(i) The Āzhvār’s enquiry, as above, could either point out to the Lord, how at all His devotees can sustain themselves if He doesn’t oblige them with His sweet presence, the great Elixir of life, but keeps away, as He is doing at present,
or
express the doubt as to how His reputation as the henchman of His devotees, aired through the Scriptures, the Itihāsa Purāṇas
In this third pāśuram of the chapter, Śrī Śaṭhakōpa Sūri poses a profound and heart-rending question to Emperumān. As Śrī Nanjīyar elucidates, the Āzhvār’s central plea is this: “If You, who are renowned for being so easily approachable by Your followers, do not manifest Yourself today and eliminate my present danger, how can Your other devotees, who sustain themselves