Keśavā is the answer for all the woes and miseries that haunt us. Yama’s servants dare not come near those who utter this name, for the Lord, who dwells in the heart of the city of Anantapuram, is fond of resting on the serpent bed of the poisonous fanged Ādiśeṣa. O swans, who revel in the blissful ocean, like us, always inseparable, convey to him that
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கெடும் இடராயவெல்லாம் கேசவா வென்னும் - நாளும் கொடுவினை செய்யும் கூற்றின் தமர்களும் குறுககில்லார் விடமுடையரவின் பள்ளி விரும்பினான் சுரும்பலற்றும் தடமுடைவயல் அனந்தபுர நகர் புகுதும் இன்றே (3678) திருவாய்மொழி TVM 10.2.1
3794 ## கெடும் இடர் ஆய எல்லாம் * கேசவா என்ன * நாளும் கொடுவினை செய்யும் * கூற்றின் தமர்களும் குறுககில்லார் ** விடம் உடை அரவில் பள்ளி * விரும்பினான் சுரும்பு அலற்றும் * தடம் உடை வயல் * அனந்தபுரநகர் புகுதும் இன்றே (1)
Today, let us enter the holy Aṉantapuram, where bees hum merrily in fertile ponds and fields. The Lord lovingly reposes on His serpent bed here. Your entry into this sacred city will not be hindered by Yama’s agents, who are known to continually torment. If we simply utter the holy name 'Kēcava', all our sins shall immediately disappear.
Explanatory Notes
(i) There could possibly be quite a few things, standing in the way of one’s entry into the holy city of Aṉantapuram, (Tiruvaṉantapuram, the capital of Kerala State) which the Āzhvār now longs to laud and enjoy. But then, the Lord’s names are handy enough to dispel the sins of the chanters of these names and thus remove all the impediments in the way of their achieving + 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.)
kedum — will be eliminated and driven out (to unseen place);; nāl̤um — eternally; kodu vinai — cruel tortures; seyyum — doing; kūṝin thamargal̤um — servitors of yama (by the recital of the name of lotus-eyed lord as said in -ithīrayanthi #, as said in -thyaja pata dhūratharĕṇa-, as said in periyāzhvār thirumozhi #kŏlādi kuṛugappeṛā[dhĕ]- (he cannot come close to where ī rule) and in periya thirumozhi 8.10 .8 -kal̤l̤ar pŏl-); kuṛugagillār — will run away;; vidam udai — having abundant poison; aravil — on the divine mattress; pal̤l̤i virumbinān — one who mercifully rests, manifesting his desire to be united with his devotees; surumbu — beetles which have drunk honey; alaṝum — making sounds in a disorderly manner; thadam — flower filled ponds; udai — having; vayal — having fields; ananthapuranagar — thiruvananthapuram; inṛĕ — (without any further delay) today itself; pugudhum — reach.; inṛu — without any delay, on the same day when the desire is acquired; pŏy — go
Sins shall not touch you for generations if you enter Aṉantapuram today, with its beautiful gardens, stately trees, and tall castles rising like mountains. The name of the Lord enshrined there is as powerful as a thousand names. For those who chant that name, Aṉantapuram becomes the very essence of SriVaikuntam.
Explanatory Notes
(i) “The name of the Lord at Aṉantapuram shall by itself extend unto you protection, on all fronts. If you’d only get into that holy centre, sins shall not come near you, not only now but in all successive births”, this is how the Āzhvār exhorts the people around. The mere mention of the name of the Lord, enshrined there, will transform that place into spiritual world. + 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.)
pugudhir āgil — if you reach; ezhumaiyum — forever; ĕdham — the defect of samsāra; sārā — will not affect;; kunṛu nĕr — like a mountain; mādam — mansions; mādĕ — in the proximity; kurundhu sĕr — with kurundhu tree; serundhi — serundhi flower tree; punnai — punnai tree; manṛu — in the centre of the town; alar — blossoming; pozhil — being enjoyable, having garden; ananthapura nagar — in the town of thiruvananthapuram; māyan — (having qualities such as saundharya (beauty), sauṣeelya (simplicity), saulabhya (easy approachability) etc which are enjoyed by his devotees) the amaśing lord-s; nāmam — the names which highlight such qualities; onṛum — any one of them; ŏr — being distinguished; āyiram ā — in thousand ways; ul̤l̤uvārkku — for those who determine; umbar ūr — paramapadham.; pul̤ — periya thiruvadi (garudāzhvār); ūrum — will ride;
3796 ஊரும் புள் கொடியும் அஃதே * உலகு எல்லாம் உண்டு உமிழ்ந்தான் * சேரும் தண் அனந்தபுர * சிக்கெனப் புகுதிராகில் ** தீரும் நோய் வினைகள் எல்லாம் * திண்ணம் நாம் அறியச் சொன்னோம் * பேரும் ஓர் ஆயிரத்துள் * ஒன்று நீர் பேசுமினே (3)
If you steadfastly reach Aṉantapuram, serene and delightful, where our Lord resides with Garuḍa as His vehicle and banner, who once consumed and then released the entire cosmos, rest assured, you will be liberated from all afflictions. Simply utter any one of His thousand names.
Explanatory Notes
“Any one of the Lord’s thousand (innumerable) names is potent enough to destroy all evils. So then, chant but one such name and get rid of all your sins”, exhorts the Āzhvār. The votaries are asked to enter the holy city of Aṉantapuram with firm determination and get their sins destroyed. On reaching the place, no difficult task is set unto them by the Āzhvār; they are
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.)
kodiyum — the flag hoisted for protecting; ahdhĕ — is also that;; ulagu ellām — whole world; uṇdu — consumed (and protected by placing in the stomach); umizhndhān — spat it out after deluge; sĕrum — mercifully resting to give audience to those who are of subsequent times; thaṇ — invigorating; ananthapuram — thiruvananthapuram; sikkena — with firm faith in not expecting anything other than kainkaryam; pugudhirāgil — if you reach; nŏy — disease (of taste for worldly pleasures); vinaigal̤ ellam thīrum — all karmas (which are the root for such disease) will be eliminated;; nām — we, who are experts in this principle; aṛiya — to know; thiṇṇam — firmly; sonnŏm — told;; pĕrum ŏr āyiraththul̤ — among his enjoyable thousand divine names; onṛu — anyone; nīr — you; pĕsumin — recite.; periya — abundant; nīr — having water
Speak openly and without hesitation: what penance do those who worship the Lord with choice flowers in Aṉantapuram perform? This sacred place, well adorned with fertile fields and fragrant gardens, surrounded by vast oceanic waters, is where the Lord delightfully dwells.
Explanatory Notes
The Āzhvār extols those that have the good fortune to worship the Lord at Tiruvaṉantapuram whose gardens are so full of fragrance that it more than offsets the possible stench of the sea around. It is by-no-means surprising that the denizens of the High spiritual worlds, marked by spotless purity and overwhelming devotion to the Lord, worship Him there, in that transcendent + 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.)
vĕlai — by ocean; sūzhndhu — surrounded; vāsamĕ kamazhum — spreading the fragrance; sŏlai — gardens; vayal — fields; aṇi — having as decoration; ananthapuram — in thiruvananthapuram; nĕsam seydhu — showing ultimate vāthsalyam (motherly love) (to manifest himself to the devotees); uṛaiginṛānai — one who is eternally residing; neṛimaiyāl — in proper means matching his being the lord; malargal̤ — tools such as flowers; thūvi — offering (being overwhelmed by love); pūsanai seyginṛārgal̤ — those who worship; puṇṇiyam — fortune; seydha āṛu — the way they got; kūsam inṛi — without seeing (your) disqualification and without feeling shy (seeing the overwhelming motherly love of those who worship the vathsalan (emperumān who is like a mother); pĕsumin — try to praise.; puṇṇiyam seydhu — performing bhakthi which is enjoyable; nalla — that which is dear to him, due to being with bhakthi
3798 புண்ணியம் செய்து * நல்ல புனலொடு மலர்கள் தூவி * எண்ணுமின் எந்தை நாமம் * இப் பிறப்பு அறுக்கும் அப்பால் ** திண்ணம் நாம் அறியச் சொன்னோம் * செறி பொழில் அனந்தபுரத்து * அண்ணலார் கமல பாதம் * அணுகுவார் அமரர் ஆவார் (5)
Meditate on the holy names of our Lord and offer Him pure water and fine flowers with supreme devotion to break free from the bondage of Saṃsāra. I affirm, those who draw near the lotus feet of our Sire at Aṉantapuram, adorned with many fine gardens, are as blessed as the Nithyasuris in SriVaikuntam.
Explanatory Notes
The Āzhvār exhorts the people to approach the Lord at Aṉantapuram and adore His lotus feet, affirming that, by so doing, they will rise to the stature of the ‘Nitya Sūrīs’ in spiritual world. By sacramental water for the Lord’s worship is meant only water, pure and simple, and not the one spiced and flavoured with cloves and cardamoms, the emphasis being on the easy worshippability + 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.)
Worship the Lord who relieved the distress of Kumaraṉ's father, the proud Chief of the Immortals, residing lovingly in holy Aṉantapuram. Sēṉāpathi Āḻvāṉ, leader of Nithyasuris, is supported by others from SriVaikuntam. Listen closely, my friends; we too shall join that sacred assembly and worship the Lord.
Explanatory Notes
(i) Holy Aṉantapuram is to be coveted even more than spiritual world, inasmuch as the former attracts even the exalted denizens of spiritual world who move down from those dizzy heights and serve the Lord enshrined here. Here then is a pilgrim centre, where parity is enjoyed by the ‘Nitya Sūrīs’ of spiritual world and the ‘Nitya Samsārīs’, down here. The Lord’s face, navel + 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.)
3800 துடைத்த கோவிந்தனாரே * உலகு உயிர் தேவும் மற்றும் * படைத்த எம் பரம மூர்த்தி * பாம்பு அணைப் பள்ளி கொண்டான் ** மடைத்தலை வாளை பாயும் * வயல் அணி அனந்தபுரம் * கடைத்தலை சீய்க்கப்பெற்றால் * கடுவினை களையலாமே (7)
Seek refuge in Aṉantapuram, adorned with fertile fields, and cleanse the temple doorstep where the Supreme Lord reclines on a serpent-bed. By doing so, your deadly sins will dissolve away. He dissolved the worlds and then restored them to their rightful places.
Explanatory Notes
(i) The Āzhvār affirms that those, who render service unto the Lord reclining at Tiru-Aṉantapuram, will get rid of their age-long sins, however deadly they might be. Of the several kinds of service, prominence is given to cleaning up the temple gates and keeping the temple front, bright and tidy.
(ii) The wiping off of the worlds, that is, the Lord’s act of dissolution + 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.)
dhĕvum — dhĕvathās (celestial beings); maṝum — and other entities such as mahath (the great element) etc; thudaiththa — one who created them all and annihilated them too; gŏvindhanārĕ — (as said in -thama: parĕdhĕva ĕkī bhavathi #, as he has a shining form in that stage) one who is known as gŏvindha, himself; padaiththa — one who created; em — one who revealed this kāraṇathvam (his being the cause); parama mūrththi — lord who is greater than all; pāmbu aṇai — in the serpent mattress; pal̤l̤i koṇdān — one who is mercifully resting, his; madaith thalai — in the entrance of the canals; vāl̤ai pāyum — the (schools of fish) jumping around joyfully; vayal aṇi — having the field as decoration; ananthapuram — in thiruvananthapuram; kadaiththalai — in the divine entrance; sīykkap peṝāl — if we engage in sweeping the floor etc; kadu vinai — great sorrow (of not attaining opportunity to do kainkaryam); kal̤aiyalām — can be eliminated.; kadu vinai — cruel sins (which are the reasons for delay in attaining the result); kal̤aiyal āgum — can be eliminated
3801 கடுவினை களையலாகும் * காமனைப் பயந்த காளை * இடவகை கொண்டது என்பர் * எழில் அணி அனந்தபுரம் ** படம் உடை அரவில் பள்ளி * பயின்றவன் பாதம் காண * நடமினோ நமர்கள் உள்ளீர்! * நாம் உமக்கு அறியச் சொன்னோம். (8)
Go and behold, my friends! the beautiful feet of our Lord, the mighty Father of Kāma, who resides in the charming Ānantapuram, reclining on a serpent with many hoods. By doing so, you will be cleansed of your grave sins. This I proclaim to all of you.
Explanatory Notes
(i) Saint Nammāḻvār exhorts the pious Vaiṣṇavas around, to proceed to holy Aṉantapuram and behold the lovely feet of the Lord, reclining there on serpent-couch. The form, this exhortation assumes, is noteworthy; even as people are proceeding towards the holy centre, their deadly sins fall off, this is how the Āzhvār puts it.
(ii) Here is an interesting anecdote; Maṇakkāl + 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.)
kāmanai — kāma (cupid, who is famous for his beauty); payandha — one who created; kāl̤ai — krishṇa who did not lose his youth (even after that); ida vagai — as his abode; koṇdadhu — had; ezhil — beauty; aṇi — having; ananthapuram — thiruvananthapuram; enbar — is said;; padam udai — having hoods (which are expanded due to being in contact with emperumān); aravil — in the divine serpent mattress; pal̤l̤i — in mercifully resting; payinṛavan — of the one who is very involved; pādham — divine feet; kāṇa — to see and enjoy; namargal̤ ul̤l̤īr — oh our people; nadaminŏ — start walking;; nām — we (who know the greatness of emperumān); umakku — for you; aṛiya — to know; sonnŏm — have told.; nām — us; umakku — for you
The days I mentioned to you are approaching. Here is Ānantapuram, our secure sanctuary with its beautiful orchards. Go there with fresh flowers and pure incense to worship Lord Vāmana, and meditate deeply. Your sins will surely dissipate on their own, I am certain of it.
Explanatory Notes
The Āzhvār has already stated, vide IX-10-5, that he will reach the spiritual world, the destined Land, at the end of the current span of life, as vouchsafed to him by the Lord at Tirukkaṇṇapuram. He now reverts to that and says that the crucial day of his departure from this world is drawing near and invites the worldlings to listen to his advice and prosper. Once he + 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.)
aṛiyach chonna nāl̤gal̤um — the days of the end of the body, which were informed; naṇiya āna — are coming close; seṛi pozhil — having dense garden; ananthapuram — thiruvananthapuram; nangu — good; sĕmam — protection; udaiththuk kaṇdīr — is having!; thūmam — fragrant smoke, which is an aide in the worship; nal — good; virai — having fragrance; malargal̤ — flowers; thuval̤ aṛa — to be without defect; āyndhu koṇdu — preparing; vāmanan adikku enṛu — vowing them to be for the divine feet of ṣrī vāmana who is naturally inclined towards union with his devotees; ĕththa — (for such acceptance) praising his qualities such as ṣeelam (simplicity) etc; vinaigal̤ — karmas which are hurdles for kainkarayam; thānĕ — on their own; māyndhu aṛum — will be destroyed.; mādhavā! enna — the moment that emperumān is referred to as ṣriya:pathi (husband of ṣrī mahālakshmi); vinaigal̤ — hurdles
3803 மாய்ந்தறும்வினைகள்தாமே மாதவா! என்ன * நாளும் ஏய்ந்தபொன்மதிள் அனந்தபுரநகரெந்தைக்கென்று * சாந்தொடுவிளக்கம்தூபம் தாமரைமலர்கள்நல்ல * ஆய்ந்துகொண்டேத்தவல்லார் அந்தமில்புகழினாரே.
3803 மாய்ந்து அறும் வினைகள் தாமே * மாதவா என்ன * நாளும் ஏய்ந்த பொன் மதிள் * அனந்தபுரநகர் எந்தைக்கு என்று ** சாந்தொடு விளக்கம் தூபம் * தாமரை மலர்கள் நல்ல * ஆய்ந்து கொண்டு ஏத்த வல்லார் * அந்தம் இல் புகழினாரே (10)
When you utter the name "Mātavaṉ," all your sins will naturally dissipate. Those who fervently offer sandal paste, lamps, incense, and gather lovely lotus flowers for the daily worship of the Lord at sacred Aṉantapuram, enclosed by walls of solid gold, will attain undying fame.
Explanatory Notes
(i) The name, ‘Mātavaṉ’, (Mādhava) denotes the Lord, in conjunction with Mahālakṣmī, the Divine Mother and it is but natural that all our miseries die off, when we ejaculate the Lord’s name, betokening this highly benevolent combination of our eternal Father and Mother.
(ii) Serving the Lord with due ceremonies and worshipping Him uninterruptedly, free from distractions, + 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.)
thāmĕ — on their own; māyndhu aṛum — will be eliminated;; nāl̤um — forever; ĕyndha — rich; pon madhil̤ — having golden fort; ananthapura nagar — in the city of thiruvananthapuram; endhaikku — for the lord; enṛu — vowing in this manner; nalla — good; sāndhodu — with sandalwood paste; vil̤akkam — lamp; dhūbam — fragrant smoke; thāmarai malargal̤ — lotus flowers; āyndhu koṇdu — preparing (to not being touched by attachment towards result, doership and ownership which are like dry leaves, hair and worms); ĕththa vallār — those who can praise emperumān, fulfilled with the feeling of having been acknowledged by him; andham il — endless; pugazhinār — will have greatness in servitude.; andham il pugazh — being with endless qualities; ananthapura nagar — residing in thiruvananthapuram
3804 ## அந்தம் இல் புகழ் * அனந்தபுரநகர் ஆதி தன்னை * கொந்து அலர் பொழில் * குருகூர் மாறன் சொல் ஆயிரத்துள் ** ஐந்தினோடு ஐந்தும் வல்லார் * அணைவர் போய் அமர் உலகில் * பைந்தொடி மடந்தையர் தம் * வேய் மரு தோள் இணையே (11)
Those who can recite these ten songs, from the thousand composed by Caṭakōpaṉ of Kurukūr, adorned with fine orchids, praising the Lord of everlasting fame who resides in the beautiful Aṉantapuram, shall attain SriVaikuntam at the end of their current life. There, they will be entertained by damsels with bamboo-like arms, bedecked with lovely jewels.
Explanatory Notes
(i) In the preceding song, the Āzhvār extolled those who worship the Lord at Aṉantapuram, as men of undying fame; now, he is referring to the Lord as of undying fame. Ever as the pious men of this world have surpassed the fame of the denizens of spiritual world, the Lord, in His worshippable Form in this abode, excels His own transcendent glory in the High spiritual world. + 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.)
ādhi thannai — the cause of all; kondhu — flower bunches; alar — blossoming; pozhil — surrounded by garden; kurugūr — controller of āzhvārthirunagari; māṛan — nammāzhvār; sol — mercifully spoke; āyiraththul̤ — among the thousand pāsurams; aindhinŏdu — along with the five pāsurams (which are advice for others); aindhum — the five pāsurams where he adviced others as well as self; vallār — those who can practice; pŏy — going (in archirādhi mārgam (path leading to paramapadham)); amar ulagil — in the abode of paramapadham, which is the dwelling place of -ayarvaṛum amarargal̤- (nithyasūris, mukthāthmās); paindhodi — being decorated with ornaments in their arms; madandhaiyar tham — divine apsaras (celestial damsels), their; vĕy maru — distinguished like bamboo; thŏl̤iṇai — the brahmālankāram (ultimate decoration) which is done by their shoulders (hands); aṇivar — will get to accept.; vĕy maru — l̤ike bamboo; thŏl̤ iṇai — pair of shoulders