thiruppaavai -- verse 24
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 9, 1998
[ Today, January 8, is the 24nd day of maargazhi (December-January). On each day of maargazhi, one verse from Andal's divine poem ``thiruppaavai'' is savored. Today's verse is "anRu iv ulagam". What I have presented is the surface meaning. Each verse can actually be understood in many poetic and profoundly philosophical ways. Perhaps others can offer further thoughts and reactions. An introduction to Andal and the thiruppaavai can be found on the Web: http://www.best.com/~mani/new/andal-bio.html http://www.best.com/~mani/andal.html Pardon me for skipping some verses. Vacation and illness conspired against me, and I hope to make up the missed posts in the meantime. -- Mani ] Recap ----- In the first five songs, Andal described the sacred vow (paavai nonbu) she and her friends will undertake during the month of maargazhi to get the "divine drum", which only the Lord of the Universe, Narayana (Krishna), can give them. In verses 5-15, she goes about waking up her friends in the wee hours of the morning so they can go perform this vow. In verses 16-22, Andal and her friends gather at the doors of the household of Krishna and ask that they rise and grace them. Her appeals start first with his father Nandagopa and end with Krishna himself and his wife Nappinnai. As Krishna awakens (23), Andal is overwhelmed by his presence. Enamored and concerned only for Him, in verse 24 she sings a song of praise and benediction. ---------------------------------------- thiruppaavai, verse 24 -- anRu iv ulagam ---------------------------------------- anRu iv ulagam aLandhaay adi pORRi * senRanguth then ilangai seRRaay thiRal pORRi * ponRach chakatam udhaiththaay pugazh pORRi * kanRu kuNil aaveRindhaay kazhal pORRi * kunRu kudaiyaay eduththaay guNam pORRi * venRu pagai kedukkum nin kaiyil vEl pORRi * enRu enRu un sEvagamE Eththip paRai koLvaan * inRu yaam vandhOm irangElOr embaavaay [ '*' indicates the end of a line, split both for recitation as well as to help with the meaning. ] ----------- Translation ----------- That day, long ago, you measured these worlds Hail your feet! You went and destroyed southern Lanka Hail your strength! You kicked the cart to pieces Hail your fame! You flung the calf demon like a sling Hail your feet! You lifted a hill as an umbrella Hail your gracious good qualities! You vanquished your foes Hail the spear in your hand! In so many ways we praise your greatness We have come today for the drum Have pity on us --------------------- Word for Word meaning --------------------- anRu then, long ago iv ulagam these worlds aLandhaay you strode adi your feet pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" senRu after going angu there then ilangai Ravana's city of southern Lanka seRRaay you destroyed thiral your vigour pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" ponRa destroying chakatam the demon who came as an cartwheel udhaiththaay by kicking pugazh your fame pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" kanRu the demon who came as a calf kunilaa you used as a stick (against another demon) eRindhaay threw kazhal your feet pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" kunRu the Govardhana hill kudaiyaay as an umbrella eduththaay you lifted guNam your good nature pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" venRu to win pagai enemies kedukkum destroy nin kaiyil in your hand vEl spear pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!" enRu enRu in all these ways un sEvakamE Eththi praising your greatness paRai koLvaan to get the drum inRu today yaam we vandhOm have come irangu have mercy on us
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