Thirty verses in which Andal, as a cowherd girl of Ayarpadi, keeps the Margazhi vow, wakes her friends one by one, and goes with them to Nandagopa's house to wake Krishna. What she asks for in the end is not the reward of the vow but to serve Him in every birth. The sampradaya calls it the seed of all the Vedas, and Sri Ramanuja loved it so much that he was called Tiruppavai Jeeyar.
Tiruppavai 1 · verse 474 of the four thousand
Meaning
It is the month of Margazhi, and the moon is full: a blessed day! Come, you who wish to bathe, come, girls adorned with fine jewels, rich young girls of Ayarpadi, full of good things. The son of Nandagopa, who wields a sharp spear, the young lion of Yashoda with her lovely eyes, He of the dark body, the red eyes, and a face like the sun and the moon: Narayana Himself will give us the parai. Bathe, so that the world may praise us. This is our vow.
Word by word
- mārkaḻit tiṅkaḷ
- the month of Margazhi
- mati niṟainta naṉṉāḷāl
- the blessed day when the moon is full
- nīrāṭap pōtuvīr
- you who wish to go and bathe
- nēriḻaiyīr
- girls adorned with fine jewels
- nantakōpaṉ kumaraṉ
- the son of Nandagopa
- yacōtai iḷañciṅkam
- the young lion of Yashoda
- nārāyaṇaṉē
- Narayana Himself, and no other
- paṟai
- the drum the girls ask for; the elders read it as the goal they seek, service to Him
- ēlōr empāvāy
- the refrain of the vow: "this is our vow"
Tiruppavai 2 · verse 475 of the four thousand
Meaning
O you who live in this world, will you not hear what we shall do for our vow? We shall sing the feet of the Supreme One who sleeps on the serpent in the Ocean of Milk. We shall not take ghee, we shall not take milk; we shall bathe before dawn. We shall not line our eyes with kohl, nor tie flowers in our hair. We shall not do what our elders have not done, and we shall not go about spreading evil gossip. We shall give alms and gifts as much as we can, and think with joy of the way to be saved.
Word by word
- vaiyattu vāḻvīrkāḷ
- O you who live in this world
- pāvaikkuc
- for our pavai, the Margazhi vow
- kiricaikaḷ
- the observances, the things to be done
- paiyiṟ tuyiṉṟa paramaṉ
- the Supreme One asleep on the hooded serpent
- nāṭkālē nīrāṭi
- bathing early, before dawn
- ceyyātaṉa ceyyōm
- we shall not do what our elders did not do
- tīkkuṟaḷai
- evil, hurtful tale-bearing
- aiyamum piccaiyum
- gifts to the worthy and alms to those in need
Tiruppavai 3 · verse 476 of the four thousand
Meaning
If we sing the name of the Best of beings, who grew tall and measured the worlds, and bathe for our vow, then the whole land will be free of harm, with rain three times a month. Among the tall, rich paddy the carp will leap, and the spotted bees will sleep inside the blue lily buds. The great, generous cows, when the herders sit beside them without hesitating and draw on their full udders, will fill pot after pot. Wealth that never leaves will fill the land.
Word by word
- ōṅki ulaku aḷanta
- who grew tall and measured the worlds, as Trivikrama
- uttamaṉ
- the Best of beings
- tiṅkaḷ mummāri
- three rains every month
- kayal ukaḷap
- the carp leaping
- poṟivaṇṭu kaṇpaṭuppat
- the spotted bees falling asleep
- vaḷḷaṟ perum pacukkaḷ
- great cows, generous as patrons
- nīṅkāta celvam
- wealth that never leaves
Tiruppavai 4 · verse 477 of the four thousand
Meaning
O Rain, lord of the deep, hold nothing back! Go into the sea, draw up its water, roar and rise; grow dark in body like the form of the Lord who is the First Cause of all the ages; flash like the discus in the hand of Padmanabha of mighty shoulders, and thunder like His right-whorled conch. Without delay, pour down like the rain of arrows from His bow Sarnga, so that the world may flourish and we may bathe with joy in Margazhi.
Word by word
- āḻi maḻaik kaṇṇā
- O Rain, lord of the deep sea
- kai karavēl
- do not hold back your hand
- ūḻi mutalvaṉ
- the First Cause of all the ages
- pāḻiyan tōḷ
- mighty, broad shoulders
- paṟpanāpaṉ
- Padmanabha, from whose navel the lotus rose
- valampuripōl
- like the right-whorled conch
- cārṅkam utaitta caramaḻaipōl
- like the rain of arrows shot from the bow Sarnga
Tiruppavai 5 · verse 478 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the wondrous Lord, the son of ever-enduring North Mathura, the Lord of the shore of the pure, deep Yamuna, the bright lamp that rose in the cowherd clan, Damodara, who brought glory to His mother's womb. If we come to Him pure, scatter pure flowers and bow, sing Him with our mouths and think of Him in our hearts, then the faults already done, and those still to come, will become like cotton thrown into a fire. Say it!
Word by word
- māyaṉai
- the wondrous Lord of mysteries
- vaṭamaturai maintaṉait
- the son of North Mathura
- yamuṉait tuṟaivaṉai
- the Lord of the Yamuna's banks
- aṇi-viḷakkait
- the beautiful lamp
- tāyaik kuṭal viḷakkam ceyta
- who brought glory to His mother's womb
- tāmōtaraṉai
- Damodara, bound at the waist with a rope
- pōya piḻaiyum pukutaruvāṉ niṉṟaṉavum
- past faults and those yet to come
- tīyiṉil tūcu
- cotton thrown into fire
Tiruppavai 6 · verse 479 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girls wake a friend new to the vow.) Look, the birds are chirping! Do you not hear the great sound of the white conch calling from the temple of the King of birds, Garuda's Lord? Little girl, get up! He drank the poison with the demoness's milk, He kicked apart the deceitful cart; He is the Seed of all who rests on the serpent in the waters. Holding Him in their hearts, the sages and yogis rise slowly and say "Hari", and that great sound has entered our hearts and cooled them.
Word by word
- puḷḷum cilampiṉa
- the birds are chirping
- puḷ-araiyaṉ kōyilil
- in the temple of the Lord of Garuda, king of birds
- veḷḷai viḷi caṅkiṉ
- of the white conch that calls
- pēymulai nañcu uṇṭu
- drinking the poison from Putana's breast
- kaḷḷac cakaṭam
- the deceitful cart, a demon in disguise
- vittiṉai
- the Seed, the cause of all
- ari eṉṟa pēr-aravam
- the great sound of the name Hari
Tiruppavai 7 · verse 480 of the four thousand
Meaning
Do you not hear the blackbirds chattering "keesu keesu" everywhere? Silly girl! Do you not hear the sound of the churning, as the cowherd women with fragrant hair move their arms, their coin necklaces jingling, and the curds roar under the churning rods? O leader among girls, while we sing Narayana, Kesava, can you lie there and only listen? O radiant one, open the door!
Word by word
- āṉaiccāttaṉ
- the blackbirds, the bharadwaja birds
- pēyp peṇṇē
- silly girl
- kācum piṟappum
- their necklaces of coins and beads
- tayir-aravam
- the sound of curd being churned
- nāyakap peṇpiḷḷāy
- O leader among the girls
- kēcavaṉaip
- Kesava, the Lord with lovely hair
- tēcam uṭaiyāy
- O radiant one
Tiruppavai 8 · verse 481 of the four thousand
Meaning
The eastern sky has turned white, and the buffaloes have spread out to graze in the small pastures. We stopped the other girls who were setting out, and have come to your door to call you. O eager, lovely girl, get up! If we go and worship the God of gods, who split open the horse's mouth and destroyed the wrestlers, singing and receiving our drum, He will look into our need, say "Ah, ah!" and show His grace.
Word by word
- kīḻvāṉam veḷḷeṉṟu
- the eastern sky has turned white
- ciṟu vīṭu
- the small grazing grounds near dawn
- kōtukalam uṭaiya
- full of eagerness for Krishna
- paṟai
- the drum, the gift of the vow
- mā vāy piḷantāṉai
- who split the mouth of the horse-demon Kesi
- mallarai māṭṭiya
- who destroyed Kamsa's wrestlers
- tēvāti tēvaṉaic
- the God of gods
- āvā eṉṟu
- crying "Ah, ah!" in compassion
Tiruppavai 9 · verse 482 of the four thousand
Meaning
O daughter of my uncle, sleeping on a soft bed in a mansion of flawless gems, with lamps burning all around and incense drifting, unbolt the jewelled door! Aunt, will you not wake her? Is your daughter dumb, or deaf, or simply drowsy? Has she been put under a spell of deep, guarded sleep? We keep chanting His many names: the great Wondrous One, Madhava, Lord of Vaikuntha.
Word by word
- tūmaṇi māṭattuc
- in a mansion of flawless gems
- tūmam kamaḻat
- with incense drifting
- māmāṉ makaḷē
- O daughter of my uncle
- maṇik katavam tāḷ tiṟavāy
- unbolt the jewelled door
- aṉantalō
- or simply drowsy?
- mantirap paṭṭāḷō
- has she been put under a spell?
- mātavaṉ vaikuntaṉ
- Madhava, consort of Lakshmi; the Lord of Vaikuntha
Tiruppavai 10 · verse 483 of the four thousand
Meaning
O lady who did her penance and now enjoys heaven, will those who do not open the door not even give an answer? Narayana, whose crown bears fragrant tulasi, the Holy One who gives us the drum when we praise Him, long ago sent Kumbhakarna into the jaws of death: did Kumbhakarna lose to you and hand you his great sleep? O so very drowsy one, rare jewel, come out steady and open the door!
Word by word
- nōṟṟuc cuvarkkam pukukiṉṟa
- who did penance and entered heaven
- māṟṟamum tārārō
- will you not even answer?
- nāṟṟat tuḻāy muṭi
- crown bearing fragrant tulasi
- puṇṇiyaṉāl
- by the Holy One
- kūṟṟattiṉ vāyvīḻnta
- who fell into the jaws of death
- kumpakaraṇaṉum
- Kumbhakarna, Ravana's giant brother famed for sleep
- aruṅkalamē
- O rare jewel
Tiruppavai 11 · verse 484 of the four thousand
Meaning
O golden creeper of the faultless cowherds, who milk herd after herd of cows and go out to fight, breaking their enemies' strength! O peacock of the woods, slender-waisted, come out! All your kin and friends have come into your courtyard and are singing the name of the One with the colour of the rain cloud. Yet you neither stir nor speak, O precious girl. Why do you sleep, and what does it mean?
Word by word
- kaṟavaik kaṇaṅkaḷ
- herds of milch cows
- ceṟṟār tiṟal aḻiyac
- breaking the strength of their enemies
- kōvalartam poṟkoṭiyē
- O golden creeper of the cowherds
- puṉamayilē
- O peacock of the woods
- mukilvaṇṇaṉ
- the One with the colour of the rain cloud
- ciṟṟātē pēcātē
- without stirring, without speaking
- celvap peṇṭāṭṭi
- O precious, fortunate girl
Tiruppavai 12 · verse 485 of the four thousand
Meaning
The buffalo with young calves lows, and thinking tenderly of her calf, lets milk stream from her udders until the house is turned to mud: you are the sister of so rich a cowherd! With the dew falling on our heads, we hold the threshold of your door and sing the One dear to the heart, who in anger destroyed the king of southern Lanka. Still you will not open your mouth. Get up at least now! What is this deep sleep? Every house has come to know of it.
Word by word
- iḷaṅ kaṟṟu- erumai
- the buffalo with young calves
- kaṉṟukku iraṅki
- melting with love for her calf
- naṟ celvaṉ taṅkāy
- O sister of the richly blessed cowherd
- paṉit talai vīḻa
- with the dew falling on our heads
- teṉ ilaṅkaik kōmāṉaic
- the king of southern Lanka, Ravana
- maṉattukku iṉiyāṉaip
- the One sweet to the heart, Rama
- ītu eṉṉa pēr uṟakkam
- what is this deep sleep?
Tiruppavai 13 · verse 486 of the four thousand
Meaning
All the girls have gone to the place of the vow, singing the glory of Him who tore open the bird's beak and plucked away the wicked demon. Venus has risen and Jupiter has set; look, the birds are chirping. O girl with eyes like flowers, will you lie in bed instead of plunging into the cold water and bathing? O lovely one, on this good day, leave your pretending and join us.
Word by word
- puḷḷiṉ vāy kīṇṭāṉaip
- who tore open the beak of the bird-demon Baka
- pollā arakkaṉaik
- the wicked demon, Ravana
- pāvaik-kaḷam
- the place where the vow is kept
- veḷḷi eḻuntu viyāḻam uṟaṅkiṟṟu
- Venus has risen and Jupiter has set
- pōtu-arik kaṇṇiṉāy
- O girl with eyes like flowers
- kuḷḷak kuḷirak kuṭaintu
- plunging into the bitter cold water
- kaḷḷam tavirntu
- giving up your pretence
Tiruppavai 14 · verse 487 of the four thousand
Meaning
Look, in the pond of the garden behind your house the red water lilies have opened and the night lilies have closed. The ascetics in ochre robes, with white teeth, are going to their temple to sound the conch. O girl who boasted that you would wake us first, get up! Shameless one, clever talker! Sing the lotus-eyed Lord whose great hands hold the conch and the discus.
Word by word
- puḻaikkaṭait tōṭṭattu
- in the garden behind the house
- ceṅkaḻunīr vāy nekiḻntu
- the red lilies have opened
- āmpal vāy kūmpiṉa
- the night lilies have closed
- ceṅkaṟpoṭik kūṟai
- robes dyed with red ochre
- nāṇātāy nāvuṭaiyāy
- shameless one, one with a clever tongue
- taṭakkaiyaṉ
- the One with great hands
- paṅkayak kaṇṇāṉaip
- the lotus-eyed Lord
Tiruppavai 15 · verse 488 of the four thousand
Meaning
(A conversation at the door.) "Hey, young parrot, are you still asleep?" "Don't shout at me so shrilly, ladies, I am coming." "You are clever; we have long known your sharp tongue." "You are the clever ones. Let it be my fault, then." "Come out quickly! What else is there for you to do?" "Has everyone come?" "They have; come out and count them." Come and sing the Wondrous One, who killed the mighty elephant and can wipe out the strength of His enemies.
Word by word
- ellē iḷaṅkiḷiyē
- hey, young parrot
- cil eṉṟu aḻaiyēṉmiṉ
- do not call so shrilly
- kaṭṭuraikaḷ
- sharp, clever words
- nāṉē tāṉ āyiṭuka
- let it be me, let it be my fault
- eṇṇikkoḷ
- count them yourself
- val āṉai koṉṟāṉai
- who killed the mighty elephant Kuvalayapida
- māyaṉaip
- the Wondrous One
Tiruppavai 16 · verse 489 of the four thousand
Meaning
O guard of the palace of Nandagopa, who is our leader! O guard of the arched gateway where banners fly, unbolt the jewelled door! The Wondrous One, the sapphire-coloured Lord, promised us little cowherd girls yesterday that He would give us the sounding drum. We have come pure, to sing Him awake. Sir, do not turn us away with a word first; open this door, firmly set and dear to us.
Word by word
- nāyakaṉāy niṉṟa
- who stands as our leader
- kōyil kāppāṉē
- O guard of the palace
- koṭit tōṉṟum tōraṇa
- the arched gateway where banners fly
- aṟai paṟai
- the sounding drum
- maṇivaṇṇaṉ
- the Lord the colour of sapphire
- neṉṉalē vāynērntāṉ
- promised yesterday
- nēya nilaik katavam
- the door, firmly set and dear to us
Tiruppavai 17 · verse 490 of the four thousand
Meaning
Nandagopala, our lord, who gives clothes, water and food in charity, wake up! Yashoda, our lady, tender shoot among all women slender as creepers, lamp of our clan, awake! O King of the immortals, who rose up through the sky and measured the worlds, do not sleep, wake up! O Baladeva, rich one with anklets of red gold on your feet, may you and your younger brother wake.
Word by word
- amparamē taṇṇīrē cōṟē
- clothes, water, food
- aṟañ ceyyum
- who gives in charity
- kompaṉārkku ellām koḻuntē
- tender shoot among women slender as creepers
- kula viḷakkē
- lamp of the clan
- amparam ūṭu aṟuttu
- piercing through the sky
- umpar kōmāṉē
- O King of the immortals
- cempoṟ kaḻalaṭic
- feet with anklets of red gold
- umpiyum nīyum
- you and your younger brother, Krishna
Tiruppavai 18 · verse 491 of the four thousand
Meaning
O Nappinnai, daughter-in-law of Nandagopala, who owns elephants surging in their strength and whose shoulders never turn back in battle! O lady with fragrant hair, open the door! See, the cocks have come out and called everywhere, and the flocks of cuckoos have sung again and again on the madhavi bower. O girl with a ball in your fingers, so that we may sing the name of your beloved, come gladly and open the door with your red-lotus hands, your fine bangles chiming.
Word by word
- untu mata kaḷiṟṟaṉ
- who owns surging elephants in rut
- ōṭāta tōḷ-valiyaṉ
- whose mighty shoulders never retreat
- nappiṉṉāy
- O Nappinnai, Krishna's beloved
- kantam kamaḻum kuḻalī
- O lady with fragrant hair
- mātavip
- the madhavi creeper
- pantār virali
- O girl holding a ball in her fingers
- maittuṉaṉ
- your cousin and beloved, Krishna
- cīr ār vaḷai olippa
- your fine bangles chiming
Tiruppavai 19 · verse 492 of the four thousand
Meaning
With the standing lamp burning, on a cot with ivory legs, on a soft bed, You lie with Your head on the breast of Nappinnai, whose hair is full of clustered blossoms. O broad-chested Lord, open Your mouth and speak! O lady of wide, kohl-lined eyes, you will not let your husband rise from sleep for even a moment; you cannot bear to be parted from Him at all. That is not right, and not fitting.
Word by word
- kuttu viḷakku
- the tall standing lamp
- kōṭṭukkāṟ kaṭṭilmēl
- on a cot with legs of ivory
- pañca-cayaṉattiṉ
- a soft bed of five layers
- kottu alar pūṅkuḻal
- hair full of clustered blossoms
- malar mārpā
- O broad-chested Lord
- mait taṭaṅkaṇṇiṉāy
- O lady of wide, kohl-lined eyes
- tattuvam aṉṟu takavu
- it is neither right nor fitting
Tiruppavai 20 · verse 493 of the four thousand
Meaning
O valiant One, who goes ahead of the thirty-three gods and drives away their fear, wake up! O upright One, mighty One, Spotless One who brings fever to His enemies, wake up! O Nappinnai, lovely lady with soft breasts, red lips and a slender waist, O Lakshmi Herself, wake up! Give us the fan and the mirror, and your husband too, and let us bathe right now.
Word by word
- muppattu mūvar amararkku
- for the thirty-three gods
- kappam tavirkkum
- who removes their trembling fear
- kaliyē
- O valiant One
- ceppam uṭaiyāy
- O upright One, true to His word
- vimalā
- O Spotless One
- nappiṉṉai naṅkāy tiruvē
- O lady Nappinnai, Lakshmi Herself
- ukkamum taṭṭoḷiyum
- the fan and the mirror
Tiruppavai 21 · verse 494 of the four thousand
Meaning
Son of the one who owns great, generous cows beyond counting, which pour out milk without stopping until the vessels held beneath them overflow, awake! O steadfast One, great One, Light that appeared in this world, wake up! Just as Your enemies, their strength spent, come helpless to Your door and bow at Your feet, so we have come, praising You.
Word by word
- ēṟṟa kalaṅkaḷ
- the vessels held beneath them
- etir poṅki mītu aḷippa
- overflowing as they fill
- āṟṟap paṭaittāṉ makaṉē
- O son of Nandagopa who owns so many cows
- ūṟṟam uṭaiyāy
- O steadfast One
- tōṟṟamāy niṉṟa cuṭarē
- O Light who appeared in this world
- vali tolaintu
- their strength spent
- aṭipaṇiyumā pōlē
- just as they bow at Your feet
Tiruppavai 22 · verse 495 of the four thousand
Meaning
Like the kings of this wide and beautiful earth who, their pride broken, come and crowd together beneath Your royal couch, we too have come and gathered here. Like a lotus half open as the mouth of a little bell, will Your red eyes open on us, slowly, little by little? If You look upon us with those two lovely eyes, as if the moon and the sun had risen together, the curse that lies on us will fall away.
Word by word
- aṅkaṇ mā ñālattu
- of this wide and beautiful earth
- apimāṉa paṅkamāy
- their pride broken
- paḷḷikkaṭṭiṟ kīḻē
- beneath Your royal couch
- kiṅkiṇivāyc ceyta
- half open like the mouth of a little bell
- ceṅkaṇ ciṟuc ciṟitē
- Your red eyes, little by little
- tiṅkaḷum ātittiyaṉum
- the moon and the sun
- cāpam iḻintu
- the curse falls away
Tiruppavai 23 · verse 496 of the four thousand
Meaning
Like a noble lion that has lain asleep in a mountain cave through the rains, then wakes, its eyes flashing fire, shakes out its fragrant mane, stretches every way, roars and strides out, so may You, Lord with the colour of the kaya blossom, come out from Your chamber to this place. Sit upon Your splendid, finely made lion throne, look into the purpose for which we have come, and grant it.
Word by word
- māri malai muḻaiñcil
- in a mountain cave in the rainy season
- cīriya ciṅkam
- the noble lion
- tī viḻittu
- opening eyes that flash fire
- vēri mayir poṅka
- its fragrant mane bristling
- mūri nimirntu
- stretching out its body
- pūvaippū vaṇṇā
- O Lord with the colour of the dark kaya blossom
- ciṅkācaṉattu
- on the lion throne
- kāriyam ārāyntu aruḷ
- look into our purpose and grant it
Tiruppavai 24 · verse 497 of the four thousand
Meaning
Glory to Your feet, that measured this world that day! Glory to Your strength, that went there and destroyed southern Lanka! Glory to Your fame, that kicked the cart to pieces! Glory to Your anklet, when You flung the calf like a stick! Glory to Your goodness, that lifted the mountain as an umbrella! Glory to the spear in Your hand that wins and destroys the foe! Praising Your brave deeds again and again, we have come today to receive the drum. Have mercy on us.
Word by word
- aṉṟu iv ulakam aḷantāy
- You who measured this world that day
- aṭi pōṟṟi
- glory to Your feet
- poṉṟac cakaṭam utaittāy
- You who kicked the cart to its end
- kaṉṟu kuṇilā eṟintāy
- You who flung the calf-demon like a throwing stick
- kuṉṟu kuṭaiyā eṭuttāy
- You who held up the hill Govardhana as an umbrella
- cēvakamē
- Your heroic deeds
- iraṅku
- have mercy
Tiruppavai 25 · verse 498 of the four thousand
Meaning
Born as the son of one mother, that very night You went to grow up in hiding as the son of another. When Kamsa could not bear it and plotted evil, You brought his plan to nothing and stood like fire in his belly, O great and loving Lord! We have come asking for You. If You give us the drum, we will sing Your wealth, worthy of Lakshmi, and Your brave deeds, and our sorrow over, we will rejoice.
Word by word
- orutti makaṉāyp piṟantu
- born as the son of one woman, Devaki
- orutti makaṉāy oḷittu vaḷarat
- growing up hidden as the son of another, Yashoda
- tarikkilāṉ
- unable to bear it
- kañcaṉ vayiṟṟil
- in Kamsa's belly
- neruppu eṉṉa niṉṟa
- who stood like fire
- neṭumālē
- O great Lord, boundless in love
- aruttittu
- begging, asking for You
- tirut takka celvamum
- wealth worthy of Lakshmi
Tiruppavai 26 · verse 499 of the four thousand
Meaning
O loving Lord, sapphire-coloured One! If You ask what we need for the Margazhi bath, as our elders kept it: conches like Your milk-white Panchajanya, whose roar makes the whole world tremble; very great drums; singers of "Pallandu", long life to You; beautiful lamps; banners; and a canopy. O Lord who lay on a banyan leaf, grant us these.
Word by word
- mālē maṇivaṇṇā
- O loving Lord, sapphire-coloured One
- mēlaiyār ceyvaṉakaḷ
- what our elders have done
- ñālattai ellām naṭuṅka
- making the whole world tremble
- pāñcacaṉṉiyamē
- Panchajanya, the Lord's conch
- cālap perum paṟaiyē
- very great drums
- pallāṇṭu icaippārē
- those who sing "Pallandu", long life to Him
- vitāṉamē
- a canopy
- āliṉ ilaiyāy
- O Lord who lay on a banyan leaf
Tiruppavai 27 · verse 500 of the four thousand
Meaning
O Govinda, glorious One who wins over even those who do not come to You! The reward we receive for singing You and taking the drum is one the whole land will praise. We will wear fine ornaments of every kind: bracelets, armlets, ear studs, ear flowers and anklets. We will put on new clothes. And then, sitting together, we will eat rice cooked in milk, so covered in ghee that it runs down to our elbows, and our hearts will be cool with joy.
Word by word
- kūṭārai vellum
- who wins over those who do not join Him
- kōvintā
- Govinda, protector of the cows
- cammāṉam
- the reward, the gift of honour
- cūṭakamē tōḷvaḷaiyē
- bracelets and armlets
- tōṭē cevip pūvē
- ear studs and ear flowers
- pāṟ cōṟu
- rice cooked in milk
- muḻaṅkai vaḻivārak
- running down to the elbows
- kūṭiyiruntu kuḷirntu
- sitting together, cool with joy
Tiruppavai 28 · verse 501 of the four thousand
Meaning
We follow the cows to the forest and eat there; we belong to a cowherd clan without any learning. Yet we have this one merit: You were born among us. O Govinda, who lacks nothing, the bond between You and us here can never be broken, whoever tries to end it. We are ignorant children; if out of love we called You by small names, do not be angry with us. O Lord, give us the drum.
Word by word
- kaṟavaikaḷ piṉ ceṉṟu
- following the cows
- aṟivu oṉṟum illāta
- without any learning at all
- piṟavi peṟuntaṉaip puṇṇiyam
- the merit of having You born among us
- kuṟaivu oṉṟum illāta
- who lacks nothing at all
- uṟavēl namakku
- the bond between You and us
- oḻikka oḻiyātu
- cannot be broken, even if one tries
- ciṟupēr aḻaittaṉavum
- that we called You by small, familiar names
- cīṟiyaruḷātē
- please do not be angry
Tiruppavai 29 · verse 502 of the four thousand
Meaning
Hear why we came so very early to worship You and praise Your golden lotus feet. You were born in our clan, who live by grazing cattle; You cannot refuse to take from us our close, personal service. We have not come just to receive a drum today, Govinda. For all time, for seven times seven births, we will be bound to You alone, and to You alone we will be servants. Take away every other desire of ours. Here the drum is shown to be service to Him.
Word by word
- ciṟṟañ ciṟukālē
- very, very early in the morning
- poṟṟāmarai aṭiyē
- Your golden lotus feet
- peṟṟam mēyttu uṇṇum kulattiṟ
- in the clan that lives by grazing cattle
- kuṟṟēval
- close, personal service
- iṟṟaip paṟaikoḷvāṉ aṉṟu
- not to receive a drum today
- eṟṟaikkum ēḻ ēḻ piṟavikkum
- for all time, for seven times seven births
- uṉakkē nām āṭceyvōm
- we will serve You alone
- maṟṟai nam kāmaṅkaḷ māṟṟu
- take away all our other desires
Tiruppavai 30 · verse 503 of the four thousand
Meaning
Girls with fine jewels and faces like the moon went and bowed to Madhava, Kesava, who churned the ocean full of ships, and received the drum there. This is the story told in thirty Tamil verses, a garland sung by Kodai, Andal, daughter of Bhattarpiran of beautiful Puduvai, who wears a cool garland of fresh lotuses. Those who recite all thirty here without fail will receive, everywhere, the grace of the glorious Lord Thirumal, with His four great mountain-like shoulders, red eyes and beautiful face, and they will be happy.
Word by word
- vaṅkak kaṭal kaṭainta
- who churned the ocean full of ships
- tiṅkaḷ-tirumukattuc
- with faces lovely as the moon
- cēyiḻaiyār
- girls wearing fine jewels
- aṇi putuvaip
- of beautiful Puduvai, Srivilliputhur
- paṭṭarpirāṉ kōtai
- Kodai, Andal, daughter of Bhattarpiran, Periyalwar
- caṅkat tamiḻmālai
- a garland of Tamil verses, sung in company
- īriraṇṭu māl varait tōḷ
- four great shoulders like mountains
- eṅkum tiruvaruḷ peṟṟu
- receiving His grace everywhere
Verse text: the word-separated e-text of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Project Madurai, checked verse by verse against its second edition. Meanings are simple renderings in the light of the acharyas' commentaries, written for this site, and are awaiting a scholar's review.