To abandon ordinary life spent eating and sleeping with common people, sing many songs of the Lord and cut off worldly attachments, I will worship the divine feet of Nārāyaṇa, who resides here under the name Kēsava, and be freed from rebirth in this world, said Nammāzhvār, who offered auspicious praise for this sacred site. This location is not only
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உண்பதும் உறங்குவதுமான சாதாரண வாழ்க்கை வாழும் நாட்டாரோடு இருப்பதை ஒழித்து எம்பெருமானின் கீதங்களை பலவாய்ப்பாடி பழவினைகளின் பற்றறுத்து, கேசவன் என்ற திருநாமத்தோடு எழுந்தருளியுள்ள நாராயணன் திருவடிகளை இவ்வாற்றாட்டில் வணங்கி இப்பூவுலகில் பிறக்கும் பிறப்பையறுப்பேன் என்று நம்மாழ்வாரால் மங்களாசாசனம் + Read more
The Lord, wielding the divine discus, kindly wishes to uplift me, a humble servant of His devotees who depend solely on His grace. He humbly allows me to command Him! I no longer wish for rebirth in this land of deep ignorance. Instead, I adore the feet of the Lord at Tiruvāṭṭāṟu and steadfastly resist the allure of enjoying the Supreme Lord from this mundane existence.
Explanatory Notes
(i) The Āzhvār cajoles his mind to revel, along with him, in the enjoyment of the Lord’s glorious trait of loving condescension, in the following terms:
“Don’t you see that the Lord is all agog to confer on me the supreme bliss, and that too, at my dictation? Oh, what a trait and how glorious! There is none over here with whom I can share my jubilation over this wonderful + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
adiyār tham — for those who have knowledge about ṣĕshathvam which is the cause for that; adiyanĕṛku — for me who is distinguished servitor; āzhiyān — just as he never abandons thiruvāzhi āzhwān (chakkaraththāzhvār); arul̤ — the great favour of previous experience on his aspects; tharuvān — one who bestows; amaiginṛān — being prepared for;; adhu — that (instead of doing as per his independent desire); namadhu vidhi vagaiyĕ — (since it is purushārtham- goal desired by individual) is happening as per our command;; irul̤ tharu — giving ignorance; mā — vast; gyālaththul̤ — in this world; ini — after receiving (his acceptance); piṛavi — taking birth (even if it is taken for the pleasure of bhagavān and bhāgavathas as said in thiruvāimozhi 8.10.5 -izhipattŏdum udalinil piṛandhu than sīr yān kaṝu-); yān vĕṇdĕn — ī who know his thoughts, am not desiring;; madam — having desire to not give up attachment; nenjĕ — ŏh heart!; marul̤ — bewilderment (of desiring independently to enjoy archāvathāram here which is contrary to his desire); nī ozhi — try to avoid;; vāttāṝān — one who is standing in thiruvāttāṛu to fulfil our desires; adi — divine feet; vaṇangu — worship him, agreeing with my desire.; mā gyālam — in the vast world; piṛappu — connection with birth
Many favors have been bestowed upon us. Note well, my obedient mind, our ties with the worldly realm have been severed, and our long-standing sins have been absolved. Through numerous songs, we have praised Kēcavaṉ, our Lord, and revered the divine feet of our Father in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu. We have attained Nāraṇaṉ, our Sovereign Lord.
Explanatory Notes
This song is but a continuation of the Āzhvār’s dialogue with his mind, Questioned by the mind as to why the Āzhvār gloated over the grace of the Lord, as if it was something extra-ordinary, instead of looking upon it merely as the Lord’s response, rather belated, to the request made by him, right from the opening song of his very first hymnal, namely, Tiruviruttam, the + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
aṛuppān — to eliminate; vāttāṝān — being āṣritha sulabha (easily approachable for devotees) in thiruvāttāṛu; adi vaṇangi — surrendering unto the divine feet; kĕsavan — being the one who eliminated kĕṣi who was a hurdle for enjoyment; emperumānai — similarly, one who eliminated our hurdles and engaged us in service; pala pāttu āya — many different types of songs; pādi — performing the kainkaryam (service) of singing; pazha vinaigal̤ — avidhyā (ignorance), karma (virtues/vices) etc which are present since time immemorial; paṝu aṛuththu — eliminating them with the impressions; nāttārŏdu — with the worldly people who are filled with ahankāram (considering self to be body) etc; iyalvu — co-existence; ozhindhu — eliminating; nāraṇanai — nārāyaṇa (who is unconditional relative and is ready to give us the result now); naṇṇinam — we approached;; madam — being obedient and agreeing with me; nenjĕ — ŏh heart!; kĕttāyĕ — ẏou have asked (about these chain of favours done by emperumān)!; en nenjĕ — ŏh heart which is a tool for my enjoyment!; pala nāmangal̤ — many divine names
3840 நண்ணினம் நாராயணனை * நாமங்கள் பல சொல்லி * மண் உலகில் வளம் மிக்க * வாட்டாற்றான் வந்து இன்று ** விண் உலகம் தருவானாய் * விரைகின்றான் விதிவகையே * எண்ணினவாறு ஆகா * இக் கருமங்கள் என் நெஞ்சே (3)
We have attained Nārāyaṇa, our great Benefactor, chanting His many holy names, my friendly mind. The benevolent qualities of my Lord shine forth in this land, and stationed in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu, He awaits my command to grant me SriVaikuntam, swiftly fulfilling my expectations beyond measure!
Explanatory Notes
(i) The Āzhvār’s joyous rapport with his mind continues. He is amazed at the Lord’s overwhelming grace, far exceeding all his earlier expectations.
(ii) As the Āzhvār contemplated on the manifestations of the Lord, in His worshippable Form at the various pilgrim centres, he was particularly impressed by a special auspicious attribute, graciously displayed by the Lord + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
solli — reciting; nārāyaṇanai — the unconditional relative who has the divine name nārāyaṇa (which is the root of all his divine names); naṇṇinam — got to surrender unto him;; maṇ ulagail — on this earth; val̤am — having the wealth of qualities such as ṣeelam (simplicity), saulabhyam (easy approachability) etc; mikka — having abundance; vāttāṝān — one who is standing in thiruvāttāṛu; vandhu — arrived (without my prayer, on his own desire); inṛu — today (without any reason on my side); viṇ ulagam — paramapadham; vidhi vagaiyĕ — with our permission; tharuvān āy — to bestow; viraiginṛān — he is rushing;; ikkarumangal̤ — these activities; eṇṇina āṛu āgā — instead of the ways we thought (our going towards him, our praying to him, our craving for it and our looking at his thoughts), it is happening in the way of his coming towards us, his desiring us, his craving for us and his looking at our thoughts.; nal nenjĕ — ŏh heart which has attachment for bhagavath vishayam!; vannenjaththu — hard-hearted (which not only lacks attachment, but also is filled with hatred)
3841 என் நெஞ்சத்து உள் இருந்து * இங்கு இரும் தமிழ் நூல் இவை மொழிந்து * வல் நெஞ்சத்து இரணியனை * மார்வு இடந்த வாட்டாற்றான் ** மன் அஞ்ச பாரதத்துப் * பாண்டவர்க்காப் படைதொட்டான் * நல் நெஞ்சே நம் பெருமான் * நமக்கு அருள் தான் செய்வானே (4)
Note, my dear mind, that the Lord enshrined in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu shattered the heart of Iraṇyaṉ, who was as hard as steel. In the great war of Mahābhārata, He wielded weapons to protect the Pāṇṭavas, striking fear into the hearts of opposing kings. These songs, sung by Him, are firmly imprinted in my mind, and He continues to shower me with abundant blessings, a true act of boundless grace!
Explanatory Notes
(i) The great Ordainer that the Supreme Lord is, He has been depicted in songs one and three of this decad, as the ordained, carrying out the dictates of the Āzhvār or at least wanting to do so. The present song dispels the doubt, possibly entertained by some persons as to whether the Sovereign Lord would ever descend to such depths and play a subservient role. Did not + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
iraṇiyanai — hiraṇya; mārvu idandha — plucked the heart where his mind is present; vāttāṝān — being present in thiruvāttāṛu; man — all the kings; anja — to fear; bāradhaththu — in mahābhāratha battle; pāṇdavarkku ā — for pāṇdavas; padai thottān — having the partiality to take up arms (after vowing not to do so); namperumān — being our lord (by these acts); en nenjaththu — attracting my heart (which was focussed elsewhere); ul̤ irundhu — remaining fixed inside; ingu — in this stay; irum — huge (to be greatly distinguished); thamizh — in dhrāvida (thamizh) language; nūl — in the form of ṣāsthram; ivai — this thiruvāimozhi which is having imperceivable enjoyability; mozhindhu — mercifully speaking, as the propagator; namakku — for us; arul̤ — great favours; thān seyvānĕ — was eager to do.; vān ĕṛa — to go to paramapadham; vazhi thandha — created the archirādhi mārgam [path] and presented it (as said in thiruvāimozhi 3.9.3 -pŏm vazhiyaith tharum-)
3842 வான் ஏற வழி தந்த * வாட்டாற்றான் பணிவகையே * நான் ஏறப் பெறுகின்றேன் * நரகத்தை நகு நெஞ்சே! ** தேன் ஏறு மலர்த் துளவம் * திகழ் பாதன் * செழும் பறவை தான் ஏறித் திரிவான தாள் * இணை என் தலைமேலே (5)
I'm on my spiritual ascent, guided by the Lord enshrined in Tiruvāṭṭaṟu. Laugh at the world that once bound your mind; now, the feet of the Lord, adorned with honey-studded tuḻaci flowers, rest upon your head as He gracefully travels on His mount, Garuḍa.
Explanatory Notes
(i) The Āzhvār is indeed very jubilant over the immediate prospect of his ascent to spiritual world through that exalted and exhilarating route, known as ‘Arcirādi mārga He sees in the Lord at Tiruvāṭṭāṟu, his keen escort, on his spiritual world-bound journey. As a matter of fact, the Āzhvār has still not got off the ground and yet, so sanguine is he of his ascent to spiritual + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
vāttāṝān — one who is residing in thiruvāttāṛu; paṇi vagaiyĕ — as said in thiruvāimozhi 10.4.9 -paṇdĕ paraman paṇiththa paṇi vagaiyĕ-; nān — ī (who follow his thought fully); ĕṛa — to climb up; peṛuginṛĕn — getting it;; thĕn — honey; ĕṛu — being in abundance; malarth thul̤avam — thiruththuzhāy (thul̤asi) having flower; thigazh pādhan — one with divine feet where such thul̤asi shines freshly; sezhum paṛavai — periya thiruvadi (garudāzhvār) who has an attractive form; thān ĕṛith thirivān — one who climbs and rides for the sake of his devotees, his; aththāl̤ iṇai — both of those enjoyable divine feet; en thalai mĕlĕ — have decorated my head;; nenjĕ — ŏh heart!; naragaththai — this samsāra; nagu — see that you (disdainfully) laugh at.; thāl̤ iṇaigal̤ — his divine feet; thalai mĕla — are on my head;
3843 தலைமேல தாள் இணைகள் * தாமரைக்கண் என் அம்மான் * நிலைபேரான் என் நெஞ்சத்து * எப்பொழுதும் எம் பெருமான் ** மலை மாடத்து அரவு அணைமேல் * வாட்டாற்றான் மதம் மிக்க * கொலை யானை மருப்பு ஒசித்தான் * குரை கழல்கள் குறுகினமே (6)
I wear the lovely pair of feet of my lotus-eyed Lord on my head, and He resides forever in my heart. My Lord, who revealed His glory to me, reclines on a serpent-couch amid lofty castles in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu. We attained the valorous feet of the Lord who slew the monstrous elephant.
Explanatory Notes
(i) Once again, the Āzhvār enumerates the favours heaped on him by the benign Lord. Having set His lovely pair of feet on the Āzhvār’s head, the Lord casts on him glances, cool and sweet, from His lotus eyes. And then, He stands firmly in the Āzhvār’s heart, rivetted, as it were. Questioned by his disciples, as to how the Lord could simultaneously stand on the Āzhvār’s + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
thāmaraik kaṇ — having lotus like reddish divine eyes; en ammān — my swāmy (lord) who considers acquiring me as his great benefit; en nenjaththu — in my heart; eppozhudhum — always; nilai pĕṛān — not moving from his position; emperumān — being the greatest of all, due to remaining firm in me; malai — like a mountain; mādam — having mansions; vāttāṛu — in thiruvāttāṛu; aravaṇai mĕlān — mercifully resting on the divine serpent mattress; madham mikka — heavily intoxicated; kolai — intent of killing; yānai — kuvalyāpīdam; maruppu osiththān — just as he broke the tusks, he eliminated my hurdles too, his; kurai — the sound (of his valorous anklet); kazhalgal̤ — divine feet; kuṛuginam — got to reach.; kurai — distinguished; kazhalgal̤ — divine feet
I have attained the valorous feet of Kovintaṉ, Who resides within me. My body exudes the sweet aroma of the tuḷaci with its intense fragrance from the lotus feet of the Lord in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu, the crest jewel of the South, surrounded by the sea with its countless swelling waves and tall castles.
Explanatory Notes
In the preceding song, the Āzhvār said that he had attained the Lord’s valorous feet and now he repeats it authoritatively, adducing the evidence to prove his statement. The Āzhvār’s body smells sweet, exuding the fragrance of tuḻaci and this would be possible only if he came in close contact with the Lord at whose lotus feet there is the tuḻaci, with its profusion of + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
kuṛuginam — we got to reach;; nam — obedient towards us; gŏvindhan — krishṇa; kudi — as his residence; koṇdān — accepted;; thirai — waves; kuzhuvu — well gathered; kadal — by ocean; pudai — in close proximity; sūzh — surrounded; thennādu — for southern region; thiladham anna — like thilakam (decoration on forehead); varai kuzhuvu — resembling plenty of mountains; maṇi mādam — having gem-studded mansions; vāttāṝān — one who is mercifully residing in thiruvāttāṛu, his; malar adi mĕl — on the divine feet which are ultimately enjoyable like blossomed lotus; virai — flower buds; kuzhuvu — well gathered; naṛum thul̤abam — nicely smelling thiruththuzhāy (thul̤asi); mey ninṛu — remaining firmly on my body; kamazhum — fragrance is emanating.; mey ninṛu — remaining fully on the divine form; kamazh thul̤avam — thiruththuzhāy which is spreading the fragrance, its
Oh, what merit do I possess that the Lord, who resides in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu like an emerald mountain, graces my heart? He adorns His crown with the fragrant tuḷaci flower, whose aroma lingers eternally. He wields the discus of war, striking precisely at His targets and returning victorious. His presence fills me with boundless joy and gratitude.
Explanatory Notes
(i) There was hardly any merit in him as far as the Āzhvār could scan and yet the Lord has chosen to shower on him a plethora of benefits. No wonder then, the Āzhvār is amazed at the overwhelming grace of the Lord, bestowed on him with sweet spontaniety.
(ii) The text, in this song, describing the pervasive fragrance of the tuḻaci garland worn by the Lord, lends itself + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
Tirumāl, adorned by Tirumaṅkai on His resplendent chest, resides in serene Tiruvāṭṭāṟu, where He rides the illustrious Garuḍa, who stands as His vehicle. Despite His feats in vanquishing militant Asuras, He graciously dwells forever in my humble heart, without any disdain.
Explanatory Notes
(i) Surely, it is the farthest limit up to which the Lord’s love for His devotees could go; the Lord has chosen to stay firmly and, for ever, in the Āzhvār’s despicable heart, without the slightest disgust or uneasiness.
(ii) The Lord, Who has got lodged on His winsome chest Lakṣmī, the Goddess of affluence, stays in cool Tiru-vāṭṭāṟu, with Garuḍa, famed as the very + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
3847 பிரியாது ஆட்செய் என்று * பிறப்பு அறுத்து ஆள் அறக்கொண்டான் * அரி ஆகி இரணியனை * ஆகம் கீண்டான் அன்று ** பெரியார்க்கு ஆட்பட்டக்கால் * பெறாத பயன் பெறுமாறு * வரி வாள் வாய் அரவு அணைமேல்! * வாட்டாற்றான் காட்டினனே (10)
I am blessed with ceaseless service to the Lord, freed from worldly bondage. My Father, who in ancient times tore apart Iraṇiyaṉ's body, now rests on a serpent-bed in Tiruvāṭṭāṟu. He has shown that through His sweet grace, unimaginable blessings accrue to those who remain as servants of the divine.
Explanatory Notes
(i) The Āzhvār’s great gains, far exceeding even the dreamiest of his expectations are: The Lord’s own utterance from His coral lips, inviting the Āzhvār to render unto Him unremitting service in close proximity and actually taking service from him; He has also halted the dreadful cycle of birth and death. Gains of this magnitude cannot be secured by one’s own efforts, + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
enṛu — saying; piṛappu — connection with birth, which is a hurdle for that (such kainkaryam); aṛuththu — eliminate; aṛa — fully; ātkoṇdān — accepting my kainkaryam; anṛu — long ago (when prahlādha was tormented by his own father); ariyāgi — incarnated as narasimha; iraṇiyanai — hiraṇya-s; āgam — body; kīṇdān — one who tore; vari — stripes; vāl̤ — having radiance; vāy — having many faces; aravu aṇai mĕl — on the divine serpent mattress; vāttāṝān — one who mercifully rests in thiruvāttāṛu; periyārkku — for great personalities; ātpattakkāl — when became servant; peṛādha — difficult to attain; payan — results; peṛum āṛu — the means to get; kāttinān — showed.; than kanaikazhalgal̤ — his divine feet (which are perfectly enjoyable due to having resounding anklets which reveal his valour); kātti — showing
These ten songs, among the thousand composed by Caṭakōpaṉ in pure Tamil, form a garland of hymns adoring the Lord at Tiruvāṭṭāṟu. They praise the Lord who graciously revealed His beautiful feet, freeing him from the cruel cycle of existence. These verses will surely delight the ears of the Nithyasuris endlessly.
Explanatory Notes
(i) This end-song, which usually details the benefits accrued to the chanters of the songs, in this decad, says that these songs will feast the ears of the Celestials, in spiritual world sumptuously and that they will never feel satiated. On the face of it, this sounds like a departure from the general pattern of the end-songs of the other decads. But it is not so. What + Read more
Word by Word (WBW) meaning
(The words may be rearranged to facilitate poetry to prose conversion (Aṉvayam). Please read the meanings (in black) continiously to form the sentence and understand the simple meaning of those verse.)
kadu — unbearable; naragam pugal — entry in to this hellish samsāram (material realm); ozhiththa — one who eliminated; vāttāṛu — in thiruvāttāṛu; emperumānai — on the lord; val̤am — beautiful; kurugūr — controller of āzhvārthirunagari; satakŏpan — nammāzhvār-s; pāttāy — song; thamizh mālai — thamizh garland; āyiraththul̤ — among the thousand pāsurams; sevikku iniya — like a nectar to the ears; senjol — being honest words (due to all the three faculties viś mind, speech and body being in harmony); ip paththum — this decad; vānavargal̤ — nithyasūris; kĕttu ārār — will never become satiated, hearing this.; thirumālirunjŏlai — (to bless his devotees) being in thirumalai; vanjak kal̤van — one who steals without the knowledge of those from whom he steals