Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār – Tirucchanda Viruttam
- taruccandap poḻil taḻuvu dhāraṇiyin tuyar tīra *
tiruccanda viruttam sey tirumaḻisaip paran varumūr *
karuccandum kārahilum kamaḻ kōṅgum maṇa nāṛum *
tiruccandattuḍan maruvu tirumaḻisai vaḷampadiyē
The sacred place where Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār—who rendered the divine songs called Tirucchanda Viruttam to alleviate the miseries of the people on this earth which is covered with groves full of desire fulfilling trees (like a banyan tree, coconut tree, fig tree), sandalwood trees, etc., —appeared in the opulent Tirumaḻisai, where famous sandalwood trees, dark agarwood trees, and fragrant Malabar silk-cotton trees are abundant and ever fragrant Śrī Lakṣmī is benevolently present.
- ulagum maḻisaiyum uḷḷuṇarndu * tammil
pulavar pugaḻk kōlāl tūkka * - ulagu tannai
vaitteḍutta pakkattum * mānīr maḻisaiyē
vaitteḍutta pakkam validu
When the scholars studied and thoroughly analysed the opulences of the world and Tirumaḻisai and compared the glory on the weighing scale, they observed that the plate which contained the water-rich Tirumaḻisai went down than the plate which contained the world, proving that the glory of Tirumaḻisai is greater than that of the world.
752 * pūnilāya aindumāyp * punaṛkaṇ ninṛa nāngumāy *
tīnilāya mūnṛumāyc * siṛandakāl iraṇḍumāy **
mīnilāyatonṛumāgi * vēṛu vēṛu tanmaiyāy *
nīnilāya vaṇṇam ninnai * yār ninaikka vallarē
In this set of ten songs, Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār lauds the incredible and inconceivable nature, activities, and qualities of the Lord: “My Lord! You are the Supersoul of the earth with the five qualities (sound, touch, form, taste, and smell); the water with the four qualities (sound, touch, form, and taste); the fire with the three qualities (sound, touch, and form); the all-pervasive air with the two qualities (sound, and touch), and the ether (sky) with one quality (sound), and the varieties of celestial objects with various qualities. Who can fathom You and Your manifestations, and unmanifested features?”
753 āṛum āṛum āṛumāy * ōr aindum aindum aindumāy *
ēṛu sīr iraṇḍu mūnṛum * ēḻum āṛum eṭṭumāy **
vēṛu vēṛu ñānamāgi * meyyinōḍu poyyumāy *
ūṛoḍōsaiyāya aindum * āya āya māyanē
“You are the Lord—who established the six karma (actions: self-study, teaching, performing sacrifices, making others perform sacrifices, giving charity, and accepting charity), and the six seasons (Summer {mid-April to mid-June}, Monsoon {mid-June to mid-August}, Autumn {mid-August to mid-October}, Pre-winter {mid-October to mid-December}, Pre-vernal & Early Spring {mid-December to mid-February} & Mild Summer {mid-February to mid-April}; who is worshipped by six yajñas (ajñeyam, agnīśomīyam, upāmsuyājam, aindram, and two aindrākkam), pañca-mahā-yajñas (five types of yajñas: deva-yajña, pitṛ-yajña, bhūta-yajña, manuṣya-yajña, and brahma-yajña), and prāṇāyāma (five breathing regulation: regulating the five airs prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, samāna and udāna); who encompasses the five types of fires (dakṣināgni, gārhapatya, āhavanīya, sabhya, and āvasathya); who bestows the wonderful two results (jñāna & vairagya) and the three corollaries (para-bhakti, para-jñāna & parama-bhakti); who is the master of the seven attributes of wisdom (discrimination, without illusion, learned, performing prescribed sacrifices, possessing auspicious qualities, pragmatic, and equipoised); who possess, in full, the six opulences (wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation); who exhibits the eight qualities (sinless, eternal youthfulness, eternal, blissful, hungerless, thirstless, merciful, and infallible); who is the origin for different faiths; who is the absolute truth for devotees and myth (beyond understanding) for atheists, and who becomes the five subtle elements (sense objects: sound, touch, form, taste and smell)—who appeared as a cowherd boy! (Who can fathom You and Your manifestations, and unmanifested features?)” [1]
753 aindum aindum aindumāhi * allavaṭṛṛuḷāyumāy *
aindu mūnṛum onṛumāhi * ninṛa ādi devanē **
aindum aindum aindumāgi * andarattaṇaindu ninṛu *
aindum aindumāya ninnai * yāvar kāṇa vallarē
“O Supreme Personality of Godhead! You manifest as the five basic elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether); the five sense organs for acquiring knowledge (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin); the five working senses (speech, hands, feet, anus, and genitals); the tan-mātra, the five subtle elements (sense objects: sound, touch, form, taste, and smell); the three (the primordial matter, or prakṛti, the material nature; pradhāna the total material energy called mahat-tattva, and the ahaṅkāra or egotism), and the one (the mind), and thus the total twenty-four elements (employed for the manifestation of this material world). You are present as the Supersoul inside the living beings who are above these twenty-four elements. You manifest as and are the Lord of the five: the five basic elements, the five sense organs for acquiring knowledge, the five working senses, the five subtle elements, and the five classes (the abode of enjoyment, the tools for enjoyment, the eternally liberated residents of Vaikuṇṭha, the sages, and the liberated). Who can fathom You and Your manifestations, and unmanifested features?”
755 mūnṛu muppadāṛinōḍu * ōr aindum aindum aindumāy *
mūnṛu mūrtiyāgi mūnṛu * mūnṛu mūnṛu mūnṛumāy **
tōnṛu sotī mūnṛumāyt * tuḷakkamil viḷakkamāy *
ēnṛenāviyuḷ pugundadu * en kolō em īśanē
“Our Lord! You are - the controller of the thirty-three (33 consonants); the six-plus five, and five (16 vowels); and the five (5 diphthongs) of Tamiḻ language; the form of Vedic trinity (Rg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas); the twelve-syllable mantra (Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya); the effulgent form of the three syllables (‘A,’ ‘U,’ and ‘M.’ = ‘Om’); and the origin of the eternal light (the syllable ‘A’ in ‘Om’). (Considering my ignorance) You have entered my heart (as Supersoul to enlighten me). How compassionate!
756 ninṛiyaṅgum onṛalā * urukkaḷ tōṛum āviyāy *
onṛi uḷ kalandu ninṛa * ninna tanmai innadenṛu **
enṛum yārkkum eṇṇiṛanda * ādiyāy nin undi vāy *
anṛu nānmugaṛ payanda * ādi devan allaiyē
“O Cause of all causes! You are the Supersoul in a variety of bodies – both the moving and non-moving living entities; o my Lord, who is thus present inside everything, nobody ever can estimate Your qualities! Aren’t You the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the primeval Lord who created the four-headed Brahmā (in the lotus sprouting) from Your navel?
757 nāgamēndu mēruveṛpai * nāgamēndu maṇṇinai *
nāgamēndu māgamāgam * māgamēndu vārpunal **
māgamēndu maṅgultī ōr * vāyuvaindamaindu kāttu *
ēgamēndi ninṛa nīrmai * nin kaṇē iyanṛadē
“O Lord who is borne by Ananta Śeṣa! You are the one who possesses the great quality of all things being in You; You pervade and protect – Mount Meru which carries the heavenly planet; the earth which is carried by the elephants guarding the eight directions and (overall) by Ananta Śeṣa; the Vaikuṇṭha planets; the surging Ganges and the celestial planets borne by the (heavenly) sky; the clouds borne by the (material) sky; the Vaiśvānara fire which presides over digestion, and the five kinds of life airs (prāṇa, apāna, udāna, vyāna, and samāna).”
758 onṛiraṇḍu mūrtiyāy * uṛakkamōḍu uṇarcciyāy *
onṛiraṇḍu kālamāgi * vēlai ñālamāyināy **
onṛiraṇḍu tīyumāgi * āyanāya māyanē *
onṛiraṇḍu kaṇṇinānum * unnai ētta vallanē
“O incredible Lord! You expanded - as the one (Viṣṇu, the protector), and the two (Brahmā for secondary creation, and Śiva for annihilation); as the two types of consciousness - sleep and wakefulness; as the three phases of time (past, present, and future); as the maintainer of the earth surrounded by oceans, and as the three types of sacred fires (the gārhapatyāgni, the āhavanīya, and the dakṣināgni). And You appeared as a cowherd boy! Even the quite capable three-eyed Śiva cannot glorify You!”
759 ādiyāna vānavarkkum * aṇḍamāya appuṛattu *
ādiyāna vānavarkkum * ādiyāna ādi nī **
ādiyāna vāna vāṇar * anta kālam nī uraitti *
ādiyāna kālam ninnai * yāvar kāṇa vallarē
“You are the Lord and the cause of Brahmā, the (secondary) creator of the material world and the demigods headed by him, and the residents of Vaikuṇṭhaloka which is beyond this material creation. You are the controller of the annihilation of the material creation and have determined the lifetime of Brahmā. Who can fathom You?”
760 tādulāvu konṛai mālai * tunnu ceñjaḍaic civan *
nīdiyāl vaṇaṅgu pāda * ninmalā nilāya sīr **
veda vāṇar gīta vēḷvi * nīdiyāna kēḷviyār *
nīdiyāl vaṇaṅguhinṛa * nīrmai nin kaṇ ninṛadē
“O pristine Lord! Your lotus feet are worshipped with the proper standard by Śiva sporting dense, matted red hair and a garland of golden shower tree flowers with dense pollen grains; You are the one who is qualified to be worshipped by yajñās by expert Vedic scholars and by proper Vedic chants by pious sages.”
761 tannuḷē tiraitteḻum * taraṅgaveṇ taḍaṅ kaḍal *
tannuḷē tiraitteḻundu * aḍaṅguhinṛa tanmai pōl **
ninnuḷē piṛandiṛandu * niṛpavum tiribavum *
ninnuḷē aḍaṅguhinṛa * nīrmai nin kaṇ ninṛadē
“Like the waves in the stormy sea surge and swell and calm down (with the reduction in the force of the wind), the moving and non-moving living entities take birth and die within Your (material) nature; this cycle of activities happen only within Your nature.”
[1] Seasons as per Tamiḻ calendar
762 sollināl toḍarcci nī * solappaḍum poruḷum nī *
sollināl solappaḍādu * tōnṛuhinṛa sōti nī **
sollināl paḍaikka * nī paḍaikka vandu tōnṛinār *
sollināl suruṅga * nin guṇaṅgaḷ solla vallarē
In this set of ten songs, Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār lauds the incredible and inconceivable nature, activities, and qualities of the Lord: “Through the Vedas, You create the desire for self-realisation and brahman-realisation; as revealed by the Vedas and other scriptures You are the ultimate shelter, and the Supersoul of the demigods. It’s not possible to understand and estimate by the Vedas that You are the brahma-jyoti (Your concentrated personal effulgence). (I wonder) If Brahmā, who was created by You to carry out the secondary creation, with the knowledge of Vedas revealed to Him by You, would be able to describe even briefly Your incredible nature, inconceivable activities, and unlimited auspicious qualities!”
763 ulagu tannai nī paḍaitti * uḷḷoḍukki vaitti * mīṇḍu
ulagu tannuḷē piṛatti * ōriḍattai allaiyāl **
ulagu ninnoḍu onṛi niṛka * vēṛu niṭṛṛiyādalāl *
ulagil ninnai uḷḷa sūḻal * yāvar uḷḷa vallarē
“You created the material world and retrieved it back in Your stomach; recreating it, You appeared in it; You are not fixed in a place; while the material creation is part of You, You are inconceivably separate from it too! When You are incredible in so many ways, who, in this material world, can fathom Your amazing activities and inconceivable nature?”
764 innai enṛu sollal āvadu * illaiyādum iṭṭiḍai *
pinnai kēḷvan enbar * un piṇakkuṇarnda peṭṛṛiyōr **
pinnaiyāya kōlamōḍu * pērum ūrum ādiyum *
ninnai yār ninaikka vallar * nīrmaiyāl ninaikkilē
“It’s not at all possible to analyse and estimate You; the learned Vaiṣṇavas, who know everything about the arguments about Your appearance, and transcendental activities and nature between the devotees and atheists, say that You are (Kṛṣṇa) the loving consort of the slender-waisted Nappinnai. Though You appear along with all the viṣṇu-tattvas, You stand apart from them in Your beautiful form, Your multitude of holy names, the wonderful place of appearance (Mathurā), and the reasons for Your appearance! Could all these inconceivable qualities and activities be understood without Your causeless mercy but by one’s own ability?”
765 tūymai yōgamāyināy * tuḻāy alaṅgal mālaiyāy *
āmaiyāhi āḻkaḍal tuyinṛa * ādi deva ** nin
nāmadēyam innadenna * vallamallavāgilum *
sāma veda gītanāya * cakrapāṇi allaiyē
“By Your mercy, (by engaging in Bhakti-yoga) one can get purified and attain the spiritual world! You are always decorated by a garland of tulasī leaves! O primeval Lord who was asleep in the deep ocean as tortoise incarnation! Though we are incapable of analysing Your incredible activities indicated by Your holy names, we can at least understand that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead who wields the disc weapon!”
766 aṅgam āṛum vedam nāngum * āhi ninṛu avaṭṛṛuḷē *
taṅguhinṛa tanmaiyāy * taḍaṅgaḍal paṇattalai **
ceṅgaṇ nāgaṇaik kiḍanda * selvamalgu sīrināy *
saṅga vaṇṇamanna mēni * śārṅgapāṇi allaiyē
“You revealed the six limbs or auxiliary disciplines (śikṣā, chandas, vyākaraṇa, nirukta, kalpa, and jyotiṣa) of Vedas and the four Vedas (Ṛg, Atharva, Yajur, and Sāma), and You are the Absolute Truth indicated in the Vedas! O Lord who possesses all the opulences in full and unlimited auspicious qualities, and who is reclining on the bed of Ananta Śeṣa! Aren’t You the Lord whose bodily hue was white as the conch (in Satya-yuga) and Rāma the wielder of Śārṅga bow (in Tretā-yuga)?”
767 talaikkaṇattugaḷ kuḻampu * sādi sōti tōṭṛṛāmāy *
nilaik kaṇaṅgaḷ kāṇa vandu * niṭṛṛiyēlum nīḍirum **
kalaik kaṇaṅgaḷ soṛ poruḷ * karuttināl ninaikkoṇā *
malaik kaṇaṅgaḷ pōluṇarttum * māṭci ninran māṭciyē
“Though You have appeared not only in the highest godly forms but also as Supersoul in the lowest non-moving entities (trees and the minute microbes), the transient entities (birds and animals), and as transcendental human forms in the group of human beings so that even the non-moving entities could see You and be touched by You, the vast collections of Vedas, and auxiliaries of Vedas can not bring out Your glories in words or the inner meanings. Your unlimited glories can not be analysed or measured like it’s impossible to break or measure the mountains, but could only be understood by the activities and qualities of Your incarnations!”
768 ēka mūrti mūnṛu mūrti * nālu mūrti nanmai sēr *
bōgha mūrti puṇṇiyattin mūrti * eṇṇil mūrtiyāy **
nāga mūrti śayanamāy * nalaṅgaḍal kiḍandu * mēl
nāga mūrtiyāya vaṇṇam * enkol ādi devanē
“O primeval Lord! You are one - in Vāsudeva form in Vaikuṇṭha; You expand to three forms (forming catur-vyūha consisting of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha); You are in four forms (pradhāna, puruṣa, avyakta, and kāla); You take the form of happiness (the form which can be seen by the human beings. E.g.: Kṛṣṇa); You take the form of the piety (of the pious persons); You also expand into unlimited forms; You are the Nārāyaṇa reclining on the bed of Ananta Śeṣa in the Ocean of Milk, and then You appear in an easily worshipable deity form (arcā-vigraha) made of gold, silver, or stone as desired by the devotees! All glories to You!”
769 viḍatta vāy orāyiram * irāyiram kaṇ vendaḻal *
viḍattu vīḷvilāda bhogam * mikka sōti tokka sīr **
toḍuttu mēl vidānamāya * pauvanīr arāvaṇai *
paḍutta pāyal paḷḷi koḷvadu * en kol vēlai vaṇṇānē
“O Lord of dark ocean-hue! What’s the true purpose of You reclining in the Ocean of Milk on the bed of Śeṣa Nāga whose one thousand mouths spit venom; two thousand eyes spew hot, poisonous fire; service (to You) is blissful and infallible, and whose very effulgent and beautiful hoods form a canopy for You?”
770 puḷḷādāgi vedam nāngum * ōdināy adanṛiyum *
puḷḷin vāy piḷandu * puṭkoḍip piḍitta pinnarum **
puḷḷai ūrdiyādalāl * aden kol minkoḷ nēmiyāy *
puḷḷin meyp pahaik kaḍal kiḍattal * kādalittatē
“O Lord who wields the luminous disc! You bifurcated the beak of the demon bird (Bakāsura) and took the form of a bird (Haṁsa) to teach the four Vedas. What’s the true purpose of Your cherished posture of recline in the Ocean of Milk on the bed of Śeṣa Nāga, the sworn enemy of the bird, Garuḍa who has the fame of being on Your banner and Your vehicle?”
771 kūsamonṛuminṛi * māsuṇam paḍuttu vēlai nīr *
pēsa ninṛa devar vandu * pāḍa mun kiḍandadum **
pāsam ninṛa nīril vāḻum * āmaiyāna keśavā *
ēsa anṛu nī kiḍandavāṛu * kūṛu tēṛavē
“O Keśavā! You took the form of a tortoise that loves to live in moss-covered water and slept while the Mandara Mountain moved (back and forth) on Your back! From the beginning of the material creation, without any concern for any danger, You are reclining on the bed of a serpent in the Ocean of Milk, while the demigods from their planets came to the shore to sing Your glories and to seek Your mercy, and others (the asuras who are envious) denounced You! Kindly reveal to me the purpose (of these pastimes) and Your qualities.”
772 * araṅganē taraṅga nīr * kalaṅga anṛu kunṛu sūḻ
maraṅgaḷ tēya mānilam kuluṅga * māsuṇam sulāy **
neruṅga nī kaḍainda pōdu * ninṛa sūrar en seydār *
kuraṅgaiyāḷuganda endai * kūṛu tēṛa vēṛidē
Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār continues to laud the incredible and inconceivable nature, activities, and qualities of the Lord: “When You churned the Milk Ocean using Mandara Mountain as the churning rod and the biggest serpent Vāsuki as the rope—agitating the wavy ocean, battering the trees on the mountain, and the grand earth shaking—what did the helpless demigods and the asuras do? O our Lord of Śrīraṅgam, the benefactor of the monkeys! Kindly reveal the truth (of these pastimes)!”
773 paṇḍum inṛum mēlumāy ōr * bālanāgi ñālamēḻum
uṇḍu * maṇḍi ālilait tuyinṛa * ādi devanē **
vaṇḍu kiṇḍu taṇ tuḻāy * alaṅgalāy kalanda sīr *
puṇḍarīka pāvai sērum mārba * būmi nāthanē
“O primeval Lord! You are the past (before creation), the present, and the annihilation (pralaya); You took the form of a wonderful baby, swallowed the earth and the seven lower planets (Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala, and Pātāla to save them from annihilation), and slept on a banyan leaf (floating on the pralaya water)! You sport a garland of fresh tulasī leaves swarmed by the bees! O consort of Bhū-devī! Your chest is the eternal abode of Lakṣmī-devī, who possesses very auspicious qualities and is born from a lotus flower! (Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār means that there is no wonder the Lord saves even the lower planets of non-devotees; that’s His natural quality!)”
774 vālniṛattor cīyamāy * vaḷainda vāḷ eyiṭṛṛavan *
ūn niṛattu ugirttalam * aḻuttināy ulāya sīr **
nāl niṛatta veda nāvar * nalla yōgināl vaṇaṅgu *
pāl niṛak kaḍal kiḍanda * paṛpanāpan allaiyē
“Your pastime of appearing as a white-hued (because of white hair) lion and with your nails crushing the heart (to take the life out) of Hiraṇyakaśipu whose teeth were strong is hailed (because of the unique form of half-man and half-lion) in all the planets! Aren’t You Padmanābha (who is the original cause of the creation) who is reclining in the Milk Ocean and is the shelter of those expert reciters of the Vedas in the pitch accent of four qualities (udātta – raised, anudātta - not raised, svarita – high falling pitch, and prasaya – a combination of anudātta and svarita) who engage in devotional service?”
775 gaṅgai nīr payanda pāda * paṅgayattu em aṇṇalē *
aṅgai āḻi saṅgu taṇḍu * villum vāḷum ēndināy **
siṅgamāya deva deva * tēnulāvu menmalar *
maṅgai manni vāḻu mārba * āḻi mēni māyanē
“O our Lord from whose lovely feet, resembling the lotus, the Ganges water flowed! In Your elegant hands, You hold the disc, the conch, the club, the bow, and the sword! O the Lord of the demigods, who appeared as Nṛsiṁhadeva! O incredible Lord on whose chest Lakṣmī-devī, who appeared in the soft lotus flower oozing nectar, eternally stays!”
776 varattinil śirattai mikka * vāḷ eyiṭṛṛu maṭṛṛavan *
urattinil karattai vaittu * ukirttalattai ūnṛināy **
iratti nī idenna poy * iranda maṇ vayiṭṛṛuḷē
karatti * un karuttai yāvar kāṇa vallar * kaṇṇanē
“O Kṛṣṇa! With Your nails, You tore open the chest and killed the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu who possessed sword-like teeth and was confident that he could not be killed by anybody because of the boon he obtained from Brahmā! What amazing deceit You used to beg the land (from Bali)! You swallowed that land which You begged and hid in Your stomach (to protect during pralaya)! Who can understand Your intentions?
777 āṇinōḍu peṇṇumāgi * allavōḍu nallavāy *
ūṇoḍōsai ūṛumāgi * onṛalāda māyaiyāy **
pūṇi pēṇum āyanāgip * poyyinōḍu meyyumāy *
kāṇi pēṇum māṇiyāyk * karandu senṛa kaḷvanē
“You created the male and the female (for producing offsprings), and also the genderless; You became the master also to guide the best of them. You created the taste, the sound, the touch, and also the varieties in nature. You appeared as a cowherd boy, diplomatic (with the Kauravas), and a true friend (of the Pāṇḍavas). O thief, You went in disguise, as a dwarf brāhmaṇa, to get back the land (from Bali)!”
778 viṇ kaḍanda sōdiyāy * viḷaṅgu ñāna mūrtiyāy *
paṇ kaḍanda tēsamēvu * pāva nāśa nāthanē **
eṇ kaḍanda yōginōḍu * irandu senṛu māṇiyāy *
maṇ kaḍanda vaṇṇam ninnai * yār madikka vallarē
“O self-effulgent form spread beyond pradhāna! O form of eternal knowledge! O radiance beyond the understanding of śruti (Vedas)! O Lord who destroys all the sins! (Hiding) Your unlimited auspicious qualities, You went as a dwarf brāhmaṇa to beg the land! Who can estimate Your nature?”
779 paḍaitta pār iḍandaḷandu * aduṇḍumiḻndu pauvanīr *
paḍaittaḍaittadil kiḍandu * mun kaḍainda peṭṛṛiyōy **
miḍaittamāli mālimān * vilaṅgu kālanūr puha *
paḍaikkalam viḍutta * palpaḍait taḍakkai māyanē
“Your activities are inconceivable: You created the Causal Ocean; the planet earth (from the Causal Ocean); picked up that earth (from the Garbhodaka Ocean as Boar incarnation); begged (from Bali) and measured that earth; swallowed and kept that earth in Your stomach (during pralaya) and brought it out again; You created the huge oceans; built a bridge on the ocean (to cross over to Laṅkā); lied down in the ocean (on the serpent), and churned the ocean (to get nectar)! O incredible Lord! In Your magnificent hands, You wield many divine weapons which You released to send the angry asura Māli and Sumāli who possessed enormous power like an animal to the city of Yama!”
780 parattilum parattaiyādi * pauvanīr aṇaik kiḍandu *
urattilum orutti tannai * vaittugandu adanṛiyum **
narattilum piṛatti * nātha ñāna mūrti āyināy *
oruttarum ninādu tanmai * innadenna vallarē
“O Lord! You are the only one, there is nobody above You or even equal to You! You lie on the serpent bed in the Milk Ocean; on Your chest, You have lovingly given a permanent abode to one, Lakṣmī-devī, who possesses very auspicious qualities! (Regardless of Your superior transcendental nature) You appeared in the human race (Rāma and Kṛṣṇa)! O Supreme Consciousness! Neither the Vedas nor a jñānī has the expertise to estimate Your supreme transcendental nature! (Only devotees can understand).”
781 vānagammum maṇṇagammum * veṛpum ēḻkaḍalgaḷum *
pōnagam seydu ālilait tuyinṛa * puṇḍarīkanē **
tēnahañ ceydaṇṇaṛum * malart tuḻāy nanmālaiyāy *
kūnagam pugat teṛitta * koṭṛṛa villi allaiyē
“O Puṇḍarīka! You swallowed the celestial planet, the earthly planet, the seven islands (or continents of the earthly planet - (1) Jambu, (2) Śāka, (3) Śālmalī, (4) Kuśa, (5) Krauñca, (6) Gomeda, or Plakṣa, and (7) Puṣkara), and the seven oceans (dividing the seven islands), and slept on the banyan leaf! You are adorned with a lovely garland of fresh and fragrant tulasī leaves! You tormented the hunchback Manthara using the slingshot! Aren’t You the one with the glorious bow, Śārṅga?”
782 kāla nēmi kālanē * kaṇakkilāda kīrttiyāy *
ñālamēḻum uṇḍu * paṇḍu ōr bālanāya paṇbanē **
vēlai vēva vil vaḷaitta * vel sinatta vīra * nin
pālarāya pattar cittam * mutti ceyyum mūrtiyē
Tirumaḻisai Āḻvār lauds some more of the incredible and inconceivable nature, activities, and qualities of the Lord: “The nemesis of the demon Kālanemi! One who possesses unlimited glories! You swallowed the earth and the seven lower planetary systems at the time of pralaya and assumed the form of a baby! O valorous one! Your angry posture, poised to release the brahmāstra, agitated the ocean! O merciful Lord, You make Your devotees’ mind strong with renouncement!”
783 kurakkinap paḍai koḍu * kurai kaḍalin mīdu pōy *
arakkar aṅgaraṅga * veñcaram turanda ādi nī **
irakka maṇ koḍuttavaṛku * irakkam onṛum inṛiyē *
parakka vaittaḷandu koṇḍa * paṛpa pādan allaiyē
“O chivalrous one! You crossed over the strident ocean, building a bridge, with an army of monkeys, and released a torrent of arrows, scattering the terrified army of Rākṣasas. Aren’t You the Lord with lotus-like feet which You extended high and covered all the planetary systems, not leaving even a foot of land for Bali who offered them to You when You went to beg from him?”
784 minniṛattu eyiṭṛṛarakkan vīḻa * veñcaram turandu *
pinnavaṛku aruḷ purindu * arasaḷitta peṭṛṛiyōy **
nanniṛattorin sol ēḻai * pinnai kēḷva mannu sīr *
ponniṛatta vaṇṇanāya * puṇḍarīkan allaiyē
“You expertly shot arrows to kill Rāvaṇa and favoured his younger brother Vibhīṣaṇa by granting the kingdom to him! You are the beloved of Nappinnai whose skin glows, who is unique, talks sweetly, and is enchanted (by Kṛṣṇa)! Aren’t You Puṇḍarīkākṣa who possesses unlimited auspicious qualities, attractive golden body-hue, and all opulences?”
785 ādi ādi ādi nī * ōr aṇḍam ādi ādalāl *
sōdiyāda sōdi nī * aduṇmaiyil viḷaṅgināy **
vedamāhi vēḷviyāhi * viṇṇinōḍu maṇṇumāy *
ādiyāgi āyanāya * māyam enna māyamē
“You are the three causes (nimitta – the original cause, upādāna – ingredients, upāya – instrumental cause; for example, the pot maker (nimitta), the mud (upādāna), and the wheel (instrumental cause)); You are also the cause of all the ingredients of the creation; since You are the cause of everything, You are the effulgent Absolute Truth, and there is no need for any analysis to prove this. You are revealed so (as the effulgent Absolute Truth) in the eternal Vedas! You are the Vedas, You are worshipped by the yajna prescribed in those Vedas, You are the spiritual world, You are the material creation, and all these notwithstanding, how incredible is Your wonderful appearance as a cowherd boy!”
786 ambulāvum mīnumāhi * āmaiyāgi āḻiyār *
tampirānumāhi mikkadu *anbu mikku adanṛiyum **
kombarāvu nuṇmaruṅgul * āyar māthar piḷḷaiyāy *
empirānum āya vaṇṇam * en kolō em īśanē
“Our beloved Lord! You are the Lord of Your disc weapon; You took the merciful forms of a fish as well as a tortoise and were glorified; above all, how remarkable it is that You appeared as the son of the thin-waisted cowherd woman and became our adorable Lord!”
787 āḍagatta pūṇmulai * aśodai āycci piḷḷaiyāy *
cāḍutaittor puḷḷadāvi * kaḷḷatāya pēy magaḷ **
vīḍa vaitta veyya koṅgai * aiya pālamudu seydu *
āḍagakkai māthar vāy * amudam uṇḍaden kolō
“Born as the son of the bejewelled cowherd woman Yaśodā, You kicked and scattered the demon Śakaṭāsura; sucked the nipple laced with poison and took the life air out of the flying witch Pūtanā who came in the guise of a woman to kill You, and tasted the nectar from the mouth of the cowherd damsels whose hands were adorned with golden bangles. What amazing pastimes!”
788 kāyttanīḷ viḷaṅgkani udirttu * edirnda pūṅgkurundam
sāyttu * mā piḷanda kaittalatta * kaṇṇan enbarāl **
āycci pālai uṇḍu maṇṇai uṇḍu * veṇṇey uṇḍu * pin
pēycci pālai uṇḍu * paṇḍor ēnamāya vāmanā
“You are glorified by the devotees as Kaṇṇan who just with His hands easily killed - both Kapītāsura (in the form of a wood apple tree) and Vatsāsura (in the form of a calf) by throwing Vatsāsura on the wood apple tree and scattering its fruits; the demon hiding in the Indian olibanum or Salai guggul tree by uprooting the tree, and the Keśi demon (in the form of a horse) by chocking its throat. You fed on the breastmilk of Yaśodā; gobbled butter; sucked the breastmilk of the witch Pūtanā; at the end of a kalpa, You swallowed the material creation; at the beginning of kalpa, You appeared in the form of an amazing boar (to retrieve the earth from the depths of the ocean), and later You took the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa (to get back the planets from Bali)![1]
789 kaḍam kalanda van kari * marupposittu ōr poygai vāy *
viḍam kalanda pāmbin mēl * naḍam payinṛa nāthanē **
kuḍam kalanda kūttanāya * koṇḍal vaṇṇa taṇtuḻāy *
vaḍam kalanda mālai mārba * kāla nēmi kālanē
“O Lord! You broke the tusk of the mad, mighty elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa and killed it); danced on the hoods of the poison-spitting Kāliya snake in the great lake, and danced ecstatically balancing the pots on Your head! O dark cloud-hued Lord! O nemesis of the demon Kālanemi! Your chest is decorated with the garland of fresh tulasī leaves, and a colourful garland of forest flowers!”
790 veṛpeḍuttu vēlai nīr * kalakkināy adanṛiyum *
veṛpeḍuttu vēlai nīr * varambu kaṭṭi vēlai sūḻ **
veṛpeḍutta iñji sūḻ * ilaṅgai kaṭṭaḻitta nī *
veṛpeḍuttu māri kātta * mēhavaṇṇan allaiyē
“With Mandara Mountain, You churned the ocean; further, with mountains picked up and thrown by the monkeys, You built a bridge on the ocean; You wrecked the fort protecting Laṅkā, surrounded by the ocean and ramparts, and built on Trikūṭa Mountain (by Viśvakarmā, the heavenly architect). Aren’t You the fresh rain cloud-hued Lord (Kaṇṇan), who lifted and held the Govardhana Hill to protect the cowherd community from the deluge of rains?”
791 ānai kāttu ōr ānai konṛu * adanṛi āyar piḷḷaiyāy *
ānai mēytti āneyuṇḍi * anṛu kunṛam onṛināl **
ānai kāttu maiyarikkaṇ * mādarār tiṛattu * mun
ānai anṛu senṛaḍartta * māyam enna māyamē
“You saved the elephant (king Gajendra); however, killed another elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa) as a cowherd boy; grazed the cows; swallowed the cow ghee; protected the cows lifting and holding Govardhana Hill (when Indra caused a rainstorm), and tamed the seven bulls to win the hands of Nappinnai whose eyes are lovely, and decorated by collyrium. All Your activities are incredible!
[1] Kalpa is one day or night in the life of Brahmā; in the night the material creation is annihilated and, in the day, Brahmā re-creates the material creation.
792 āyanāgi āyar maṅgai * vēyatōḷ virumbināy *
āya ninnai yāvar vallar * amparattoḍu imparāy **
māya māya māyai kol * adanṛi nī vaguttalum *
māya māyam ākkināy * un māya muṭṛṛum māyamē
“You appeared in the cowherd clan and desired to embrace the bamboo-like shoulder of the cowherd damsel Nappinnai; who in the celestial planets or in the earth is capable of analysing You, whose activities are incredible! O incredible one! It’s not because of You coming into the material nature (as Kaṇṇan) that You desired a cowherd lady (but it’s only because Your activities are astonishing)! Further, (taking pity on the souls lying inactive in Your nature) You created a variety of bodies (different classes like demigods, human beings, animals, etc., expecting them to use the bodies to engage in devotional service and get back to You; but looking at them using the bodies to engage in material sense gratification) and then annihilated the material creation, and took the souls back into Your nature! Your activities are totally mystic and amazing!”
793 vēṛisainda cekkar mēni * nīṛaṇinda punsaḍai *
kīṛutiṅgaḷ vaittavan * kai vaittavan kapālmisai **
ūṛu ceṅgurudiyāl * niṛaitta kāraṇam tanai *
ēṛu senṛaḍartta īśa * pēsu kūsaminṛiyē
“O Almighty! One who tamed the seven demoniac bulls, kindly reveal the truth and clear our doubt why did You give the blood from Your body to fill the skull that was stuck in the palm of Rudra, whose body is reddish, matching his activity (of destroying the material world); covered with ash; who sports matted hair and a crescent moon in it?” (The merciful gesture of Viṣṇu offering blood from His supreme body to relieve the distress of Rudra, one of His guṇāvatāra, is praised).
794 veñcinatta vēḻa * veṇ marupposittu uruttamā *
kañjanaik kaḍindu * maṇṇaḷandu koṇḍa kālanē **
vañjanattu vanda pēycci * āvi pāluḷ vāṅgināy *
añjanatta vaṇṇanāya * ādi devan allaiyē
“You broke the tusk of the greatly provoked elephant (and killed it with the tusk); killed the angry and powerful Kaṁsa; sucked the milk and the life of the evil witch, and with Your lotus feet, You measured and took back the planetary systems! Aren’t You the resplendent, dark-hued Cause of all causes (Kṛṣṇa)?”
795 pālinīrmai cemponīrmai * pāsiyin pasum puṛam *
pōlum nīrmai poṛpuḍait taḍattu * vaṇḍu viṇḍulām **
nīla nīrmai enṛivai * niṛainda kālam nāngumāy *
mālin nīrmai vaiyagam * maṛaittadu enna nīrmaiyē
“(In Satya-yuga) You assumed the white colour of milk, (in Tretā-yuga) the reddish hue of glowing gold, (in Dvāpara-yuga) the green colour of the moss, and (in Kali-yuga) the bluish-black colour of the ironwood flower, swarmed by the humming bees, in the beautiful pond (to favour the devotees). It’s really atrocious that the (devotionless) people of the earth do not understand and appreciate Your merciful nature!”
796 maṇṇuḷāy kol viṇṇuḷāy kol * maṇṇuḷē mayaṅgi ninṛu *
eṇṇum eṇṇahappaḍāy kol * enna māyai nin tamar **
kaṇṇuḷāy kol sēyai kol * anantan mēl kiḍanda em
puṇṇiyā * punantuḻāy * alaṅgalam punidanē
“O our benefactor in a reclining posture on Ananta! O immaculate Lord decorated by a garland of fresh tulasī leaves! You appear on the earth! (At the same time) You are present in Vaikuṇṭha! You are inconceivable to the illusioned people! You are always visible to Your devotees! You are beyond the reach of the atheists! How incredible!”
797 tōḍu peṭṛṛa taṇ tuḻāy * alaṅgalāḍu cenniyāy *
kōḍu paṭṛṛi āḻi ēndi * añjiṛaip puḷ ūrdiyāl **
nāḍu peṭṛṛa nanmai * naṇṇamillaiyēnum nāyinēn *
vīḍu peṭṛṛu iṛappoḍum * piṛappaṛukkumā solē
“One with a garland of fresh and cool tulasī leaves, and head turned favourably to the devotees! You wield the conch; the disc, and have a bird as a carrier. Alas! Though this wonderful form which was enjoyed by some is not visible to this lowly person like a dog, kindly tell me how to stop the cycle of birth and death, and attain Your lotus feet!
798 kāroḍotta mēni naṅgaḷ kaṇṇa * viṇṇin nāthanē *
nīriḍattarāvaṇaik * kiḍatti enbar anṛiyum **
ōriḍattaiyallai ellai * illai enbar ādalāl *
sērviḍattai nāyinēn * terindiṛaiñjumā solē
“Our Kṛṣṇa! Your body hue is like a fresh rain cloud! O Lord of the residents of Vaikuṇṭha! The Vedic scholars say that You are in the Milk Ocean, reclining on Ananta Śeṣa; also, that You are not in just one place, and there is no count. Since those places are beyond the reach of this lowly person, kindly reveal to me a shelter and the way to attain it.”
799 kunṛil ninṛu vān irundu * nīḷ kaḍal kiḍandu * maṇ
onṛu senṛadonṛai uṇḍu * adonṛiḍandu panṛiyāy **
nanṛu senṛa nāḷ avaṭṛṛuḷ * nalluyir paḍaittu avarkku *
anṛu devamaittaḷitta * ādi devan allaiyē
“You are on Veṅkaṭa Hills; in Vaikuṇṭha; reclining in the ocean; You covered the planetary systems with Your steps; swallowed those planetary systems; as Boar incarnation, and lifted the earth on Your tusks. During that auspicious kalpa (because of the Boar incarnation), You created pious people, and when they became materialistic (due to the dominance of modes of passion and ignorance), You created the demigods (to satisfy their desires). Aren’t You the Cause of all causes?”
800 * koṇḍai koṇḍa kōdai mīdu * tēnulāvu kūni kūn *
uṇḍai koṇḍu araṅgavōṭṭi * uḷ magiḻnda nāthan ūr **
naṇḍai uṇḍu nārai pēra * vāḷai pāya nīlamē *
aṇḍai koṇḍu keṇḍai mēyum * andaṇīr araṅgamē
“Śrīraṅgam is the divine place—which is the abode of the Lord who was attracted by the garland, which was swarmed by bees, of Kōdai with an elevated hair-do, and happy to hit the hunch of Manthara with a stone shot by the catapult—where, in the abundant cool Kāverī waters, the cranes feed on the crabs, the beltfish frolic, and the catfish swim fearlessly taking the (fallen) ironwood flowers as cover.”
801 veṇtiraik karuṅgaḍal * sivandu vēva munnor nāḷ *
tiṇtiṛal cilaik kai vāḷi * viṭṭa vīrar sērum ūr **
eṇtisaik kaṇaṅgaḷum * iṛaiñjiyāḍu tīrtta nīr *
vaṇḍiraitta cōlai vēli * mannu sīr araṅgamē
“The city of Śrīraṅgam—the abode of the chivalrous Rāma who shot arrows from the powerful Śārṅga bow to agitate the wavy ocean and heave up; where people from all the directions come to worship, and take a dip in the holy river Kāverī, and is surrounded by dense groves swarmed by humming bees—is the most opulent temple city.”
802 saraṅgaḷait turandu * vil vaḷaittu ilaṅgai mannavan *
siraṅgaḷ pattaṛuttu udirtta * selvar mannu ponniḍam **
parandu ponnirandu nundi * vandalaikkum vār punal *
araṅgam enbar nānmugattu * ayan paṇinda kōyilē
“The eternal abode of the valiant Lord (Rāma) who shot arrows from His Śārṅga bow to cut off the ten heads of Rāvaṇa, the king of Laṅkā; where the river Kāverī brings with its abundant water, heaps of gold; and, is worshipped by the four-headed Brahmā is the temple of Śrīraṅgam.”
803 poṭṛṛaiyuṭṛṛa muṭṛṛal yānai * pōr edirndu vandadai *
paṭṛṛi uṭṛṛu maṭṛṛadan * maruppositta pāgan ūr **
ciṭṛṛeyiṭṛṛu muṭṛṛal mūṅgil * mūnṛu taṇḍar onṛinar *
aṭṛṛa paṭṛṛar cuṭṛṛi vāḻum * andaṇīr araṅgamē
“The abode of the elephant keeper (Kṛṣṇa) who caught hold of the powerful and mad elephant and broke its tusk (and killed it); where the renounced devotees, who hold a tridaṇḍa of mature bamboo sticks, live around, is the temple of Śrīraṅgam, encircled by the river Kāverī.”
804 mōḍiyōḍilaccaiyāya * sābam eydi mukkaṇān *
kūḍu sēnai makkaḷōḍu * koṇḍu maṇḍi veñcamattu
ōḍa ** vāṇan āyiram * karam kaḻitta ādimāl *
pīḍu kōyil kūḍu nīr * araṅgam enṛa pēradē
“Śiva, accompanied by Kālī—who has been cursed that Vaiṣṇava devotees will not even look at her (due to her immodest form and activities)—, his sons, and the big army, had to hastily retreat from the fierce battle, while his follower, Bāṇāsura’s thousand arms were being cut off, one after another, by Kṛṣṇa, the Original Cause of all causes, whose main temple, is Śrīraṅgam, which has an abundance of water.”
805 ilait talaic caram turandu * ilaṅgai kaṭṭaḻittavan *
malait talaip piṛandiḻindu * vandu nundu candanam **
kulait talaittiṛutteṛinda * kuṅgumak kuḻambinōḍu *
alaittoḻugu kāviri * araṅgam mēya aṇṇalē
“Rāma, who destroyed the ramparts protecting Laṅkā by shooting arrows with heads shaped like leaves (with sharp points), is the deity eternally present in the temple of Śrīraṅgam encircled by the river Kāverī which originates from Brahmagiri mountain range (previously known as Sahya parvata, in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district of the state of Karnataka), flows down carrying the uprooted sandalwood trees and saffron twines from which the saffron sap spurts out and mixes with the rapidly flowing water.”
806 mannu māmalark kiḻatti * vaiya maṅgai maindanāy *
pinnum āyar pinnai tōḷ * maṇam puṇarndadanṛiyum **
unna pādam enna cindai * manna vaittu nalgināy *
ponni cūḻ araṅgamēya * puṇḍarīkan allaiyē
“You are the Lord of Śrī Lakṣmī, who appeared on a wonderful lotus flower, and Śrī Bhū-devī; yet, You desired the shoulders of the cowherd damsel Nappinnai. You gave me the greatest benediction of eternally residing in my heart. Aren’t You Lord Puṇḍarīka who resides eternally in the temple of Śrīraṅgam surrounded by the river Kāverī?”
807 ilaṅgai mannanaindoḍaindu * paindalai nilattuha *
kalaṅga anṛu senṛu konṛu * venṛi koṇḍa vīranē **
vilaṅgu nūlar veda nāvar * nītiyāna kēḷviyār *
valaṅgoḷak kuḍandaiyuḷ * kiḍanda mālumallaiyē
“O valiant hero! You went to Laṅkā, to the great disbelief and dismay of Rāvaṇa, cut off his ten powerful heads, and killed him. To accept the circumambulations of the brāhmaṇās (Vaiṣṇavas)—whose body is adorned with the sacred thread, the tongue is decorated with the Vedic chant, and who follow the scriptural injunctions—aren’t You the Lord in the reclining posture in Kumbhakoṇam (Tamiḻ Nāḍu)?”
808 caṅgu taṅgu munkai naṅgai * koṅgai taṅgal uṭṛṛavan *
aṅgam maṅga anṛu senṛu * aḍartteṛinda āḻiyān **
koṅgu taṅguvār kuḻal * maḍandaimār kuḍainda nīr *
poṅgu taṇ kuḍandaiyuḷ * kiḍanda puṇḍarīkanē
“Rāma—deep like an ocean, who went to Laṅkā, cut off the heads and killed Rāvaṇa, who desired to enjoy Sītā, whose hands are decorated with bangles—is Lord Puṇḍarīka in the reclining posture in Kumbhakoṇam, cooled by the river Kāverī, in whose abundant water, ladies with long and fragrant hair, take bath.”
809 maram keḍa naḍandaḍarttu * matta yānai mattagattu *
uram keḍap puḍaittu * ōr kombosittu Uganda uttamā **
turaṅgam vāy piḷandu * maṇṇaḷanda pāda * vediyar
varam koḷak kuḍandaiyuḷ * kiḍanda mālumallaiyē
“O Puruṣottamā! You brought down the twin Arjuna trees (by crawling in between them with the mortar); broke the tusk of the mad elephant, and enjoyed killing it by powerfully punching its forehead; choked the Keśī demon to death, and measured the planetary systems by expanding Your legs! Aren’t You the benefactor Lord in the reclining posture in Kumbhakoṇam, approached by the Vedic Scholars for boons?”
810 cāli vēli taṇvayal * taḍaṅgiḍaṅgu pūmpoḻil *
kōlamāḍa nīḍu * taṇkuḍandai mēya kōvalā **
kāla nēmi vakkaran * karan muran sirammavai *
kālanōḍu kūḍa * vil kunitta viṛkai vīranē
“O Kṛṣṇa in reclining posture in the pleasant city of Kumbhakoṇam surrounded by cool paddy fields and wide groves with trees in full bloom, and full of elegant and high rising houses! O expert archer! You cut off their heads and sent the demons Kālanemi, Dantavakra, Khara, and Mura to the abode of Yama!
811 * ceḻuṅkoḻum perum pani poḻindiḍa * uyarnda vēy
viḻundularndeḻundu * viṇ puḍaikkum veṅkaṭattuḷ ninṛu **
eḻundirundu tēn porundu * pūmpoḻil taḻaik koḻuñ *
ceḻundaḍaṅ kuḍandaiyuḷ * kiḍanda mālumallaiyē
“Aren’t You the benefactor who is in a reclining posture in the city of Kumbhakoṇam—full of thick groves in full bloom swarmed by droves of humming bees flying up and down, and ponds brimming with water—who is in a standing posture in Veṅkaṭa Hills where the tall bamboo trees bend down due to the weight of the dewdrops collected because of heavy, foggy rains, and rise up to the sky after drying up with the sunrise?”
812 * naḍanda kālgaḷ nondavō * naḍuṅga ñālam ēnamāy *
iḍanda mey kuluṅgavō * vilaṅgu mālvaraiccuram **
kaḍanda kāl paranda * kāvirik karaik kuḍantaiyuḷ *
kiḍantavāṛu eḻuntiruntu * pēcu vāḻi kēcanē
“O Keśavā, all auspiciousness unto You! Are Your lotus feet paining because of measuring all the planetary systems or walking in the forest (for fourteen years)? Is Your transcendental body tired because of (performing the amazing task of) picking up the scared Śrī Bhū-devī from the depths of the ocean? Kindly get up and reveal the reason for Your reclining posture in Kumbhakoṇam, on the bank of the river Kāverī who flows wide and long crossing huge mountains and many forests.”
813 * karaṇḍa māḍu poygaiyuḷ * karumbanaip perum paḻam *
puraṇḍu vīḻa vāḷai pāy * kuṛuṅguḍi neḍunda kāy **
tiraṇḍa tōḷ iraṇiyan * sinaṅgoḷ āham onṛaiyum *
iraṇḍu kūṛu seyduganda * siṅgam enbadu unnaiyē
“O magnificent Lord of Tirukkuṛuṅguḍi where the dipper birds keep diving in the pond (to catch the beltfish) and when a big palm fruit (from the tress on the banks) falls in the water, the beltfish dive in fear (taking the palm fruit for a dipper bird)![1] Aren’t You Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva who was very happy to tear open the chest of the mighty shouldered and furious Hiraṇyakaśipu?”
814 nanṛirundu yōga nīti * naṇṇuvārgaḷ cindaiyuḷ *
senṛirundu tīvinaigaḷ * tīrtta deva devanē **
kunṛirunda māḍa nīḍu * pāḍagattum ūragattum *
ninṛirundu vekkaṇaik kiḍandadu * enna nīrmaiyē
“O Supreme Personality of Godhead! You (don’t hesitate to) enter the hearts of those who want to attain You by the process of meditation or aṣṭāṅga-yoga and remove their deep-rooted sins (so that they can become Your devotees). Further (to attract the materialistic family men to devotional service), how mercifully You have assumed the sitting posture (Tiruppāḍagam), standing posture (Ūragam), and in reclining posture (Tiruvekkā) in the opulent city of Kāncipuram?”[2]
815 ninṛadu endai ūragattu * irundadu endai pāḍagattu *
anṛu vekkaṇaik kiḍandadu * ennilāda munnelām **
anṛu nān piṛandilēn * piṛanda pin maṛandilēn *
ninṛadum irundadum * kiḍandadum en neñjuḷē
“My Lord stood in Ūragam! My Lord sat in Tiruppāḍagam! And reclined in Tiruvekkā! In those days, when I wasn’t Kṛṣṇa conscious, I wasn’t born (really). Once I became Kṛṣṇa conscious, I didn’t lose my consciousness (of Him); my Lord stands, sits, and reclines in my heart!”
816 niṛpadum or veṛpahattu * iruppum viṇ kiḍappadum *
naṛperuntiraik kaḍaluḷ * nānilāda munnelām **
aṛpudan ananta śayanan * ādi bhūtan mādavan *
niṛpadum iruppadum * kiḍappadum en neñjuḷē
“When I was not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness I knew You to be standing in the matchless Veṅkaṭa Hills; sitting in Vaikuṇṭha, and reclining in the Ocean of Milk; (but after I became Kṛṣṇa conscious, You—the incredible, the Original Cause of all causes, reclining on Ananta Śeṣa, Lord Mādava—stand, sit, and recline in my heart!”
817 inṛu sādal ninṛu sādal * anṛiyārum vaiyakattu *
onṛi ninṛu vāḻtalinmai kaṇḍum * nīsar en kolō **
anṛu pāraḷanda pāda * bōdaiyonṛi vānin mēl *
senṛu senṛu devarāy * irukkilāda vaṇṇamē
“Why the ignorant people do not worship those lotus feet (of Lord Vāmana)—which measured all the planetary systems—, engage in devotional service and attain Vaikuṇṭha to remain in the association of the eternal associates of the Lord, in spite of seeing people dying immediately after birth, or living for some time and dying and knowing the truth that nobody can live in this material world permanently?”
818 caṇḍa maṇḍalattinūḍu * senṛu vīḍu peṭṛṛu mēl *
kaṇḍu vīḍilāda kādal * inbam nāḷum eyduvīr **
puṇḍarīka pāda puṇya kīrtti * num cevi maḍuttu
uṇḍu * nummuṛu vinait * tuyaruḷ nīṅgi uymminō
“Those who want to attain the Supreme by passing away from the world in the light, (during the fortnight of the waxing moon, or during the six months when the sun travels in the north), instead should think about and desire the perpetual bliss that arises out of loving devotional service! By constantly hearing and thinking about the auspicious lotus feet of Puṇḍarīka, get relieved from your self-induced miseries and sinful reactions and get purified.”
819 muttiṛattu vāṇiyattu * iraṇḍil onṛum nīcargaḷ *
mattarāy mayaṅguhinṛadu * iṭṭadiliṛandu pōndu **
ettiṛattum uyvadu ōr * upāyamillai uyguṛil *
tottuṛutta taṇtuḻāy * nanmālai vāḻtti vāḻminō
“Those sinful people who act in the modes of passion and ignorance of the three modes of material nature, at the end of their life leave the present body and take birth again in the material world and continue to engage in material sense gratification; there is no way for them to get liberated. If at all they desire liberation, they should engage in the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is adorned with a long garland of fresh tulasī leaves.”
820 kāṇilum uruppolār * sevikkināda kīrttiyār *
pēṇilum varam tara * miḍukkilāda devarai **
āṇam enṛaḍaindu vāḻum * ādargāḷ emmādi pāl *
pēṇi num piṛappenum * piṇakku aṛukka kiṭṛṛirē
“O blind people! You think that by worshipping the demigods you are living under their protection (who, like us, are also born according to their previous lives’ karma) who neither have a pleasing form nor glorious history, and do not possess the power to grant the fruits of your actions (even the temporary material benefits granted by them are only with the prior sanction of Viṣṇu); instead, can’t you engage in the devotional service of the Original Cause of all causes, the Lord of those who seek liberation, and cut off the cords of repeated birth and death?”
821 kuntamōḍu sūlam vēlhaḷ * tōmaraṅgaḷ taṇḍu vāḷ *
bandamāna devargaḷ * parandu vānagam uṛa **
vanda vāṇan īraiññūṛu * tōḷhaḷait tuṇitta nāḷ *
anda vanda ākulam * amararē aṛivarē
“While the demigods, who came in large numbers, wielding lances, tridents, spears, clubs, and swords, scattered and escaped to their celestial abodes (on being attacked by Kṛṣṇa), Kṛṣṇa cut off the thousand hands of Bāṇāsura; the havoc Kṛṣṇa caused that day and the humiliating misery (experienced by Śiva) were very well known to the demigods.”
[1] Tirukkuṛuṅguḍi: One of the 108 Divya Desam temples, situated in Tirunelvēli, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[2] (Tiruppāḍagam), standing posture (Ūragam), and in reclining posture (Tiruvekkā): Three Divya Desam temples, situated in Kāncipuram, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
822 vaṇḍulāvu kōdai mādar * kāraṇattināl veguṇḍu *
iṇḍa vāṇan īraiññūṛu * tōḷhaḷait tuṇitta nāḷ **
muṇḍan nīṛan makkaḷ veppu * mōḍi aṅgi ōḍiḍak
kaṇḍu * nāṇi vāṇanukku iraṅginān * em māyanē
“When Kṛṣṇa cut off the thousand hands of Bāṇāsura, who in great anger, challenged Him for the sake of his daughter (Ūṣā), Śiva—head cleanly shaven, body smeared with ash—ran away from the battlefield accompanied by his son (Skanda), the Śiva-jvara weapon (a personification of fever with three heads and three legs), Kālī, and Agni; looking at this hasty retreat, my Kṛṣṇa was ashamed that He fought with them, and pardoned Bāṇāsura.”
823 pōtil maṅgai būtalak kiḻatti * devi anṛiyum *
pōtu taṅgu nānmugan * magan avan magan solil **
mādu taṅgu kūṛan * ēṛadūrdi enṛu veda nūl *
ōduginṛaduṇmai alladillai * maṭṛṛuraikkilē
“Lakṣmī, eternally youthful and born from a lotus flower, and Bhū-devī are the consorts of the Supreme Personality; further, the four-headed Brahmā, who appeared on the lotus flower, is His son, and according to the Vedas, Śiva—who gave half of his body to his wife Pārvatī, and has a bull as his vehicle—is the son of Brahmā. Whatever the Vedas say is the truth, and if anyone says anything contrary to the Vedas (quoting from tantric literature, or Purāṇas for people in tamo-guṇa), it’s not the truth.”
824 maram podac caram turandu * vāli vīḻa munnor nāḷ *
uram podac caram turanta * umbarāḷi empirān **
varam kuṛippil vaittavarkku * alādu vānam āḷilum *
nirambu nīḍu bhogam * ettiṛattum yārkkumillaiyē
“Even if one be a ruler of the celestial planets, it is not at all possible to engage in the sublime, and eternal devotional service without the causeless mercy of our Lord of Lords, Rāma, who shot an arrow and pierced seven huge sal trees, and brought down the mighty monkey king Vāli by shooting an arrow which pierced his strong chest.”
825 aṛindaṛindu vāmanan * aḍiyiṇai vaṇaṅgināl *
ceṛindeḻunda ñānamōḍu * selvamum siṛandiḍum **
maṛindeḻunda teṇ tiraiyuḷ * mannu mālai vāḻttināl *
paṛindeḻundu tīvinaigaḷ * paṭṛṛaṛudal pānmaiyē
“If one catches hold of the lotus feet of Vāmana, who is the goal as well as the path to the goal, and worships Him, he will attain the knowledge of the self and the wealth of devotional service. Further, it’s true that one’s deep-rooted sinful reactions will be uprooted, and will become renounced if he extols the auspicious qualities of the Lord whose eternal abode is the Ocean of Milk.”
826 onṛi ninṛu naṭṛṛavam seydu * ūḻi ūḻi tōṛelām *
ninṛu ninṛu avan guṇaṅgaḷ * uḷḷi uḷḷam tūyarāy **
senṛu senṛu deva devar * umbar umbar umbarāy *
anṛi eṅgaḷ ceṅgaṇ mālai * yāvar kāṇa vallarē
“It’s not at all possible to see our Puṇḍarīkākṣa, the Lord of the residents of Vaikuṇṭha, when one fully controls the mind and engages in work done as a sacrifice (Karma-yoga) to the primeval Lord for millions and millions of years and constantly engages in meditation. However, gradually when his heart is purified, he attains the stage of total surrender (by the mercy of the Lord or His pure devotee) and finally pure love of God.”
827 punpula vaḻi aḍaittu * arakkilaccinai seydu *
nanpula vaḻi tiṛandu * ñāna naṛ cuḍar koḷī i **
enbileḷgi neñcurugi * uḷ kanindeḻundadu ōr *
anbilanṛi āḻiyānai * yāvar kāṇa vallarē (76)
“It’s not at all possible to see our Lord, who wields the disc, when one engages in severe austerity, controls his senses totally, and ceases sense gratification; instead, he should engage his senses in devotional service, light the knowledge of self and the Supreme, discard the material concept of life, attain the stage of ecstatic emotional symptoms, and achieve pure love of God (to see the Lord).”
828 eṭṭum eṭṭum eṭṭumāy * orēḻum ēḻum ēḻumāy *
eṭṭu mūnṛum onṛumāgi * ninṛa ādi devanai **
eṭṭināya bēdamōḍu * iṛaiñji ninṛu avan peyar *
eṭṭeḻuttum ōduvārgaḷ * vallar vānamāḷavē
“The Original Cause of all causes is the cause of the twenty-four elements (8+8+8 in pradhāna); the seven islands (of Bhū-maṇḍala); the seven principal mountains (of each island); the seven seas, and the twelve Ādityas; those who worship Him by prostrating (aṣṭāṅga namaskāra) at His lotus feet and chanting the eight-lettered mantra (aṣṭākṣara mantra) will attain Vaikuṇṭha.”[1]
829 sōrvilāda kādalāl * toḍakkaṛā manattarāy *
nīr arāvaṇaik kiḍanda * ninmalan nalaṅgaḻal **
ārvamōḍu iṛaiñji ninṛu * avan peyar eṭṭeḻuttum *
vāramāha ōduvārgaḷ * vallar vānamāḷavē
“Those who worship the lotus feet—of the immaculate Lord who is reclining on the serpent bed in the Ocean of Milk—eulogising Him with devotion, with pure love and unwavering attention, and chanting His eight-lettered mantra sincerely will attain Vaikuṇṭha.”
830 pattinōḍu pattumāy * orēḻinōḍu oronbadāy *
pattināl tisaik kaṇ ninṛa * nāḍu peṭṛṛa nanmaiyāy **
pattināya tōṭṛṛamōḍu * orāṭṛṛal mikka ādi pāl *
pattarām avarkkalādu * mutti muṭṛṛalāgumē
“Only the devotees who engage in loving devotional service to the primeval Lord—who is the ten directions and their ten protectors [dik-pālas]; the seven music notes (sapta-svara); the nine mellows (nava-rasa); the things enjoyed by the people in the fourteen planetary systems; who took ten principal incarnations, and who is very merciful—will be able to achieve perfection of life.”[2]
831 vāsiyāgi nēsaminṛi * vandedirnda dhenukan *
nāsamāhi nāḷulappa * nanmai sēr panaṅganikku **
vīsi mēl nimirnda tōḷil * illaiyākkināy kaḻaṛku *
āsaiyām avarkkalāl * amarar āhalāgumē
“Can others than those who are pure devotees surrendered to Your lotus feet—who with His mighty shoulders threw Dhenukāsura, the demon in the form of a mule, who attacked You in great anger, violently on the palm fruits in the treetops, and killed him—attain the association of the residents of Vaikuṇṭha? (no, not possible).”
[1] Twenty-four elements: See translation of verse 753. Seven islands: See translation of verse 781; Seven seas: salt, sugar cane juice, wine, ghee, yoghurt, milk, and pure water; Twelve Ādityas: Vivasvān, Aryamā, Pūṣā, Tvaṣṭā, Savitā, Bhaga, Dhātā, Vidhātā, Varuṇa, Mitra, Śatru and Urukrama (ŚB 6.6.38-39 purport). Aṣṭāṅga namaskāra: 1. Falling down in total surrender, 2. & 3. Lord is the only subject of mind and intelligence, 4. & 5. Two legs, 6. & 7. Two hands & 8. Head - flat on the ground in the shape of a tortoise. Aṣṭākṣara mantra: Oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya.
[2] Ten directions: East, south, west, north, south-east, south-west, north-west, north-east, zenith, and nadir.
Dik-pālas: From east to north-east: Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera, Īśa, Brahmā, and Ananta repectively. Sapta-svara: Niṣāda, Ṛṣabha, Gāndhāra, Ṣaḍja, Madhyama, Dhaivata, and Pañcama. Nava-rasa: Conjugal, humor, compassion, chivalry, anger, fear, disgust, wonder, and peace.
Fourteen planetary systems: See Long Live the Lord! Volume I, Tirumoḻi 2-Birth of the ‘unborn’!
832 kaḍaindu pāṛkaḍal kiḍandu * kāla nēmiyaik kaḍindu *
uḍainda vāli tan tanakku * udava vanda irāmanāy **
miḍainda ēḻ maraṅgaḷum * aḍaṅga eydu veṅkaṭam *
aḍainda māla pādamē * aḍaindu nāḷum uymminō
“Take shelter of His lotus feet and worship Him daily—who reclines in the Ocean of Milk churned by Him for ambrosia; killed the demon Kālanemi; in the form of Rāma, pierced all the seven sal trees with an arrow (to prove His might), helped Sugrīva, brother of the degraded Vāli, and is the Lord of Veṅkaṭa Hills—to make your life successful.”[1]
833 ettiṛattum ottu ninṛu * uyarnduyarnda peṭṛṛiyōy *
muttiṛattu mūri nīr * arāvaṇait tuyinṛa ** nin
pattuṛutta cindaiyōḍu * ninṛu pāsam viṭṭavarkku *
ettiṛattum inbam * iṅgum aṅgum eṅgumāhumē
“Those who renounce their material attachments and develop a pure loving devotion to You—who appeared in lower as well as higher forms of living beings and possess very auspicious qualities, and recline on a bed of serpent in the Ocean of Milk filled with water from three sources – rivers, springs, and rain—will enjoy transcendental bliss, wherever they are, whether in the material body in this world, or their constitutional form in Vaikuṇṭha, or while travelling to Vaikuṇṭha, leaving their material bodies.”
834 maṭṭulāvu taṇtuḻāy * alaṅgalāy pulan kaḻal *
viṭṭu vīḷvilāda bhōgam * viṇṇil naṇṇiyēṛinum **
eṭṭinōḍu iraṇḍenum * kayiṭṛṛināl manam tanaik
kaṭṭi * vīḍilādu vaitta kādal * inbamāhumē
“O Lord who is adorned with a garland of cool tulasī leaves, swarmed by droves of bees! Even if one attains mokṣa, conferring the happiness of eternally looking at Your lotus feet in Vaikuṇṭha, will it be equivalent to engaging in unwavering, and uninterrupted loving devotional service to Your lotus feet?”
835 pin piṛakka vaittanan kol * anṛi ninṛu tan kaḻaṛku *
anbuṛaikka vaitta nāḷ * aṛindanan kol āḻiyān **
tan tiṛattu oranbilā * aṛivilāda nāyinēn *
en tiṛattil en kol * empirān kuṛippil vaittadē
“Has my Lord decided to make me take birth again after leaving this body? Or has He determined the day from which I will develop unwavering, loving devotion to His lotus feet? O wielder of the disc, what is the destiny that You have decided for this ignorant, lowly person without any devotion to You?”
836 naccarāvaṇaik kiḍanta * nātha pāda pōdinil *
vaitta sindai vāṅguvittu * nīṅguvikka nī inam **
meyttan vallai ādalāl * aṛindanan nin māyamē *
uyttu nin mayakkinil * mayakkal ennai māyanē
“O master of all who reclines on the bed of serpent! You can disengage and detach my consciousness fixed on Your lotus feet; I have understood that You are independent to do anything You desire. O master of mystics! Please accept this surrendered soul in the fold of Your divine energy and do not bewilder me with Your material energy.”
837 cāḍu cāḍu pādanē * calam kalanta poygai vāy *
āḍarāvin vanpiḍar * naḍam payinṛa nāthanē **
kōḍu nīḍu kaiya seyya * pādam nāḷum uḷḷināl *
vīḍanāha mey seyāda * vaṇṇam en kol kaṇṇanē
“O Lord with the lotus feet which kicked and collapsed Śakaṭāsura! O master who danced on the mighty hoods of the angry serpent Kāliya in the lake in the Yamunā whose water has been poisoned! Kaṇṇā, who wields the conch eternally! Though I always meditate on Your lotus feet, why haven’t You accepted me in Vaikuṇṭha?”
838 neṭṛṛi peṭṛṛa kaṇṇan * viṇṇin nāthanōḍu pōdin mēl *
naṭṛṛavattu nāthanōḍu * maṭṛṛumuḷḷa vānavar **
kaṭṛṛa peṭṛṛiyāl vaṇaṅgu * pāda nātha veda * nin
paṭṛṛalāl ōrpaṭṛṛu * maṭṛṛatuṭṛṛilēn uraikkilē
“O Lord with the lotus feet worshipped, according to their knowledge, by Rudra with an eye on his forehead; Indra, the master of the celestial world; the austere Brahmā seated on the lotus sprouted from Your navel, and other demigods! The Lord specified in Vedas! I vouch that I do not want anything that is desired by (materialistic) people other than Your shelter.”
839 veḷḷai vēlai veṛpu nāṭṭi * veḷḷeyiṭṛṛarāvaḷāy *
aḷḷalāk kaḍainda anṛu * aruvaraikku orāmaiyāy **
uḷḷa nōygaḷ tīr marundu * vānavarkkaḷitta * em
vaḷḷalārai anṛi * maṭṛṛōr deyvam nān madippanē
“When You churned the Ocean of Milk, keeping Mandara Mountain (as the pivot) and the serpent Vāsuki, with big and white fangs, as the churning rope, You incarnated as a divine tortoise to carry the huge mountain on the back; You blessed the demigods by arranging the auspicious appearance of goddess Lakṣmī and the nectar to cure them of all the evil effects of the curse of Durvāsā Muni. Will, I think of a demigod instead of You, our most merciful Lord?”
840 pār migutta bāram mun * oḻiccuvān aruccunan *
tēr miguttu māyamākki * ninṛu konṛu venṛi sēr **
māratharkku vān koḍuttu * vaiyam aivar pāladām *
sīr migutta ninnalāl ōr *deyvam nān madippanē
“To reduce the burden of the earth You arranged the Mahābhārata war, as a charioteer of Arjuna, You expertly conducted His chariot, created magical effects (like covering the sun with Your ring to make it look like sunset to drag out Jayadratha from his hiding), sent the proud mahā-rathaḥs (the Kauravas and their associate kings) to the heaven, and enhanced the glories of the Pāṇḍavas by making them the rulers of the world. Will, I think of a demigod instead of You, our most merciful Lord?”
841 kulaṅgaḷāya īriraṇḍil * onṛilum piṛandilēn *
nalaṅgaḷāya naṛkalaigaḷ * nāvilum navinṛilēn **
pulangaḷ aindum venṛilēn * poṛiyilēn punida * nin
ilaṅgu pādam anṛi * maṭṛṛōr paṭṛṛilēn em īśanē
“My Lord of absolute purity! I am caught in the web of material sense gratification; unable to conquer the senses; didn’t study the Vedas which guide one to lead a regulated life; and, didn’t take birth in one of the four social classes (born lower than brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras). I do not have any shelter other than Your effulgent lotus feet!
[1] Degraded Vāli: Though the true purpose of Vāli’s birth, an incarnation of Indra, was to help Rāma, he became a devotee of Śiva and helped Rāvaṇa. Also, he became an enemy of his own brother Sugrīva.
842 paṇṇulāvu menmoḻip * paḍait taḍaṅgaṇāḷ poruṭṭu *
eṇṇilā arakkarai * neruppināl nerukkināy **
kaṇṇalāl orkaṇṇilēn * kalanda cuṭṛṛam maṭṛṛilēn *
eṇṇilāda māya ninnai * ennuḷ nīkkal enṛumē
“O incredible Lord! To rescue Mother Sītā—endowed with sweet speech and big eyes effulgent like a sword—You annihilated countless asuras by streams of fiery arrows. You are my guide; I do not have any other guide; I do not have any relatives; please never leave me.”
843 viḍaik kulaṅgaḷ ēḻaḍarttu * venṛi vēṛkaṇ mātarār *
kaḍik kalanda tōḷ puṇarnda * kāli āya vēlai nīr **
paḍaittu aḍaittu adil kiḍandu * mun kaḍaindu nin tanakku *
aḍaikkalam pugunda ennai * añjal enna vēṇḍumē
“O cowherd boy! Once You created the Causal Ocean; reclined on the Milk Ocean; churned the Milk Ocean; bridged the ocean to Laṅkā; and, tamed seven mighty bulls to embrace the elegant and fragrant shoulders of Nappinnai whose eyes resemble a victorious spear. Please comfort this surrendered soul by Your words, ‘Do not fear.’”
844 surumbaraṅgu taṇtuḻāy * tudaindalarnda pādamē *
virumbi ninṛu iṛaiñjuvēṛku * iraṅgu araṅga vāṇanē **
karumbirunda kaṭṭiyē * kaḍal kiḍanda kaṇṇanē *
irumbaraṅga veñjaram turanda * villi rāmanē
“O Kaṇṇā, very sweet as cane-sugar candy! O Rāmā, wielder of the bow that shot lethal arrows that pierced the enemies' iron-like hard bodies! O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! The cool tulasī leaves brighten by the contact of Your lotus feet which are always lovingly worshipped by me; please be merciful to me!”
845 ūnil mēya āvi nī * uṛakkamōḍu uṇarcci nī *
ānil mēya aindum nī * avaṭṛṛuḷ ninṛa tūymai nī **
vāninōḍu maṇṇum nī * vaḷaṅgaḍaṛ payanum nī *
yānum nī adanṛi * empirānum nī irāmanē
“You are the sleep and wakeful states; You are the nectar and other wonderful objects that came from the sea (on churning); You are the five cow-derivatives (pañca-gavya: milk, urine, cow dung, curd, and ghee) and also their purity; You are the life in the body; You are the sky and earth; You are my soul; above all, O Rāmā, You are the master of pure devotees!”
846 aḍakkarumpulankaḷ aindaḍakki * āsaiyām avai *
toḍakkaṛuttu vandu * nin toḻiṛkaṇ ninṛa ennai nī **
viḍak karudi mey seyādu * mikkor āsai ākkilum *
kaḍal kiḍanda ninnalālōr * kaṇṇilēn em aṇṇalē
“Our Lord! I controlled the ‘difficult to control’ senses; totally cut off the material desires; I was purified by engaging in Your devotional service; having lifted me up to this stage, even if You decide to discard me and induce material desires, I do not have any master other than You, reclining in the Ocean of Milk.”
847 varambilāda māyai māya * vaiyam ēḻum meymmaiyē *
varambil ūḻi ēttilum * varambilāda kīrttiyāy **
varambilāda pal piṛappu * aṛuttu vandu nin kaḻal *
porundu mādirunda nī * varam sey puṇḍarīkanē
“O unlimited, original cause of all causes! O incredible Lord! O Puṇḍarīkākṣa! Even if all the seven (upper) planetary systems, continue to chant for countless kalpas, it is not possible to chant Your unlimited glories! Kindly cut off my unlimited births, purify me, take me to Vaikuṇṭha and fix me eternally at Your lotus feet.”
848 veyya vāḻi saṅgu taṇḍu * villum vāḷum ēndu sīrk
kaiya * seyya pōdil mātu * sērum mārba nāthanē **
aiyilāya ākkai nōy * aṛuttu vandu ninnaḍaindu *
uyvadōr upāyam nī * enakku nalga vēṇḍumē
“O Lord who wields the fearful disc, conch, club, bow, and the sword! One whose chest is the eternal abode of Śrī Lakṣmī born from a red lotus! My master! Please show me, a soul surrendered to You, the best way to discard the disease called body which is the cause for all miseries and attain You in Vaikuṇṭha to be Your eternal servant.”
849 maṛam tuṛandu vañjam māṭṛṛi * aimpulangaḷ āsaiyum
tuṛandu * nin kaṇ āsaiyē * toḍarndu ninṛa nāyinēn **
piṛandiṛandu pēriḍarc * suḻikkaṇinṛu nīṅgumā *
maṛandiḍādu maṭṛṛenakku * māya nalha vēṇḍumē
“O incredible Lord! This lowly person has left anger, deviousness, and controlling the desire for sense gratification desires only devotion to You. Please do not forget me; kindly show me the way to get out of the great misery of the birth and death cycle and grant me devotional service to You.”
850 kāṭṭi nān sey valvinai * payan tanāl manam tanai *
nāṭṭi vaittu nalla valla * seyya eṇṇinār ena **
kēṭṭadanṛi ennadāvi * pinnai kēḷva ninnoḍum *
pūṭṭi vaitta ennai * ninnuḷ nīkkal pūvai vaṇṇanē
“O Kaṇṇā, dear to Nappinnai! Your body hue resembles that of ironwood flowers! I have fixed my soul on You inseparably, but I understand from the scriptures that I have to suffer for my previous lives’ sinful actions at the hands of the Yamadūtas. Kindly eliminate my sins and keep me under Your shelter.”
851 piṛappinōḍu pēriḍarc * cuḻikkaṇ ninṛum nīṅgum aqtu *
iṛappa vaitta ñāna nīcaraik * karaikkoḍēṭṛṛumā **
peṛaṛkariya ninna pāda * pattiyāna pāsanam *
peṛaṛkariya māyanē * enakku nalha vēṇḍumē
“O incredible Lord beyond reach (without Your mercy)! The scriptures outline the ways to get out of the vortex of the cycle of repeated birth and death which has been ignored by the foolish jñānīs. Kindly grant me devotional service to Your lotus feet, the difficult to obtain great wealth, indicated in the scriptures as the only way to get out of the miserable material life.”
852 * iranduraippaduṇḍu vāḻi * ēma nīr niṛattamā *
varam tarum tirukkuṛippil * vaittadāhil mannu sīr *
paranda sindai onṛi ninṛu * ninna pāda paṅgayam *
nirandaram ninaippadāha * nī ninaikka vēṇḍumē
“O ocean-hued! My benefactor! Long-life to You! My humble appeal to You; if You desire to be merciful to me, please think of granting me the mind which doesn’t desire material things but always thinks of Your lotus feet.”
853 viḷvilāda kādalāl * viḷaṅgu pāda pōdil vaittu *
uḷḷuvēnadūna nōy * oḻikkumāteḻikku nīr **
paḷḷi māya panṛiyāya * venṛi vīra kunṛināl *
tuḷḷu nīr varambu seyda * tōnṛal onṛu solliḍē
“O Lord with incredible qualities who reclines in the thunderous ocean! O victorious Varāha! O king who built a bridge on the choppy ocean! My consciousness is fixed unwaveringly on Your lotus feet which I consider my only shelter; please tell me when will You cure me of the degrading disease of the bodily concept of life.”
854 tirukkalandu sērum mārba * deva deva devanē *
irukkalanda veda nīti * āhi ninṛa ninmalā **
karukkalanda kāḷamēga * mēniyāya nin peyar *
urukkalandu oḻivilādu * uraikkumāṛu urai seyē
“O Lord whose chest is the eternal abode of Śrī-devī! O master of the demigods and the residents of Vaikuṇṭha! The Absolute Truth indicated by the Vedas! O pure one! O cowherd boy with an effulgent rain cloud-hue! Please make me chant always Your holy names remembering Your beautiful form!”
855 kaḍuṅgavandan vakkaran * karan muran sirammavai *
iḍandu kūṛu seyda * palpaḍait taḍakkai māyanē **
kiḍandirundu ninṛiyaṅgu * pōdum ninna poṛkaḻal *
toḍarndu viḷvilādadōr * toḍarcci nalha vēṇḍumē
“O incredible Lord who decapitated and cut the bodies into pieces of the cruel Kabandha, Dantavakra, Khara, and Mura with the various types of weapons held in His auspicious hands! Please bless me with a consciousness fixed always on Your golden lotus feet whether I lie down, sit down, stand, or move.”
856 maṇṇaiyuṇḍumiḻndu pin * irandu koṇḍaḷandu maṇ *
kaṇṇuḷ alladillai enṛu * venṛa kālamāyināy **
paṇṇai venṛa insol maṅgai * koṅgai taṅgu paṅgayak
kaṇṇa * ninna vaṇṇam alladillai * eṇṇum vaṇṇamē
“Thinking, ‘If I don’t keep under my protection, this earth will not survive (the pralaya deluge),’ You swallowed it and brought out (during creation); later, begged for the earth (from Bali) and measured it (with Your two steps); You are the victorious time! O Puṇḍarīkākṣa, You rest on the breasts of Lakṣmī whose words are sweeter than a melodious song! My desire is to see Your beautiful form!”
857 kaṛuttedirnda kāla nēmi * kālanōḍu kūḍa * anṛu
aṛutta āḻi saṅgu taṇḍu * villum vāḷum ēndināy **
toṛukkalanda ūnamaqdu * oḻikka anṛu kunṛam mun *
poṛutta nin pugaḻkkalālor * nēsamillai neñjamē
“O Lord who wields the disc which decapitated the aggressive Kālanemi, the conch, the club, the bow, and the sword! You lifted and held the Govardhana Hill to protect the cows from the danger (of torrential rains)! My heart is attracted to Your gloriously merciful quality and by nothing else.”
858 kāysinatta kāśī mannan * vakkaran pavuṇḍiran *
māsinatta māli mān * sumālīkeśī dhenukan **
nāśam uṭṛṛu vīḻa * nāḷ kavarnda nin kaḻaṛkalāl *
nēsa pāsam ettiṛattum * vaittiḍēn em īśanē
“My Lord! You reduced the life span of Kāśīrāja – angry and with the intent to kill, Dantavakra, Pauṇḍraka, furious Mālī, huge Sumālī, Keśī, and Dhenuka, and decimated them. I desire only Your lotus feet and nothing else.”
859 kēḍil sīr varattanāyk * keḍum varattu ayan aran *
nāḍinōḍu nāṭṭamāyirattan * nāḍu naṇṇinum **
vīḍadāna bhogam eydi * vīṭṛṛirunta pōdilum *
kūḍum āsai alladonṛu * koḷvanō kuṛippilē
“Even if I become Brahmā blessed with imperishable wealth or Śiva empowered to destroy the earth or attain the kingdom of the thousand-eyed Indra or heavenly pleasures, will I desire anything else other than attaining You?”
860 surukkuvārai inṛiyē * suruṅgināy suruṅgiyum *
perukkuvārai inṛiyē * perukkameydu peṭṛṛiyōy **
serukkuvārgaḷ tīkguṇaṅgaḷ * tīrtta deva devan enṛu *
irukkuvāy munik kaṇaṅgaḷ ētta * yānum ēttinēn
“The Vedas and the pure devotees eulogise You that on Your own will You shrunk Yourself as Vāmana and expanded beyond the planetary systems! Lord of all demigods, You crushed the false ego of asuras like Bali who harassed the demigods! Following the Vedas and the pure devotees, I too glorify You!”
861 tūyanāyum anṛiyum * surumbulāvu taṇtuḻāy *
māya ninnai nāyinēn * vaṇaṅgi vāḻttum īdelām **
nīyum nin kuṛippinil * poṛuttu nalhu vēlai nīr *
pāyalōḍu pattar sittam * mēya vēlai vaṇṇanē
“O incredible Lord adorned with a garland of fresh tulasī leaves swarmed by the bees! O ocean-hued, You recline not only in the Milk Ocean but also in the hearts of the pure devotees! This lowly person, who engages in pure devotional service, avoiding impure desires and activities, bow down and praise Your causeless mercy; kindly note and remember.”
862 vaidu ninnai vallavā * paḻittavarkkum māṛil pōr *
seydu ninna ceṭṛṛa tīyil * vendavarkkum vandunnai **
eydalāgum enbar * ādalāl em māya nāyinēn *
seyda kuṭṛṛam naṭṛṛamāgavē koḷ * ñāla nāthanē
“The devotees say that those who berated You as much as possible and were punished by You through the incredible Mahābhārata war and those like Vāli who were burnt in the fire of Your anger could even attain liberation. So, my inconceivable Lord and the master of the universe, please pardon the offenses committed by this lowly person!”
863 vāḷhaḷāgi nāḷgaḷ sella * nōymai kunṛi mūppeydi *
māḷunāḷ adādalāl * vaṇaṅgi vāḻttu en neñjamē **
āḷadāhum nanmai enṛu * nankuṇarndadanṛiyum *
mīḷvilāda bhōgam * nalha vēṇḍum māla pādamē
“O my heart! The days, cutting down the life span like swords, have passed; the body, weakened by disease, has become aged; the time for the body to die has approached; so, (at least now) pay obeisances to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and pray to Him; also, understand that servitude (to the Lord) is beneficial and worship and praise Him; the almighty Lord’s lotus feet should only bestow on us devotional service in Vaikuṇṭha, from where we do not come back.”
864 calaṅkalanda ceñjaḍaik * kaṛutta kaṇḍan veṇdalai *
pulan kalaṅga uṇḍa pādagattan * van tuyar keḍa **
alaṅgal mārvil vāsa nīr * koḍuttavan aḍutta sīr *
nalaṅgoḷ mālai naṇṇum vaṇṇam * eṇṇu vāḻi neñjamē
“O my heart! Live thinking of the mercy of the benefactor, full of auspicious qualities, and the way to attain Him who gave the fragrant water from His chest to remove the powerful curse on Śiva—who holds Gaṅgā within his reddish, matted hair and has a bluish neck—due to the heinous act of cutting off a head of Brahmā (blinded by his power); due to the curse, Śiva was forced to beg and eat from the white skull (of Brahmā which got stuck on his palm); (when the skull was filled with the fragrant water from the chest of Viṣṇu, it detached from the palm of Śiva).”
865 īnamāya eṭṭum nīkki * ēdaminṛi mīdu pōy *
vānamāḷa vallaiyēl * vaṇaṅgi vāḻtten neñjamē **
ñānamāhi ñāyiṛāhi * ñālamuṭṛṛum ōreyiṭṛṛu *
ēnamāy iḍanda mūrti * endai pādam eṇṇiyē
“O my heart! If you want to get free of the degrading eight (afflictions of the material life – avidyā or ajñāna, karma, sense enjoyment, material attachment, the bodily concept of life, and the three miseries arising out of the bodily concept of life - mental calamity at the hands of the demigods [such as freezing wind and scorching heat], miseries offered by other living entities, and miseries arising from the mind and body themselves), all other miseries, and attain Vaikuṇṭha, glorify and pay obeisances to the lotus feet of the auspicious form of Lord Varāha who lifted up the earth on His wonderful tusk, who grants self-realisation and also knowledge of the material world.”
866 * attanāgi annaiyāgi * āḷum empirānumāy *
ottovvāta palpiṛappoḻittu * nammai āṭkoḷvān **
muttanār mukundanār * pugundu nammuḷ mēvinār *
ettināl iḍarkkaḍal kiḍatti * ēḻai neñjamē
O foolish heart! The Lord—who liberates us from the cycle of birth and death and grants Vaikuṇṭha association; frees us from repeated births in different bodies; to guide us to attain His service, who acts as a father, as a mother, and also our master—pervades us and becomes a part of us (as Supersoul). Still, why are you submerged in the ocean of miseries?”
867 māṛu seyda vāḷarakkan * nāḷulappa anṛu ilaṅgai *
nīṛu seydu senṛu konṛu * venṛi koṇḍa vīranār **
vēṛu seydu tammuḷ ennai * vaittiḍāmaiyāl * naman
kūṛu seydu koṇḍiṛanda * kuṭṛṛam eṇṇa vallanē
“(O my heart!) Is it possible for Yama to separate me from the Lord and evaluate the sins committed by me when the victorious Rāma—who went to Laṅkā, devastated it, and killed all the associates and relatives of and including Rāvaṇa who challenged Him with the multitude of weapons—has accepted me as His servant?”
868 accam nōyoḍu allal palpiṛappu * āya mūppivai *
vaitta sindai vaitta ākkai * māṭṛṛi vānil ēṭṛṛuvān **
accutan ananta kīrtti * ādi andham illavan *
naccu nāgaṇaik kiḍanda * nāthan veda gītanē
“The Vedas eulogise the master of all as one who eliminates our fear, diseases, anxiety, miserable old age, repeated births, material desires, and the bodily concept of life and elevates us to Vaikuṇṭha; who never lets down His devotees; is all glorious; has no beginning or end, and who sleeps on the bed of serpent.”
869 sollinum toḻiṛkaṇum * toḍakkaṛāda anbinum *
allum nanpahalinōḍum * āna mālai kālaiyum **
valli nāṇmalark kiḻatti * nātha pāda pōdinai *
pulli uḷḷam viḷvilādu * pūṇḍu mīṇḍadillaiyē
“O Lord of Lakṣmī born from a freshly bloomed red lotus! My words, body, and thought are totally engaged in uninterrupted devotional service, during early morning, noon, evening, and night, to Your lotus feet; there is no chance of return from this transcendental engagement.”
870 * ponni sūḻ araṅga mēya * pūvai vaṇṇa māya kēḷ *
ennadāvi ennum * valvinaiyin uṭkoḻundeḻundu **
unna pādamenna ninṛa * oṇsuḍark koḻumalar *
manna vandu pūṇḍu * vāṭṭaminṛi eṅgum ninṛadē
“O ironwood flower-hued, incredible Lord of Śrīraṅgam which is surrounded by the river Kāverī, kindly listen to me! A tiny sprout (of loving devotion to You) has arisen from my sinful soul, grown to reach the lotus feet of Your effulgent, transcendental form, and remains fixed on Your divine body, soft as a flower, without any more tribulations.”
871 * iyakkaṛāda palpiṛappil * ennai māṭṛṛi inṛu vandu *
uyakkoḷ mēha vaṇṇan naṇṇi * ennilāya tannuḷē **
mayakkinān tan mannu sōdi * ādalāl ennāvi tān *
iyakkelām aṛuttu * aṛāda inba vīḍu peṭṛṛatē
“To save me from unlimitedly repeated births, today the rain cloud-hued Lord came to me in His brilliant divine form, entered my heart fixed on Him, and occupied it permanently. So, my soul has been freed from avidyā and the ceaseless karma and has attained the unlimitedly blissful divine kingdom.”
Tirumaḻisaippirān tiruvaḍigaḷē saraṇam