(i) Come, Ye, poets: The Āzhvār beckons the poets in the same way as a person invites persons caught up in a forest fire to come and have a dip in a pond full of water, cool and deep. The poets, however, submit that they have
to eke out their livelihood by lauding the humans. The Āzhvār emphasises that they should not debase their talents and they might as well earn
In this pāsuram, Nammāzhvār continues his compassionate counsel to those who misuse their God-given poetic talents to eulogize worldly individuals for their livelihood. As elucidated by the great ācāryas, the Āzhvār here engages in a profound dialogue. When the poets justify their actions by citing the need to support themselves, the Āzhvār retorts, "Instead of