Chapter 5
Lifting Govardhana mountain - (அட்டுக் குவி)
கோவர்த்தனகிரியைக் குடைகொண்டமை
One day in the divine Ayarpadi, there was a festival for Indra! Krishna took all the food prepared for him and placed it before Govardhana Hill. He himself became the hill and accepted the offerings. Indra, angered, summoned dark clouds and caused a heavy downpour for seven days. Krishna's love for the cowherds and cattle was immense! He held up Govardhana Hill like an umbrella to protect the cattle. The āzhvār delights in narrating this divine act.
ஒரு நாள் திரு ஆய்பாடியில் இந்திர பூஜை! அவனுக்காகச் செய்து வைத்த உணவுகளை எல்லாம் கோவர்த்தனமலைக்கு இடச்செய்தான் கண்ணன். தானே அம்மலையாக இருந்து அமுது செய்தான். இந்திரனுக்கு கோபம். கருமுகில்களை அழைத்து ஏழு நாள் பெரு மழை பெய்வித்தான். கண்ணனுக்கு ஆயர்கள் மீதும், ஆனிரைகள்மீதும் எவ்வளவு அன்பு! கோவர்த்தனமலையையே குடையாகப் பிடித்து ஆநிரைக் காத்தான். அவ்வரலாற்றை ஆழ்வார் கூறி மகிழ்கிறார்.
Verses: 264 to 274
Grammar: Eḻuchīrk Kaḻinediladi Āsiriya Viruththam / எழுசீர்க் கழிநெடிலடி ஆசிரிய விருத்தம்
Recital benefits: Will go to Vaikuṇṭam and remain there always
- Verse 1:
264. Lord Krishna ate the rice that was heaped like a mountain, curd running like a stream and ghee thick like mud in a single gulp and earned the wrath of Indra. Govardhanā is the mountain which He lifted, colored like the dark ocean lifted to protect - Verse 2:
265. Govardhanā is the victorious umbrella-like mountain that Madhusudhanan carried to stop the rain and protect the cows when Indra, the king of gods commanded a heavy downpour. Govardhanā(Madhura) is a mountain where the female elephant bravely protects its young one under her legs, opposes lion and fights the lion that chases it. - Verse 3:
266. Govardhanā is the mountain which my Lord who holds the shining discus( chakra) in His hands, lifted like an umbrella, when the large-eyed cowherd women and cowherds prayed and pleaded screaming "Help us. You are our refuge!" Govardhanā (Madhura) is the mountain where men with strong mountain-like arms bend their bows when their lovely doll-like women ask them to catch deer, saying, “See, a group of deer are grazing on our millet. ” - Verse 4:
267. Like a mahout giving a ball of rice, to a big-mouthed angry-eyed elephant, Kannan the God of Gods, dug deep into the earth and lifted the Govardhanā mountain (Madhura), where the clouds descend to the ocean, scooping up the water, rise to the sky in the east, gather and pour down rain as if from a pot. - Verse 5:
267. He, who took the form of a boar, lifted Govardhanā quite effortlessly, as if throwing a challenge, Oh! Gods above! Is anyone strong enough to lift the mountain?" This mountain is the home of the wild elephant that raises its trunk towards the crescent moon in the sky, thinking that to be its broken tusk. - Verse 6:
269. The victorious umbrella-like mountain that our wonderful Thirumāvalavan carried, putting all the five fingers of his lovely lotus hand at its base and lifting it with his large, beautiful arms is Govardhanā (Madhura) where the water of the white waterfall flows everywhere as it carries lovely glistening beautiful pearls and makes the hill look like a treasure of pearl garlands. - Verse 7:
270. The victorious umbrella-like mountain that our Damodaran carried using the five fingers of his wide hands just as the thousand-headed Adishesha carries the earth is Govardhanā (Madhura) where the monkeys live and put their small children to sleep holding them in their hands and singing the fame of Hanuman who went to Lankā and destroyed its pride. - Verse 8:
271. When rain clouds gathered and poured heavily, frightening all, Kannan carried this mountain(Govardhanā), to save the cowherds, like a warrior using his shield to protect from the rain of arrows in the battlefield. In Govardhanā (Madhura), pious rishis practice tapas living in huts roofed with leaves, while angry murderous tigers go and sleep with them. - Verse 9:
272. The One who drank milk from the breasts of the terrible Putanā and killed her, lifted the huge mountain that bears His name Govardhanā, like a pillar that bears a heavy weight. This victorious mountain that is home for the monkeys that climb on the branches of trees carrying their babies on their backs and teach them how to jump. - Verse 10:
273. The fingers of his lotus hands that have creeper-like thin prints did not loose their beauty and his strong beautiful finger-nails did not hurt when the beautiful blue-colored one carried Govardhanā mountain (Madhura). He carried the mountain as if it were something he did every day. On the umbrella-like Govardhanā mountain, a group of large clouds rest on the top of the hills making the mountain look as if it has grey hair as they pour down rain everywhere. - Verse 11:
274. The famous Pattarpiran Vishnuchithan where the Vediyars recite the divine Vedās composed these ten pāsurams on Govardhanā mountain (Madhura) where jasmine flowers bloom on the branches of kuravam trees. He describes how the hill is carried as an umbrella by the god who rests on Adishesha and rides on the Garudā, the enemy of snake. If devotees recite those pāsurams in their hearts and worship him, they will reach divine Vaikuntam.