maṭṛṛonṛum vēṇḍā manamē * madiḷaraṅgar

  kaṭṛṛinam mēytta kaḻaliṇaik kīḻ * - uṭṛṛa

  tirumālai pāḍum sīrt toṇḍaraḍippoḍi em

  perumānai * eppoḻudum pēsu

“O my heart! Always laud my master called Toṇḍaraḍippoḍi who—has a firm devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord who grazed herds of cows and is the principal deity of Śrīraṅgam protected by seven huge ramparts—rendered the divine songs known as Tirumālai; and, possesses auspicious qualities; there is no need for any other pious activity.”  

872  * kāvalil pulanai vaittuk * kali tannaik kaḍakkap pāyndu *

  nāvaliṭṭu uḻitaruhinṛōm * naman tamar talaigaḷ mīdē **

  mūvulaguṇḍumiḻnda * mudalva nin nāmam kaṭṛṛa *

  āvalippuḍaimai kaṇḍāy * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! O cause of all causes, who swallowed all the planetary systems and brought them out later! Look at us! Empowered by learning and chanting Your holy name, we have been able to keep our senses under check, kick away the evil influence of Kali, and trod on the heads of the Yamadūtas, thundering victoriously!”    

873  * paccaimā malaipōl mēni * pavaḷavāy kamalac ceṅgaṇ *

  accutā amararēṛē * āyar tam koḻundē ennum **

  iccuvai tavira yān pōy * indira lōkam āḷum *

  accuvai peṛinum vēṇḍēn * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! Possessing a body resembling a huge green mountain; lip reddish like coral; eyes resembling red lotus flower; O Acyuta, master of the demigods! O chief of the cowherd clan! Leaving this transcendental happiness of lauding You with love, even if I were to become the king of the heavenly planet, I do not want to enjoy that (material) pleasure!”       

874  vedanūl pirāyam nūṛu * manisar tām puguvarēlum *

  pādiyum uṛaṅgip pōgum * ninṛa ippadinai āṇḍu **

  pēdai bālagan adāgum * piṇi pasi mūpput tunbam *

  ādalāl piṛavi vēṇḍēn * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! Even if the human beings were to live for one hundred years, as per the Vedas, —out of which half of the years (fifty years) are wasted in sleep; the balance fifty years are spent in undergoing the misery of an infant; being called ‘small boy’ as a boy; experiencing pains and pleasures as a young person; then in diseases; also being tormented by desires of the five senses; as an ailing old person, and suffering many more miseries—since the lifetime passes in such blissful ignorance, I do not wish to be born at all.”    

 875  moytta valvinaiyuḷ ninṛu * mūnṛeḻuttuḍaiya pērāl *

  kattira bandhumanṛē * parāṅgati kaṇḍu koṇḍān **

  ittanai aḍiyar ānārkku * iraṅgum nam araṅganāya *

  pittanaip peṭṛṛum andō * piṛaviyuḷ piṇaṅgumāṛē   

“Even a person of royal birth but without the kṣatriya qualities, deeply mired in the powerful karmic reactions, (because of the mercy of a pure devotee) learned and chanted the three syllabled holy name ‘Govinda’ and attained Vaikuṇṭha! Though the Lord of Śrīraṅgam, Bhaktavatsala, very merciful to His devotees, is there, alas, why people get caught in the cycle of repeated births and suffer?”   

876  peṇḍirāl sukhaṅgaḷ uyppān * periyadōr iḍumbai pūṇḍu *

  uṇḍirāk kiḍakkum bōdu * uḍalukkē karaindu naindu **

  taṇtuḻāy mālai mārban * tamargaḷāyp pāḍi āḍi *

  toṇḍu pūṇḍamudam uṇṇāt * toḻumbar cōṛu ugakkumāṛē              

“Under the illusion of enjoying life with a wife, undertaking great challenges, eating late in the night, worrying about the condition of the body on going to bed, and becoming melancholic; instead of becoming a devotee of the Supreme Lord adorned with a garland of cool, fresh tulasī leaves, singing His glories, dancing, engaging in His service, and eating the nectar (prasāda of the Lord), it is surprising that how these rascals eat rice?”

877  maṛam suvar madiḷ eḍuttu * maṛumaikkē veṛumai pūṇḍu *

  puṛam suvar ōṭṭai māḍam * puraḷum pōdaṛiya māṭṭīr **

  aṛam suvarāgi ninṛa * araṅganārkku āṭceyyādē *

puṛam suvar kōlam seydu * puḷ kauvak kiḍakkinṛīrē   

“You lead a life of illusion; always contemplating on sense enjoyment, and live in a frail shell-like body without realizing that it will fall down any time; instead of becoming a servant of Lord Raṅga, the fortress warding off the illusion, you just take care of your external covering (body) and fall prey to vultures.”  

878  pulaiyaṛamāhi ninṛa * puttoḍu samaṇam ellām *

  kalaiyaṛak kaṭṛṛa māndar * kāṇbarō kēṭparō tām **

  talai aṛuppuṇḍum sāgēn * sattiyam kāṇmin aiyā *

  cilaiyināl ilaṅgai ceṭṛṛa * ḍevanē ḍevanāvān     

“Will those who have learnt and thoroughly understood the scriptures analyse or listen to the tenets of the lowly, heretic cults like Buddhism, Jainism, and others? (Toṇḍaraḍippoḍiyāḻvār throws a challenge) O elders, behold! Even if my head were to be cut off, I will not die, this is the truth; the glorious Lord who devastated Laṅkā with the might of His bow is the Supreme Personality of Godhead!

879  veṛuppoḍu camaṇar muṇḍar * vidiyil sākkiyarkaḷ * ninpāl

  poṛuppariyanagaḷ pēsil * pōvadē nōyadāhi **

  kuṛippenakkaḍaiyumāhil * kūḍumēl talaiyai * āṅgē 

  aṛuppadē karumam kaṇḍāy * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē   

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! If the envious Jains, Śaivites (followers of Śiva), and the unfortunate Buddhists speak ill about You, let their blasphemous words become diseases and kill them; (otherwise) if I were to get an opportunity and the strength, to cut off their heads then and there would be my most important work.”   

880  maṭṛṛumōr deyvam uṇḍē * madiyilā māniḍaṅgāḷ *

  uṭṛṛapōdanṛi nīṅgaḷ * oruvanenṛu uṇara māṭṭīr **

  aṭṛṛamēl onṛaṛīyīr * avanallāl deyvam illai *

  kaṭṛṛinam mēytta endai * kaḻaliṇai paṇiminīrē    

“O foolish people! Is there any other god (than our Kaṇṇan)? Only when you (or those demigods, you have surrendered to) are in trouble, you will (be forced to) realise that He is the one (and only God); you do not know at all that He is the Supreme Truth; there is no other shelter than Him; (so,) surrender unto the lotus feet of my Lord who grazed the herds of cows.”        

881  nāṭṭinān ḍeyvam eṅgum * nalladōr aruḷ tannālē *

  kāṭṭinān tiruvaraṅgam * uybavarkku uyyum vaṇṇam **

  kēṭṭirē nambimīrgāḷ * geruḍa vāgananum niṛka *

  cēṭṭai tan maḍiyagattuc * celvam pārttu irukkinṛīrē

“The Lord created many demigods everywhere (for those in modes of passion and ignorance); but, for those who desire perfection of life through devotion, out of His causeless mercy, He revealed Himself in Śrīraṅgam. O learned people, please listen! When our Lord, carried by Garuḍa, is waiting for us, why do you seek temporary material benefits from the demigods?”    

882  oruvillāl ōṅgu munnīr aḍaittu * ulahaṅgaḷ uyya *

  ceruvilē arakkar kōnaic * ceṭṛṛa nam sēvaganār **

  maruviya periya kōyil * madiḷ tiruvaraṅgam ennā *

  karuvilē tiruvilādīr * kālattaik kaḻikkinṛīrē

“O people (of this world), unfortunate right from the birth! You are wasting your human birth (engaging in material sense gratification) instead of chanting the glories of our benefactor—eternally reclining in the glorious temple of Śrīraṅgam surrounded by huge ramparts—who built a bridge on the choppy sea and in the battle killed the cruel Rāvaṇa, the king of the asuras, with His mighty bow to relieve the distress of all the worlds.”     

883  namanum muṛkalanum pēsa * naragil ninṛārgaḷ kēṭka *

  narahamē suvarggamāhum * nāmaṅgaḷ uḍaiya nambi **

  avanadūr araṅgam ennādu * ayarttu vīḻndaḷiya māndar *

  kavalaiyuḷ paḍuginṛārenṛu * adanukkē kavalhinṛēnē    

“Once Yamaraja was explaining to Mudgala the benefit of chanting the holy name of the Lord; when the miserable inmates of hell heard this conversation, the hell was transformed into heaven; instead of saying, ‘the divine abode of the Lord who has such glorious holy names is Śrīraṅgam,’ these learned human beings are caught in material sense enjoyment forgetting their constitutional position.”[1] 

884  eṛiyunīr veṛikoḷ vēlai * mānilattuyirgaḷ ellām *

  veṛikoḷ pūntuḷaba mālai * viṇṇavar kōnai ētta **

  aṛivilā manisar ellām * araṅgam enṛaḻaipparāgil *

  poṛiyil vāḻ naragam ellām * pulleḻundoḻiyumanṛē   

“The living beings in this world—which is surrounded by the oceans with choppy and foul-smelling water—have been created to sing the glories of the Lord of the demigods who is adorned with a lovely garland of tulasī leaves; if the foolish human beings utter (the holy word) ‘Śrīraṅgam,’ this hellish material world, under the clutches of material senses, would turn empty and dry (as all human beings would go to Vaikuṇṭha).” 

885  * vaṇḍinam muralum sōlai * mayilinam ālum sōlai *

  koṇḍal mīdaṇavum sōlai * kuyilinam kūvum sōlai **

  aṇḍarkōn amarum sōlai * aṇi tiruvaraṅgam ennā *

  miṇḍar pāynduṇṇum sōṭṛṛai vilakki * nāykkiḍuminīrē  

“Those who are ungrateful and do not utter ‘Śrīraṅgam’—full of groves where droves of bumblebees hum; flocks of peacocks dance; cuckoos call each other; which are covered by clouds, and is the eternal abode of the Lord of demigods—do not deserve to be fed with rice which they gobble up without any shame; instead the dogs should be fed with that rice.”

886  meyyarkkē meyyanāhum * vitiyilā ennaip pōla *

  poyyarkkē poyyanāhum * puṭkoḍi uḍaiya kōmān **

  uyyappōm uṇarvinārgaṭku * oruvan enṛuṇarnda pinnai *

  aiyappāḍaṛuttut tōnṛum * aḻaganūr araṅgamanṛē  

“The Lord, who has a Garuḍa banner, will reveal Himself to those like me, who are unfortunate (to have become a devotee after a long period of illusion) and non-envious of Him; and, He will cheat those who (pose as devotees but) are interested in worldly matters. He—who removes all the doubts and appears to those who realise that there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead and seek to attain Him, and is the most beautiful—resides eternally in Śrīraṅgam.”  

887  Sūdhanāyk kaḷvanāgit * tūrttarōḍu isainda kālam *

  mādarār kayaṛkaṇ ennum * valaiyuḷ paṭṭaḻunduvēnai **

  pōdarē enṛu sollip * puntiyuḷ pugundu * tanpāl

  ādaram peruga vaitta * aḻaganūr araṅgamanṛē    

“Śrīraṅgam is the abode of that charming Lord who not only called to His proximity but also entered the heart of a person like me who thought himself to be god; rejected the scriptural injunctions; plundered the Lord’s property; was in the company of people engaged in sense gratification; was caught in the snare of the women with eyes resembling fish, and was cheated (by them).”         

888  virumbi ninṛētta māṭṭēn * vidhiyilēn madi onṛillai *

  irumbupōl valiya neñjam * iṛaiyiṛai urugum vaṇṇam **

  curumbamar sōlai sūḻnda * araṅgamā kōyil koṇḍa *

  karumbinaik kaṇḍu koṇḍu * en kaṇṇiṇai kaḷikkumāṛē  

“I did not have any love for the Lord and never worshipped Him; didn’t bow to Him or praise Him and, didn’t know that there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead. (From that stage) My heart which was hard as iron melted gradually by the mercy of the Lord, who has the glorious Śrīraṅgam—surrounded by groves swarmed by the bumblebees—as His abode; how my eyes rejoice to see that Lord, sweet-as-sugarcane!”      

889  inidirait tivalai mōda * eṛiyum taṇ paravai mīdē *

  tanikiḍandu arasu seyyum * tāmaraik kaṇṇan emmān **

  kani irundanaiya sevvāyk * kaṇṇaṇaik kaṇḍa kaṇgaḷ *

  paniyarumbudirumālō * en seygēn pāviyēnē      

“Alas! What to do? This sinful person’s eyes keep swelling in ecstasy and prevent seeing, to the heart’s content, the lotus-eyed Lord Kṛṣṇa with scarlet gourd-like lips who maintains the universe reclining alone, sprayed with sweet drops of water from the foaming river Kāverī.”        

890  * kuḍadisai muḍiyai vaittuk * guṇadisai pādam nīṭṭi *

  vaḍadisai pinbu kāṭṭit * tendisai ilaṅgai nōkki **

  kaḍalniṛak kaḍavuḷ endai * aravaṇait tuyilumā kaṇḍu *

  uḍalenakku urugumālō * en seygēn ulagattīrē      

“O men! Seeing the benevolent reclining posture of the ocean-hued Lord on the snake bed—keeping His head in the west; stretching His lotus feet toward the east; showing His elegant back to the north, and looking with compassion at Laṅkā in the south—my body melts; alas! What can I do (how can I eulogise His compassion for all the living beings)?”

891  pāyunīr araṅgam tannuḷ * pāmbaṇaip paḷḷi koṇḍa *

  māyanār tirunan mārbum * maragada uruvum tōḷum **

  tūya tāmaraik kaṇgaḷum * tuvaritaḻp pavaḷa vāyum *

  āyasīr muḍiyum tēsum * aḍiyarōrkku agalalāmē    

“How can the devotees not enjoy and glorify the elegant reclining posture of the incredible Lord on the bed of a serpent in Śrīraṅgam, surrounded by the river Kāverī— His remarkable chest, the abode of Śrī Lakṣmī; emerald gem-hued frame; strong shoulders; auspicious lotus eyes; reddish lips; coral-like reddish mouth; eternally glorious crown, and the effulgence emanating from such magnificent features?”      

892  paṇivināl manamadonṛip * pavaḷavāy araṅganārkku *

  tuṇivināl vāḻa māṭṭāt * tollaineñjē nī sollāy **

  aṇiyinār semponāya * aruvarai anaiya kōyil *

  maṇiyanār kiḍandavāṭṛṛai * manattināl ninaikkalāmē  

“O my aged heart, you are stubborn and disinclined to engage in the devotional service of Śrī Raṅgan with coral-like reddish lips! Tell me, (without engaging in His service) how is it possible to contemplate the beauty of the blue sapphire gemstone-hued Lord reclining in the majestic temple covered with pure gold and rising like Mount Meru?”         

893  pēsiṭṛṛē pēsalallāl * perumaiyonṛu uṇaralāhādu *

  āsaṭṛṛār taṅgaṭkallāl * aṛiyal āvānum allan **

  māsaṭṛṛār manattuḷānai * vaṇaṅgi nām iruppadallāl *

  pēsattān āvaduṇḍō * pēdai neñjē nī sollāy  

“O foolish heart! It’s not possible to understand anything about the glories of the Lord without studying the Vedic scriptures and the words of the pure devotees. We can engage in His devotional service instead of attempting to sing the glories of the Lord who lives in the hearts of the sinless devotees and who can be realized only by those totally renounced from material attachment. Do you understand my heart?” 

[1] Mudgala, also known as Rājarṣi Mudgal, was originally born as a kṣatriya king. Due to intense tapasya he attained nirvāṇa. His descendants were later on known as brāhmaṇas.

894  gaṅgaiyiṛ punidamāya * kāviri naḍuvu pāṭṭu *

  poṅgu nīr parandu pāyum * pūmpoḻil araṅgam tannuḷ **

  eṅgaḷmāl iṛaivan īśan * kiḍandadōr kiḍakkai kaṇḍum *

  eṅṅanam maṛandu vāḻgēn * ēḻaiyēn ēḻaiyēnē    

“O fickle-minded me! After enjoying the sight of the graceful reclining posture of the Lord—the benefactor of the surrendered, the Lord of all, and the proprietor of all—in the temple of Śrīraṅgam—situated in the midst of lovely gardens and the swift and wide-spreading waters of the river Kāverī—I am perplexed as to how to carry on with my life without seeing Him again and again!” 

895  veḷḷa nīr parandu pāyum * viripoḻil araṅgam tannuḷ *

  kaḷvanār kiḍandavāṛum * kamala nanmugamum kaṇḍu **

  uḷḷamē valiyai pōlum * oruvan enṛuṇara māṭṭāy *

  kaḷḷamē kādal ceydu * un kaḷḷattē kaḻikkinṛāyē   

“O my heart, even after seeing the lovely lotus face of the Lord who steals the hearts of His devotees and His benevolent reclining posture in the temple of Śrīraṅgam— surrounded by vast gardens and the rapid and wide-spreading waters of the river Kāverī—you are still stubborn and unable to realize that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead! Displaying deceptive love for the Lord, you continue to misuse your valuable life in material activities!”   

896  kuḷittu mūnṛanalai ōmbum * kuṛikoḷ andaṇamai tannai *

  oḷittiṭṭēn en kaṇillai * nin kaṇum pattan allēn **

  kaḷippaden koṇḍu nambī * kaḍalvaṇṇā kataṛuhinṛēn *

  aḷittenakkaruḷsey kaṇḍāy * araṅgamā naharuḷānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! I have forfeited the rights of the brahmin hood—like lighting the three sacrificial fires, and protection from affliction by mantras—; I am devoid of scriptural knowledge, and I am not devoted to You; then how can I be happy? O Supreme Lord! O ocean-hued! I am crying for Your mercy; please bless me with devotion to You.”[1]

897  pōdellām pōdu koṇḍu * un ponnaḍi punaiya māṭṭēn *

  tīdilā moḻigaḷ koṇḍu * un tiruk guṇam ceppa māṭṭēn **

  kādalāl neñjam anbu * kalandilēn adu tannālē *

  ēdilēn araṅgarkku ellē * en seyvān tōnṛinēnē    

“O Raṅgā! I do not worship Your lotus feet with flowers daily; I do not eulogise Your auspicious qualities with words of purity, and I do not have any devotion for You in my heart; so, I am unable to experience any ecstatic symptoms of love in my body; alas! Why did I take birth?”   

898  kuraṅguhaḷ malaiyai nūkkak * kuḷittuttām puraṇḍiṭṭōḍi *

taraṅganīr aḍaikkaluṭṛṛa * calamilā aṇilum pōlēn **

  maraṅgaḷpōl valiya neñjam * vañjanēn neñju tannāl *

  araṅganārkkāṭ ceyyādē * aḷiyattēn ayarkkinṛēnē    

“I am not like the innocent squirrel which repeatedly rolled in the sand on the seashore and ran to the wavy sea to shake off the sand to block the water when the army of monkeys was bringing huge rocks and mountains; my heart is hard like the strong trees; I am greedy and duplicitous, and though I have all the facilities and abilities, I don’t engage in devotional service to You; I am cursed.”

899  umbarāl aṛiyalāhā * oḷiyuḷār ānaikkāhi *

  cempulāl uṇḍu vāḻum * mudalai mēl sīṛi vandār **

  namparamāyaduṇḍē * nāygaḷōm siṛumaiyōrā *

  empirāṛkāṭ ceyyādē * en seyvān tōnṛinēnē      

“The Lord in the effulgent Vaikuṇṭha, who cannot be fathomed even by the demigods like Brahmā, came in a hurry to save the elephant from the jaws of the crocodile; (when such a benevolent protector is there) is there any need to worry about our protection? Even though we are meaner than the dogs, He ignores our faults; if I do not become the servant of such a merciful Lord, what’s the use of this birth?”

900  ūrilēn kāṇi illai * uṛavu maṭṛṛoruvar illai *

  pāril nin pādamūlam * paṭṛṛilēn parama mūrti **

  kāroḷi vaṇṇanē * kaṇṇanē kadaṛuhinṛēn *

  āruḷar kaḷaikaṇ ammā * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“On this earth, I was not born in a sacred place (Divya Desam); I do not have any land (to donate to a temple); I do not have any relatives or friends; I have not taken shelter at Your lotus feet; O Supreme Lord! O fresh rain cloud-hued! O Kṛṣṇa! I am crying, my Lord! O Raṅgā! Who else is there to protect me?”

901  manattilōr tūymai illai * vāyilōr insol illai *

 sinattināl ceṭṛṛam nōkkit * tīviḷi viḷivan vāḷā **

  punattuḻāy mālaiyānē * ponnisūḻ tiruvaraṅgā *

  enakkinik gadiyen sollāy * ennai āḷuḍaiya kōvē    

“One who is adorned with a garland of ever-fresh tulasī leaves! One who is in a reclining posture in Śrīraṅgam encircled by Kāverī! The master of this servant! There is no purity in my heart; no harmony in my talks; without any reason, I get angry, show enmity, and utter harsh words. (Because of such bad traits) What is going to be my fate? Please let me know.”    

902  tavattuḷār tammil allēn * ḍhanam paḍaittāril allēn *

  uvarttanīr pōla * endan uṭṛṛavarkku onṛum allēn **

  tuvartta sevvāyinārkkē * tuvakkaṛat turisanānēn *

  avattamē piṛavi tandāy * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! I am not one of the austere persons; I am not one of those wealthy people; I am not of any use, like salty water, to my relatives, and I have become an unwanted person for the red-lipped damsels. (Still, I haven’t got Your mercy) Alas, You have given me a useless life!”   

903  ārttu vaṇḍalambum sōlai * aṇi tiruvaraṅgam tannuḷ *

  kārttiraḷ anaiya mēnik * kaṇṇanē unnaik kāṇum *

  mārgam onṛaṛiyamāṭṭā * manisaril turisanāya *

  mūrkkanēn vandu ninṛēn * mūrkkanēn mūrkkanēnē    

“O rain cloud-hued Kṛṣṇa, one who is reclining in the temple in the grand city of Śrīraṅgam beautified by gardens swarmed by humming bumblebees! I do not know any path to attain You; I am the most wretched and foolish person; yet, this ignoramus fool has come in front of You (seeking Your mercy).”   

904  meyyellām pōha viṭṭu * virikuḻalāril paṭṭu *

  poyyellām podindu koṇḍa * pōḻkkanēn vandu ninṛēn **

  aiyanē araṅganē * unnaruḷ ennum āsai tannāl *

  poyyanēn vandu ninṛēn * poyyanēn poyyanēnē 

“O Lord! O Raṅgā! Bewildered by the lovely-haired damsels, I fell into their traps and meandered in falsehood; I do not have any shelter; this offender by heart, word, and deed, has come to You, desiring Your mercy.”  

905  uḷḷattē uṛaiyum mālai * uḷḷuvān uṇarvonṛillā *

  kaḷḷattēn nānum toṇḍāyt * toṇḍukkē kōlam pūṇḍu **

  uḷḷuvār uḷḷiṭṛṛellām * uḍan irundaṛidi enṛu *

  veḷgippōy ennuḷḷē nān * vilavaṛac cirittiṭṭēnē    

“I am a thief; devoid of the devotion to understanding You, the omniscient Lord who resides in the heart, posing as a devotee, I have dressed like Your devoted servant. When I realised that, sitting in every heart, You know all the thoughts that pass by in every mind, I felt ashamed of myself; moving away from You, I had a good laugh (at myself).”  

906  tāviyanṛulagam ellām * talaiviḷāk koṇḍa endāy *

  sēviyēn unnai allāl * cikkenac ceṅgaṇ mālē **

  āviyē amudē * endan āruyir anaiya endāy *

  pāviyēn unnai allāl * pāviyēn pāviyēnē        

“My Lord! You expanded covering all the planetary systems and placing Your lotus feet on all heads! O benevolent Lord! My Life! O ambrosia! O Supersoul of my dear soul! I am a sinner who has committed great sins; I will not worship anyone else! I will not even think of anyone else!”     

907  maḻaikku anṛu varai munēndum * maindanē madhuravāṛē *

  uḻaik kanṛē pōla nōkkam * uḍaiyavar valaiyuḷ paṭṭu **

  uḻaikkinṛēṛku ennai nōkkādoḻivadē * unnai anṛē

  aḻaikkinṛēn * ādi mūrti * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē   

“O valiant one! You lifted effortlessly and held the Govardhana Hill to protect the cows and cowherd community from the stormy rains! O sweet river-like Lord! I am suffering being caught in the net of damsels with deer-like eyes; is it right on Your part to ignore me? O cause of all causes! O Raṅgā, I am crying for Your mercy!”     

908  teḷivilāk kalaṅgal nīr sūḻ * tiruvaraṅgattuḷ ōṅgum *

  oḷiyuḷār tāmē anṛē * tandaiyum tāyumāvār **

  eḷiyadōr aruḷumanṛē * entiṛattu empirānār *

  aḷiyan nam paiyal ennār * ammavō koḍiyavāṛē     

“The effulgent Lord, residing in the temple of Śrīraṅgam surrounded by the turbid waters of Kāverī, is our father as well as the mother. All I need from Him is a little mercy; it’s enough if He says, ‘This is our boy, he needs to be protected.’ Alas, is He hard-hearted?”

909  * mēmporuḷ pōha viṭṭu * meymmaiyai miha uṇarndu *

  āmparisaṛindu koṇḍu * aimpulan ahattaḍakki **

  kāmbaṛat talai siraittu * un kaḍaittalai irundu vāḻum *

  sōmbarai ugatti pōlum * sūḻpunal araṅgattānē    

“O Raṅgā who reclines in the temple encircled by Kāverī! Aren’t You pleased with those devotees who totally renounce material objects; understand the truth about the soul and its eternal servitude to the Lord; keep the five material senses under control; discard all material entanglements; are devoid of any self-interest, and take shelter of Your lotus feet, living at Your temple doorstep?”   

910  aḍimaiyil kuḍimai illā * ayal catuppēdimāril *

  kuḍimaiyil kaḍaimai paṭṭa * kukkaril piṛapparēlum **

  muḍiyinil tuḷapam vaittāy * moykaḻaṛkanbu seyyum *

  aḍiyarai ugatti pōlum * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord adorned with a garland of tulasī leaves and who resides in Śrīraṅgam! Rather than with the brāhmaṇas who are well versed in the four Vedas but aren’t interested in devotional service to You, aren’t You pleased with those who are born in a lower caste, lower than the caṇḍālas, who are Your devotees and are very keen to serve Your lotus feet?”     

911  tirumaṛu mārva ninnaic * cintaiyuḷ tihaḻa vaittu *

  maruviya manattarāhil * mānilattu uyirgaḷ ellām **

veruvarak konṛu suṭṭiṭṭu * īṭṭiya vinaiyarēlum *

  aruvinaip payanaduyyār * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē    

“O Lord who bears Lakṣmī and the mark of Śrīvatsa on His chest and who resides in Śrīraṅgam! If those who have committed grave sins by terrorising the living beings on this earth—killing them with weapons and burning them—turn devotees, keep You always in their mind, glorify You, and have strong faith in Your protection, they will not suffer from the reactions of their sins.”   

912  vānuḷār aṛiyalāhā * vānavā enbarāhil *

  tēnulām tuḷapa mālaic * cenniyāy enbarāhil **

  ūnamāyinahaḷ seyyum * ūnakāraharhaḷēlum *

  pōnaham seyda cēḍam * taruvarēl punidamanṛē   

“If those who commit grave sinful actions and engage others in sinful actions utter, ‘O Lord who resides in Vaikuṇṭha beyond the reach of Brahmā and other demigods!’ or ‘O Lord who is decorated with a garland of tulasī dripping honey!’ the remnants of the food partaken by them will become purifying prasāda!”

913  paḻudilā oḻugalāṭṛṛup * pala catuppēdimārgaḷ *

  iḻikulattavargaḷēlum * em aḍiyārgaḷāhil **

  toḻuminīr koḍumin koḷmin * enṛu ninnōḍum okka *

  vaḻipaḍa aruḷināy pōl * madiḷ tiruvaraṅgattānē    

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam which is encircled by high ramparts! Didn’t You desire that the Vedic scholars who are blemishless and come in the lineage of Brahmā should worship those who are Your devotees, even if they were born in a low caste, impart their Vedic knowledge to them, learn from them (about devotion), and glorify them on par with You?”     

914  amaravōr aṅgam āṛum * vēdamōr nāngum ōdi *

  tamarhaḷil talaivarāya * jāti andaṇarhaḷēlum **

  numarhaḷaip paḻipparāgil * noḍippadōr aḷavil * āṅgē

  avarhaḷ tām pulaiyar pōlum * araṅgamā nagaruḷānē 

“O Lord of Śrīraṅgam! Even if those born as brāhmaṇas—who are well versed in the six Vedāṅgas and the four Vedas and are the best of all—decry the (low) birth of Your devotees, that instant they become caṇḍālas (the lowest of men).”

915  * peṇṇulām jaḍaiyinānum * piramanum unnaik kāṇbān *

  eṇṇilā ūḻi ūḻi * tavam seydār veḷgi niṛpa **

  viṇṇuḷār viyappa vandu * ānaikkanṛaruḷai īnda

  kaṇṇaṛā * unnai ennō * kaḷaikaṇāk karudumāṛē   

“Śiva—in whose matted hair the river Ganges is contained—and Brahmā, who could not see You even after performing austerities for a very long time, hung their head in shame; but, to the amazement of the demigods, You hastened to appear and save the elephant! When You do not show mercy equally to all, am I qualified to take shelter of You?”   

916  * vaḷaveḻum tavaḷa māḍa * mathuraimā nagaram tannuḷ *

  kavaḷamāl yānai konṛa * kaṇṇanai araṅga mālai **

  tuḷavat toṇḍāya tolsīrt * toṇḍaraḍippoḍi sol *

  iḷaiya punkavidaiyēlum * empirāṛku iniyavāṛē    

“These songs composed by me (Toṇḍaraḍippoḍiyāḻvār)—who worship Lord Kṛṣṇawho killed the well-fed and the massive elephant in the opulent city of Mathurā full of palaces with elegant white balconies as Lord Śrī Raṅga by making and offering garlands of tulasī leaves—though maybe with shortcomings in composition and rhythm, will be sweet to my Lord!”  

Toṇḍaraḍippoḍiyāḻvār tiruvaḍigaḷē śaraṇam