Tiruppavai

Verse 11

Today, December 26, is the 11th day of maargazhi (December-January). On each day of maargazhi, one verse from Andal's divine poem, the Tiruppavai. is savored. Today's verse is "kaRRu karavai".

What I have presented is the surface meaning. Each verse can actually be understood in many poetic and profoundly philosophical ways.

kaRRu kaRavai

kaRRuk kaRavaik kaNangaL pala kaRandhu *
ceRRaar thiRalazhiyac cenRu ceruc ceyyum *
kuRRam onRillaadha kOvalartham poRkodiyE *
puRRaravalkul punamayilE pOdharaay *
cuRRaththu thOzhimaar ellaarum vandhu * nin
muRRam pugundhu mugilvaNNan pEr paada *
siRRaadhE pEsaadhE celvap peNdaatti * nee
eRRukkuRangum poruL ElOr embaavaay.

Translation

Word for Word meaning

kaRRu kaRavai            cows that are with calves (milk cows), or young cows
pala kaNangaL            many herds
kaRandhu                 milked

ceRRaar                  enemies'
thiRal                   strength
azhiya                   that wipes out, destroys
cenRu                    by going
ceru ceyyum              doing battle

kuRRam                   fault
onRu illaadha            without a single
kOvalar tham             of the cowherds        
pon kodiyE               O you (who are like a) golden creeper!

puRRu                    nest, a mound that is a resting place for a snake
aravu                    snake (that is just coming out of the mound)
alkul                    waist
puna mayilE              O you (who is like a) forest peacock!
pOdharaay                Come out!

cuRRaththu               relatives (near and dear)
thOzhimaar               girlfriends
ellaarum                 all
vandhu                   are here

nin                      your
muRRam                   inner courtyard, living space of a house
pugundhu                 have entered

mugil vaNNan             the One who is colored like a dark raincloud
pEr paada                singing (his divine) names

siRRaadhE                without stirring
pEsaadhE                 without speaking
celvap peNdaatti         fortunate girl

nee                      you
eRRukku                  for what reason
uRangum poruL            your goal of sleeping

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