Chapter 1
Kannan threatens the cowherd girls as a goblin - (மெச்சு ஊது)
கண்ணன் அப்பூச்சி காட்டுதல்
One of the activities of young children is to play ‘poochchi kaattuthal’. ‘poochchi kaattuthal or ‘apoochchi kaattuthal’ is when a child tries to scare another by inverting his/her eyelids to pose as a goblin/monster. Kannan enjoys playing ‘poochchi kaattuthal’ as well. The Gopis are amused by His action. Similar to the Gopis, Āzhvār, with his deep devotion, envisions and enjoys Kannan’s ‘poochchi kaattuthal’.
சிறு குழந்தைகளின் செயல்களுள் பூச்சி காட்டுதல் ஒன்று. அவ்வாறு கண்ணனும் பூச்சி காட்டி விளையாடுகிறான். கோபியர்கள் குழந்தையின் செயலைக் கண்டு களிக்கிறார்கள். ஆழ்வாரும் பக்தியின் மேலீட்டால் அவ்விளையாட்டை நேரில் கண்டு மகிழ்வதுபோல் அனுபவித்து இன்பமடைகிறார்.
Verses: 118 to 127
Grammar: கலித்தாழிசை, தரவு கொச்சகக்கலிப்பா
Recital benefits: Will go to Vaikuṇṭam and remain there always
- Verse 1:
118. The lord with a conch in his left hand that sounds in victory and plays delightful music on his flute went as a messenger for the Pāndavās when they had lost everything to the dishonest gambling of Sakuni and unable to keep even ten cities, had to fight the Bhārathā war to get their land back. Oh! He comes as a goblin and frightens us. That dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 2:
119. He is the One who made many kings and warriors with arms strong as mountains tremble and destroyed the hundred Kauravās foes. When Arjunā bent his bow, He stood with him in front as the charioteer in the Bhārathā war. He is Kannan, who made the red- eyed Parthā (Arjunā) triumph. He comes as a goblin and frightens us, That dear mischievous one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 3:
120. Plunging into the water that was frothing with snake poison He climbed the Kadamba tree and jumped upon evil Kālingā's hood and danced fiercely as the bells on His anklets sounded and played melodious tune on His flute. Our lord, the clever one comes as a goblin and frightens us. That dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 4:
121. The lord Kannan was born in the night and raised in a poor cowherd village. He killed the evil king Kamsan and destroyed the suffering of the cowherds. He stole our pretty silk dresses. He comes mischievously as a goblin and frightens us, That dear one comes and frightens us. - Verse 5:
122. He kicked Sakatāsuran who came as a cart yoked to bulls and killed him. The cowherd women tied the dear child by a rope used to churn yogurt. Nanda's wife Yashodā beat him for stealing butter and tied him to a mortar. He comes as a goblin and frightens us, that dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 6:
123. He was born as the dear child to Devaki with young soft small breasts. He stole and swallowed ghee, milk and yogurt that we, the cowherd women kept. He comes as a goblin and frightens us, that dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 7:
124. Did Yashodā adopt this child? Or did she give birth to him? She loves him no matter what. That dark-haired child, decorated with bunches of flowers, dear Gopalan, the young lion-like son of Yashodā, comes as a goblin and frightens us, that dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 8:
125. As Rāma our lord obeyed his stepmother, after she heard the cruel words of Manthara, whose back was bent like breasts. He gave away his precious elephants, horses and his earthly kingdom to his brother Bharathan and went to the terrible forest. That dear one with lovely eyes frightens us, He comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 9:
126. Caught by a terrible crocodile, when Gajendra the elephant cried out in distress, “O my Kannā, my Kannā!”, the majestic lord came on Garudā and saved him. He, the protector of his devotees, comes as a goblin and frightens us, That dear one comes as a goblin and frightens us. - Verse 10:
127. Vishnuchithan composed ten pāsurams, escribing how as Rāma, our god destroyed the strong Rakshasās of Lankā with his bow and how he came as a goblin and frightened the cowherd women in the cowherd village. Those who can recite the ten beautiful “appuchi kāttal” pāsurams, will go to Vaikuntam (the abode of God) and stay there forever.