, pots after pots are filled easily with milk. Thus, there will be lasting opulence everywhere.”  

477  āḻi maḻaik kaṇṇā, onṛu nī kaikaravēl *

  āḻiyuḷ pukku mugarndu koḍu ārttēṛi *

  ūḻi mudalvan uruvam pōl mey kaṛuttup *

  pāḻiyan tōḷuḍaip paṛpanāban kaiyil **

  āḻi pōl minni, valampuri pōl ninṛatirndu *

  tāḻādē śārṅgam udaitta sara maḻai pōl *

  vāḻa ulaginil peytiḍāy * nāṅgaḷum

  mārgaḻi nīrāḍa magiḻndēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ engages Varuṇa in their devotional service to Kaṇṇan: “O rain god Varuṇa of majestic stature like the sea! Do not pour short; soak up fully from the ocean, ascend with thunderous sound and form engorged rain clouds of dark hue resembling the body hue of the Lord, the cause of all causes including time; brighten the sky with lightning dazzling like the disc in the right hand and booming like the conch in the left hand of Padmanābha, our Lord with majestic and mighty shoulders and lotus like navel; and without any delay, pour down like the cascade of arrows from the Śārṅga bow for the sustenance of the living beings and let us take joyfully the auspicious bath of Mārgaśīrṣa month.”            

478  māyanai, mannu vaḍa madurai maindanait *

  tūya peru nīr yamunait tuṛaivanai *

  āyar kulattinil tōnṛum aṇiviḷakkait *

  tāyaik kuḍal viḷakkam ceyda dāmodaranait **

  tūyōmāy vandu nām, tūmalar tūvit toḻudu *

  vāyināl pāḍi manattināl sindikkap *

  pōya piḻaiyum pugutaruvān ninṛanavum *

  tīyinil tūsāhum ceppēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ explains to the girls the benefits of extolling the Lord: “With purity if we sprinkle fresh fragrant flowers, bow down, recite and remember the glories—of the Lord Dāmodara who performs inconceivable activities, is the king of the opulent Mathurā, plays on the banks of the pure and deep river Yamunā, is the auspicious lamp of the cowherd clan, and who purified the womb of His mother Yaśodā—all our earlier sins and sins we commit (without our knowledge) will be burnt like cotton is burnt by the fire.”  

479  puḷḷum silambina kāṇ, puḷḷaraiyan kōyil *

  veḷḷai viḷi saṅgin pēraravam kēṭṭilaiyō *

  piḷḷāy eḻundirāy pēymulai nañjuṇḍu *

  kaḷḷac cakaṭam kalakkaḻiyak kālōcci **

  veḷḷattaravil, tuyil amarnda vittinai *

  uḷḷattuk koṇḍu munivargaḷum yōgigaḷum *

  meḷḷa eḻundu ari enṛa pēraravam *

  uḷḷam pugundu kuḷirndēlōr empāvāy

Āṇḍāḷ wakes up a girl new to their group, “O child, wake up! Don’t you hear the chatter of the birds leaving the nest and the booming sound of the white conch, calling (all), from the temple of the Master of Garuḍa? The sages and the yogis, meditating (on the Lord) in their hearts, get up carefully (without disturbing the Lord in their hearts) and chant ‘Hari!’ ‘Hari!’ loudly; this divine sound enters our hearts and makes us tranquil.”        

480  kīcu kīcenṛu eṅgum, ānaic cāttan * kalandu

  pēsina pēccaravam kēṭṭilaiyō pēyp peṇṇē! *

  kāsum piṛappum galagalappak kai pērttu *

  vāsa naṛuṅkuḻal āycciyar ** mattināl

  ōsai paḍutta, tayiraravam kēṭṭilaiyō *

  nāyagap peṇ piḷḷāy! nārāyaṇan mūrti *

  keśavanaip pāḍavum nī kēṭṭē kiḍattiyō *

  tēsamuḍaiyāy! tiṛavēlōr empāvāy

Since the girl did not wake up and open the door, Āṇḍāḷ derides her: “O crazy girl! Don’t you hear the loud chatter of the coucal birds (bhāradvāja birds) all around? Don’t you hear the sound of the cowherd women—whose maṅgala-sūtra and the various charms hanging make jingling sound—churning the curd with the churning rod? (sarcasm) O noble lady! Can you still lie down even after hearing our song eulogising Keśava, incarnation of Nārāyaṇa? O radiant lady, open the door!”               

481  kīḻvānam veḷḷenṛu, erumai siṛu vīḍu *

  mēyvān parandanakāṇ mikkuḷḷa piḷḷaihaḷum *

  pōvān pōginṛāraip pōhāmal kāttu * unnaik

  kūvuvān vandu ninṛōm ** kōdukalamuḍaiya

  pāvāy! eḻundirāy, pāḍip paṛai koṇḍu *

  māvāy piḷandānai mallarai māṭṭiya *

  devādi devanaic cenṛu nām sēvittāl *

  āvāvenṛārāyndu aruḷēlōr empāvāy       

Āṇḍāḷ continues the persuasion: “O gracious girl! Dawn has broken over (in the eastern sky); see, the buffalos let out are grazing in the field; and holding back the girls keen to proceed, we are at your door to take you with us, get up. If we sing with loving devotion the glories of Kaṇṇan, —who pushed His arm forcefully within the mouth of the demon Keśī in the form of horse; killed great wrestlers like Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika, and the Lord of the demigods—bow down to Him, out of His causeless mercy, He will listen to us compassionately and bestow His grace on us.”        

482  tūmaṇi māḍattuc, cuṭṛṛum viḷakkeriyat *

  dhūpam kamaḻat tuyilaṇai mēl kaṇvaḷarum *

  māmān magaḷē maṇik kadavam tāḷ tiṛavāy *

  māmīr avaḷai eḻuppīrō ** un magaḷ tān

  ūmaiyō, anṛic ceviḍō anandalō *

  ēmap perunduyil mantirap paṭṭāḷō *

  māmāyan mādhavan vaikuṇṭhan enṛenṛu *

  nāmam palavum navinṛēlōr empāvāy         

Āṇḍāḷ wakes up another girl: “O my niece, sleeping on a cosy bed in the house with walls studded with pure gemstones, lamps burning all around and the fragrant smoke of agarwood and other incenses wafting! Open the door decorated with bells. O my aunt! Please wake her up; is your daughter dumb or deaf, exhausted, under guard or under magic spell? Even after chanting many holy names—like ‘Mādhavā!’ ‘Vaikuṇṭhā!’—of the Lord of inconceivable activities, she hasn’t got up.”

483  nōṭṛṛuc cuvarkkam, puguhinṛa ammanāy *

  māṭṛṛamum tārārō vāsal tiṛavādār *

  nāṭṛṛat tuḻāymuḍi nārāyaṇan * nammāl

  pōṭṛṛap paṛai tarum puṇṇiyanāl ** paṇḍorunāḷ

  kūṭṛṛattin vāy vīḻnda, kumbhakaraṇanum *

  tōṭṛṛum unakkē perunduyil tān tandānō *

  āṭṛṛa anandal uḍaiyāy aruṅgalamē *

  tēṭṛṛamāy vandu tiṛavēlōr empāvāy

Āṇḍāḷ cajoles the girl: “O girl, who enjoys the attention of Kaṇṇan because of her austerities! If you can not open the door, can’t you reply at least? Has Kumbhakarṇa—who was sent to the abode of Yama by the most benevolent Lord Nārāyaṇa, decorated by an aromatic tulasī garland, and who bestows loving devotional service when we sing ‘pallāṇḍu’—unable to compete with you conferred his (curse of) long sleep on you? O sleeping beauty! O rare gem! Wake up and open the door.”     

484  kaṭṛṛuk kaṛavaik kaṇaṅgaḷ pala kaṛandu *

  ceṭṛṛār tiṛalaḻiyac cenṛu seruc ceyyum *

  kuṭṛṛam onṛillāda kōvalar tam poṛkoḍiyē *

  puṭṛṛaravalkul punamayilē pōdarāy **

  suṭṛṛattu tōḻimār, ellārum vandu * nin

  muṭṛṛam puhundu muhilvaṇṇan pēr pāḍa *

  ciṭṛṛādē pēsādē selvap peṇḍāṭṭi * nī

  eṭṛṛukku uṛaṅgum poruḷēlōr empāvāy        

Āṇḍāḷ wakes up another girl: “O graceful girl with slender waist and elegant like the peacock—born in the cowherd clan who are experts in milking multitude of herds of cows; who ravage even powerful enemies, and are sinless—come on! Your neighbourhood relatives and friends have all gathered in your portico and are chanting the holy names of the cloud-hued Lord; why are you sleeping and mum yet?”

485  kanaittiḷam kaṭṛṛerumai kanṛukku iraṅgi *

  ninaittu mulai vaḻiyē ninṛu pāl sōra *

  nanaittillam sēṛākkum naṛcelvan taṅgāy *

  panittalai vīḻa nin vāsaṛ kaḍai paṭṛṛic **

  cinattināl tennilaṅgaik, kōmānaic ceṭṛṛa *

  manattukkiniyānaip pāḍavum nī vāy tiṛavāy *

  inittān eḻundirāy īdenna pēruṛakkam *

  anaittillattārum aṛindēlōr empāvāy        

Āṇḍāḷ wakes up yet another girl: “O sister of the fortunate (servant of Kaṇṇan) cowherd man, whose floor of the cattle shed is muddy because of the milk flowing from the swollen udders of the cows (female buffalos) (yet to be milked) which grunt loudly, anxious to feed their calves! We are standing at your door with our heads damp from the dewfall and singing the glories of our dear Rāma who slayed Rāvaṇa, king of the opulent Laṅkā, in retribution (for having abducted mother Sītā); but you are silent; at least wake up now from your endless sleep. By now, the entire neighbourhood has come to know about your great sleep.”  

486  puḷḷin vāy kīṇḍānaip pollā arakkanai *

  kiḷḷik kaḷaindānaik kīrttimai pāḍip pōyp *

  piḷḷaigaḷ ellārum pāvaik kaḷam pukkār *

  veḷḷi eḻundu viyāḻam uṛaṅgiṭṛṛu **

  puḷḷum cilambinakāṇ, pōdarik kaṇṇināy! *

  kuḷḷak kuḷirak kuḍaindu nīrāḍādē *

  paḷḷik kiḍattiyō pāvāy nī nannāḷāl *

  kaḷḷam tavirndu kalandēlōr empāvāy        

Āṇḍāḷ teases the girl: “All the girls—eulogising the chivalrous activities of Kaṇṇan who bifurcated the mouth of the great gigantic heron, and Rāma who killed the evil Rāvaṇa—have reached the place selected for assembling to perform the devotional service; it’s already dawn—planet Venus has ascended and planet Jupiter has descended—don’t you hear the noise of the birds leaving (the nests in search of food)? O noble girl possessing eyes like a flower, and deer! On this auspicious day, why do you avoid us (probably to enjoy union with Kaṇṇan in solitude?), and continue to sleep rather than come with us and relish a refreshing cold bath?”    

487  uṅgaḷ puḻaikkaḍait, tōṭṭattu vāviyuḷ *

  ceṅgaḻunīr vāy negiḻndu āmbal vāy kūmbina kāṇ *

  ceṅgal poḍikkūrai veṇpal tavattavar *

  taṅgaḷ tirukkōyil saṅgiḍuvān pōdanrār **

  eṅgaḷai munnam, eḻuppuvān vāy pēsum *

  naṅgāy! eḻundirāy nāṇādāy! nāvuḍaiyāy! *

  saṅgoḍu cakkaram ēndum taḍakkaiyan *

  paṅgayak kaṇṇānaip pāḍēlōr empāvāy        

Āṇḍāḷ rebukes the next-door girl: “O lady with a big mouth and no shame! You boasted that you would wake us up (but failed to do so)! Look, in your backyard garden the red water lily flowers have bloomed and the pink water lily flowers have closed! The mendicants in saffron clothes and with white teeth are rushing to their temples to blow the conch; wake up to sing the glories of the lotus eyed Lord wielding the disc and the conch in His big hands.”

488  ellē iḷaṅgiḷiyē, innam uṛaṅgudiyō *

  cillenṛu aḻaiyēnmin naṅgaimīr pōdarhinṛēn *

  vallai un kaṭṭuraigaḷ paṇḍē un vāyaṛidum *

  vallīrgaḷ nīṅgaḷē nānē dān āyiḍuga **

  ollai nī pōdāy, unakkenna vēṛuḍaiyai *

  ellārum pōndārō pōndār pōndeṇṇikkoḷ *

  vallānai konṛānai māṭṛṛārai māṭṛṛaḻikka

  vallānai * māyanaip pāḍēlōr empāvāy        

When the girls wake up another girl, “O lady, pretty and talkative like a parrot! All of us are here, and are you still asleep?” she snaps, ‘O girls! Don’t fret, I will come out now.’ When the girls retort, ‘We know well that you are glib-tongued, and harsh,’ she protests, ‘in fact, you are glib-tongued; anyway, let it be me.’ The girls continue, ‘Okay, wake up quickly (and join us), or do you have any different purpose?’ When the girl asks (without coming out), ‘Have all arrived?’ the girls answer impatiently, ‘Yes, you can come out and check; join us fast to extol Kaṇṇan who performs inconceivable acts like slaying the mighty elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa) and conquer His enemies easily.’”

489  * nāyaganāy ninṛa, nanda gopanuḍaiya

  kōyil kāppānē * koḍit tōnṛum toraṇa

  vāyil kāppānē * maṇik katavam tāḷ tiṛavāy *

  āyar siṛumiyarōmukku ** aṛai paṛai

  māyan maṇivaṇṇan, nennalē vāy nērndān *

  tūyōmāy vandōm tuyileḻap pāḍuvān *

  vāyāl munnamunnam māṭṛṛātē ammā * nī

  nēya nilaik kadavam nīkkēlōr empāvāy          

On reaching the main door of the palace of Kaṇṇan, Āṇḍāḷ and the other girls request the guard, “O doorkeeper of the palace of our master Nanda Gopa! O guard of the principal door decorated with festoons! Please unlatch the grand door decked with gemstones to allow us, the young cowherd girls, enter; the blue sapphire gemstone-hued Kaṇṇan who performs incredible acts had promised yesterday to allow us to wake Him up with chants lauding Him. We have come with pure hearts to chant and wake Him up. O benevolent keeper! Please do not refuse us at this auspicious time, instead kindly open the door and allow us to express our love (to the Lord).”

490  ambaramē taṇṇīrē, cōṛē aṛañjeyyum *

  emberumān nanda gopālā eḻundirāy *

  kombanārkku ellām koḻundē kulaviḷakkē *

  emperumāṭṭi yaśodāy aṛivuṛāy **

  ambaram ūḍaṛuttu, ōṅgi ulagaḷanda *

  umbar kōmānē uṛaṅgādu eḻundirāy *

  cemboṛ kaḻalaḍic celvā baladevā *

  umbiyum nīyum uṛaṅgēlōr empāvāy        

On being allowed to enter the palace, the girls start waking up the royal family: “O benevolent master Nanda Gopa, provider of clothes, water, and food, please wake up! O queen Yaśodā! O best of the graceful, noble ladies! O lamp of the cowherd clan, please arise! O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who stretched His leg, piercing the sky, to measure the planetary systems, pray sleep no more! O Baladevā, sporting solid anklets of fine gold, we beg that both of You (Your brother and You) sleep no longer!”

491  * undu madakaḷiṭṛṛan, ōḍāda tōḷ valiyan *

  nandagopālan marumagaḷē nappinnāy *

  gandam kamaḻum kuḻali kaḍai tiṛavāy *

  vandeṅgum kōḻi aḻaittana kāṇ ** mādavip

  pandal mēl, palkāl kuyilinaṅgaḷ kūvina kāṇ *

  pandār virali un maittunan pēr pāḍac *

  cendāmaraik kaiyāl sīrār vaḷai olippa *

  vandu tiṛavāy mahiḻndēlōr empāvāy        

The girls have reached the bedroom of Kaṇṇan and call His wife: “O Nappinnai with fragrant hair, daughter-in-law of Nanda Gopa who is as powerful as a mad elephant with mighty shoulders and invincible, please open the door! Look, the chickens are out all around, and the koels on the fig tree canopy are calling again and again; O expert ballplayer! We desire to sing the unlimited names of Your husband Kaṇṇan; please come and open the door gladly with your lotus hands adorned by excellent bangles.”   

492  kuttu viḷakkeriyak, kōṭṭukkāl kaṭṭil mēl *

  mettenṛa pañja śayanattin mēl ēṛi *

  kottalar pūṅguḻal nappinai koṅgai mēl *

  vaittuk kiḍanda malarmārbā vāy tiṛavāy **

  maittaḍaṅg kaṇṇināy, nī un maṇāḷanai *

  ettanai pōdum tuyileḻa oṭṭāy kāṇ *

  ettanaiyēlum pirivāṭṛṛagillāyāl *

  tattuvam anṛu tahavēlōr empāvāy       

Looking at the lamp burning in the bedroom even though it’s already day, they appeal to both Kaṇṇan and Nappinnai: “Please speak O Kaṇṇā, sleeping on the soft cotton mattress spread on an ivory cot resting Your broad chest on the breasts of Nappinnai whose hair is decorated by bunches of flowers! O collyrium-eyed Nappinnai! You do not wish your husband Kaṇṇan to wake up and cannot bear separation even for a moment; this is neither fair nor just.”

493  muppattu mūvar, amararkku mun senṛu *

  kappam tavirkkum kaliyē tuyileḻāy *

  ceppam uḍaiyāy tiṛal uḍaiyāy * ceṭṛṛārkku

  veppam koḍukkum vimalā tuyileḻāy **

  ceppenna menmulai sevvāy siṛu maruṅgul *

  nappinnai naṅgāy tiruvē tuyileḻāy *

  ukkamum taṭṭoḷiyum tandu un maṇāḷanai *

 ippōdē emmai nīrāṭṭēlōr empāvāy        

The girls get in to loving devotional service right away: “O Kaṇṇā, the all-powerful who is always eager to relieve the distress of the thirty-three crores of demigods, please wake up! O infallible! O mighty one! One whose purity scorches the enemies! Please wake up! O Nappinnai, O Lakṣmī, with tender breasts, reddish lips, and slender waist, please wake up! Give us the fan and mirror and let’s give your husband a bath now.”

494  ēṭṛṛa kalaṅgaḷ, edir poṅgi mīdaḷippa *

  māṭṛṛātē pāl soriyum vaḷḷal perum pasukkaḷ *

  āṭṛṛap paḍaittān mahanē aṛivuṛāy *

  ūṭṛṛam uḍaiyāy periyāy ** ulaginil

  tōṭṛṛamāy ninṛa, suḍarē tuyileḻāy *

  māṭṛṛār unakku valitolaindu un vāsaṛ kaṇ *

  āṭṛṛātu vandu unnaḍi paṇiyumā pōlē *

  pōṭṛṛi yām vandōm pugaḻndēlōr empāvāy      

The girls appeal to Kaṇṇan: “O son of Nanda Gopa whose wonderful, benevolent cows voluntarily pour a continuous stream of milk overfilling the collecting vessels, please wake up! O infallible! O glorious! O brilliant light of the world! Please wake up! Like Your vanquished enemies come to Your door defenceless and surrender unto Your lotus feet, we have come to You praying and extoling You.”   

495  aṅgaṇmā ñālattu arasar * abimāna

  paṅgamāy vandu nin paḷḷik kaṭṭiṛ kīḻē *

  saṅgam iruppār pōl vandu talaippeydōm *

  kiṅgiṇi vāyc ceyta tāmaraip pūp pōlē **

  seṅgaṇ siṛuc siṛidē, emmēl viḻiyāvō *

  tiṅgaḷum ādittiyanum eḻundāṛ pōl *

  aṅgaṇ iraṇḍum koṇḍu eṅgaḷ mēl nōkkudiyēl *

  eṅgaḷ mēl sābam iḻindēlōr empāvāy         

They continue their plea: “Like all those (vile) kings ruling in this vast and beautiful earth, their egos crushed, come and gather submissively below Your throne, we have also come to You; won’t You kindly look at us with Your reddish lotus bud eyes, resembling the mouth of a small bell? If You glance at us with Your charming eyes resembling the sun and the moon, all our miseries will be relieved.”   

496  * māri malai muḻaiñjil, mannik kiḍanduṛaṅgum *

  sīriya siṅgam aṛivuṭṛṛut tī viḻittu *

  vēri mayir poṅga eppāḍum pērndudaṛi *

  mūri nimirndu muḻaṅgip puṛappaṭṭup **

  pōdarumā pōlē, nī pūvaip pū vaṇṇā * un

  kōyil ninṛu iṅṅanē pōndaruḷi * kōppuḍaiya

  sīriya siṅgāsanattirundu * yām vanda

  kāriyam ārāyndaruḷēlōr empāvāy          

“O ironwood flower-hued Kaṇṇā! Like a lion—which remained inside a mountain cave mating and sleeping during the rainy season—wakes up and goes out majestically, roaring, his fiery eyes blazing, pandiculating, and his fragrant mane hairs raising, please come out of Your bedroom, ascend the elegant, and majestic throne and kindly listen to our wish.”

497  * anṛu ivvulagam aḷandāy, aḍi pōṭṛṛi *

  senṛaṅgut tennilaṅgai seṭṛṛāy tiṛal pōṭṛṛi *

  ponṛac cagaḍam udaittāy pugaḻ pōṭṛṛi *

  kanṛu kuṇilā eṛindāy kaḻal pōṭṛṛi **

  kunṛu kuḍaiyāy eḍuttāy, guṇam pōṭṛṛi *

  venṛu pagai keḍukkum nin kaiyil vēl pōṭṛṛi *

  enṛenṛu un sēvagamē ēttip paṛai koḷvān *

  inṛu yām vandōm iraṅgēlōr empāvāy          

Mesmerised by the beauty of Kaṇṇan decorating the throne, the girls forget their wish and start glorifying Him and His pastimes: “Once You measured all the planetary systems, glory to Your lotus feet! You invaded Laṅkā and decimated all there, glory to Your valour! You kicked and collapsed Śakaṭāsura, glory to Your glory! You threw the demon calf (Vatsāsura) up (on the wood-apple tree) like a baton, glory to Your lotus feet! You held Govardhana Hill like a huge umbrella, glory to Your auspicious qualities! Glory to the lance in your hand which annihilates Your enemies! To glorify Your unlimited and incredible activities and seek Your loving devotional service, we have come to You, please be merciful to us.”

 498  orutti mahanāyp piṛandu * ōr iravil

  orutti mahanāy oḷittu vaḷarat *

  tarikkilānāgit tān tīṅgu ninainda *

  karuttaip piḻaippittuk kañjan vayiṭṛṛil **

  neruppenna ninṛa neḍumālē * unnai

  aruttittu vandōm paṛai tarudiyāgil *

  tiruttakka selvamum sēvagamum yām pāḍi *

  varuttamum tīrndu magiḻndēlōr empāvāy       

The girls continue to glorify and restate their wish for devotional service to Kaṇṇan: “You were born as the son of one mother Devakī, and on the same night became the son of Mother Yaśodā, by shifting to Nanda Mahārāja’s palace, to grow hidden (from Kaṁsa). (On learning about this from Nārada Muni), when Kaṁsa became apprehensive and devised schemes to eliminate You, You defeated all his plans and caused him great angst, O Unlimited! We have come seeking Your mercy; if You fulfil our wish, we will continue to extol Your opulences, even glorified by Lakṣmī, and noble qualities, which will mitigate our misery of separation and cheer us up.”

499  mālē maṇivaṇṇā, mārgaḻi nīrāḍuvān *

  mēlaiyār seyvanagaḷ vēṇḍuvana kēṭṭiyēl *

  ñālattai ellām naḍuṅga muralvana *

  pālanna vaṇṇattu un pāñcajanniyamē **

  pōlvana saṅgaṅgaḷ, pōyppāḍuḍaiyanavē *

  cālap perum paṛaiyē pallāṇḍu isaippārē *

  kōla viḷakkē koḍiyē vidānamē *

  ālin ilaiyāy aruḷēlōr empāvāy          

They give Him the list of requirements for the devotional service: “O most loving! O Maṇivaṇṇā! O one who sleeps on a banyan leaf (during mahā-pralaya)! If You want to know our requirements for devotional service in the most auspicious month of Mārgaśīrṣa, please provide us conches like Your Pāñcajanya, white as the swan, which when blown, the noise makes the universe tremble; large kettle drums; devotees who can recite pallāṇḍu; auspicious lamps, and flags and festoons.”  

500  * kūḍārai vellum sīrk, govindā * untannaip

  pāḍip paṛai koṇḍu yām peṛu sammānam *

  nāḍu pugaḻum parisināl nanṛāhac *

  cūḍagamē tōḷ vaḷaiyē tōḍē sevip pūvē **

  pāḍagamē enṛanaiya, palkalanum yām aṇivōm *

  āḍai uḍuppōm adan pinnē pāṛcōṛu *

  mūḍaney peydu muḻaṅgai vaḻi vāra *

  kūḍi irundu kuḷirndēlōr empāvāy         

Having got the full attention of Kaṇṇan, they seek His association: “O Govindā, You have the great quality of conquering the defiants! By singing your glories and engaging in loving devotional service, we desire that You should decorate us with unique bangles, bracelets, ear rings, flower-shaped ear tops, anklets, and many other jewels, and dress us up with nice attires; and then we wish that all of us should sit together and relish rice cooked in milk and marinated with plenty of ghee which drips down the forearm and elbow.”    

501  * kaṛavaigaḷ pin senṛu, kānam sērnduṇbōm *

  aṛivonṛum illāda āykkulattu * untannaip

  piṛavi peṛundanaip puṇṇiyam yām uḍaiyōm *

  kuṛai onṛum illāda govindā ** un tannōḍu

  uṛavēl namakku, iṅgu oḻikka oḻiyādu *

  aṛiyāda piḷḷaigaḷōm anbināl * un tannaic

  siṛupēr aḻaittanavum sīṛi aruḷādē *

  iṛaivā nī tārāy paṛai ēlōr empāvāy       

The girls express hesitatingly their longing for His love and eternal association: “O immaculate Govindā! Let us go behind the cows, roam around in the forest and eat together. Though our cowherd community is simple-minded, we are blessed with Your appearance (in our community). My Lord! Our relationship with You is unbreakable and eternal. We are naive, little girls; out of our love for You, if we have called You by inappropriate names, please do not get angry, kindly bestow us with loving devotional service for You.”   

502  * ciṭṛṛañ ciṛu kālē, vandu unnaic sēvittu * un

  poṭṛṛāmarai aḍiyē pōṭṛṛum poruḷ kēḷāy *

  peṭṛṛam mēyttuṇṇum kulattil piṛandu * nī

  kuṭṛṛēval eṅgaḷaik koḷḷāmal pōgādu **

  iṭṛṛaip paṛai koḷvān, anṛu kāṇ govindā *

  eṭṛṛaikkum ēḻēḻ piṛavikkum * un tannōḍu

  uṭṛṛōmē āvōm unakkē nām āṭseyvōm *

  maṭṛṛai nam kāmaṅgaḷ māṭṛṛēlōr empāvāy     

The girls urge Kaṇṇan to grant their wish: “O Govindā! In the early morning hours, we have come to worship and eulogise You and present our wish, kindly listen; we have come to beg for loving devotional service to You who were also born in the cowherd community, please do not refuse us. We wish to have Your relationship eternally and even if we take innumerable births, we yearn to be only Your servants; please ignore our (deep rooted) material desires.”   

503  * vaṅgak kaḍal kaḍainda, mādhavanaik keśavanait *

  tiṅgaḷ tirumugattuc cēyiḻaiyār senṛiṛaiñji *

  aṅgappaṛai koṇḍavāṭṛṛai * aṇi puduvaip

  paiṅgamalat taṇ deriyal paṭṭarpirān kōdai sonna **

  saṅgat tamiḻ mālai, muppadum tappāmē *

  iṅgipparisuraippār īriraṇḍu māl varait tōḷ *

  ceṅgaṇ tirumugattuc selvat tirumālāl *

  eṅgum tiruvaruḷ peṭṛṛu inbuṛuvar empāvāy     

Those who recite in groups this garland of thirty divine songs rendered in Tamiḻ by Āṇḍāḷ, daughter of Periyāḻvār who appeared in Śrīvilliputtūr and is adorned with a garland of fresh and cool lotus flowers—narrating that the moon-like faced cowherd damsels decorated with valuable ornaments were bestowed with loving devotional service by approaching and appealing to Mādhava, Keśava who churned the Ocean of Milk—will get the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—who has mountain-like four arms, red lotus-eyes, and unlimited opulence—and be happy everywhere.  

Āṇḍāḷ tiruvaḍigaḷē caraṇam

Obeisances to the divine feet of Āṇḍāḷ

Maṅgala-sūtra: A necklace worn by an Indian woman to signify that she is married.

Month of Mārgaśīrṣa: November-December, period very auspicious for performing devotional service to Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu.

Pink water lily: Nymphaea pubescens, hairy water lily.

Sage Parāśara Muni: Grandson of Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭa and father of Vyāsadeva. Author of the first Purāṇa, the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, rewritten by Vyāsadeva in its present form.

Uyyakkoṇḍār (886 A.D.): An ācārya in Śrī Vaiṣṇava guru paramparā.