Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.1 · verse 360 of the four thousand
Meaning
In Thirukkottiyur live people whose tongues speak no wrong word, who welcome and feed guests every day, who perform the worship of the Lord, and who live by learning the Veda. The First One there sets right the work of all three gods. As for those sinners who never think of Him, how could the Creator ever have made them?
Word by word
- nā akāriyam col ilātavar
- those whose tongues speak nothing wrong
- viruntu ōmpuvār
- who welcome and feed guests
- tēva kāriyam ceytu
- performing the worship of the Lord
- mūvarkāriyamum tiruttum
- who sets right the work of the three gods
- mutalvaṉaic
- the First One, the cause of all
- pāvakārikaḷaip
- the sinners
- eṅṅaṉam paṭaittāṉ kolō
- how could He have created them?
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.2 · verse 361 of the four thousand
Meaning
In Thirukkottiyur live generous people without fault, ever growing in virtue, devoted to their teachers, with no trace of anger in them. Those who will not worship the pure, gem-hued Lord there, who once gathered up and swallowed the seven worlds, were born only to bring great pain to the wombs of the mothers who bore them.
Word by word
- kuṟṟam iṉṟik kuṇam perukkik
- without fault, ever growing in virtue
- kurukkaḷukku aṉukūlarāyc
- devoted and obedient to their teachers
- ceṟṟam oṉṟum ilāta
- without any anger
- ēḻ ulaku uṇṭa
- who swallowed the seven worlds
- tū maṇi
- pure gem, the Lord's hue
- peru nōyceyvāṉ
- only to cause great pain
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.3 · verse 362 of the four thousand
Meaning
Thirukkottiyur is ringed with verandas set with bright gems and emeralds that throw out a glow. The fingers they were given are made for counting the holy names of Thirumal who lives there; yet they never count them even for a moment, but go off and push mouthful after mouthful into their foul mouths, which know only eating.
Word by word
- vaṇṇa nal maṇiyum marakatamum
- bright gems and emeralds
- tiṇṇai cūḻ
- ringed with raised verandas
- mālavaṉ tirunāmaṅkaḷ
- the holy names of Thirumal
- eṇṇak kaṇṭa viralkaḷāl
- with fingers made for counting
- pōtum eṇṇakilātu
- not counting them even a moment
- ūttai vāykkuk
- into their foul mouths
- kavaḷam untukiṉṟārkaḷē
- they push in mouthfuls of food
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.4 · verse 363 of the four thousand
Meaning
In the red-lotus fields of Thirukkottiyur, young swans, white like the conch that rests in the hand of the Lord who lies on the soft serpent bed, spread out in rows and flocks and climb onto the flowers. Those of human birth who never call on Him, the Destroyer of hell, with their tongues: what sin did the water they drink and the cloth they wear commit, to have to serve such people?
Word by word
- uraka mel aṇaiyāṉ
- He who lies on the soft serpent bed
- caṅkam pōl maṭa aṉṉaṅkaḷ
- young swans, white like His conch
- narakanācaṉai
- the Destroyer of hell
- nāviṟ koṇṭu
- with their tongues
- māṉiṭa cātiyar
- those of human birth
- pāvam ceytaṉa tām kolō
- what sin did these commit?
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.5 · verse 364 of the four thousand
Meaning
In the waters of Thirukkottiyur, young valai fish leap from the backs of tortoises, thrash the pure flowers about and play their mischief. As for those hard-hearted ones who never think of the Lord whose broad hand holds the discus, mere burdens on the earth: take away the rice they eat, and stuff grass into them instead.
Word by word
- āmaiyiṉ mutukattiṭaik kuti koṇṭu
- leaping on the backs of tortoises
- iḷavāḷaikaḷ
- young valai fish
- nēmi cēr taṭaṅkaiyiṉāṉai
- Him whose broad hand holds the discus
- vali neñcu
- hard hearts
- pūmi-pāraṅkaḷ
- burdens on the earth
- pullait tiṇimiṉē
- stuff them with grass
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.6 · verse 365 of the four thousand
Meaning
In Thirukkottiyur live generous people whose bodies of the five elements, whose five daily sacrifices, and whose five senses and their organs are all free of fault. Those who praise its Lord, Narasimha, again and again: because the dust their feet stir up falls on this world, the world has been blessed.
Word by word
- pūtam aintoṭu
- with the five elements of the body
- vēḷvi aintu
- the five daily sacrifices
- pulaṉkaḷ aintu poṟikaḷāl
- the five senses and their organs
- nātaṉai naraciṅkaṉai
- the Lord, Narasimha
- pāta tūḷi
- the dust of their feet
- pākkiyam ceytatē
- has been blessed
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.7 · verse 366 of the four thousand
Meaning
In Thirukkottiyur the knowers of the four Vedas, perfect in conduct, go along with the Lord who broke the kurundam tree, gather, dance and hold His festivals, and praise Him night and day. There are devotees who hold the Lord, dark as a great rain cloud, as their final refuge and worship Him with joined hands. What penance did the people who merely live in the same town as these devotees perform?
Word by word
- kuruntam oṉṟu ocittāṉoṭum
- with Him who broke the kurundam tree
- viḻāc ceytu
- holding festivals
- tiruntu nāṉmaṟaiyōr
- perfected knowers of the four Vedas
- karun taṭamukil vaṇṇaṉaik
- the Lord, dark as a great rain cloud
- kaṭaik koṇṭu
- holding Him as the final refuge
- ettavaṅkaḷ ceytār kolō
- what penances did they perform?
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.8 · verse 367 of the four thousand
Meaning
The red-eyed Lord took into His service Selvan, called Abhimanatunga, gentle in nature, firm in right conduct, clear of mind every day. He is Govinda, who dwells gladly in cool Thirukkottiyur. In a land where those who sing His qualities live, not even rakshasas will be able to seize the grain that grows there.
Word by word
- naḷirnta cīlaṉ
- gentle by nature
- nayācalaṉ
- unshaken in right conduct
- teḷinta celvaṉaic
- Selvan, clear of mind
- cēvakaṅ koṇṭa
- who took into His service
- ceṅkaṇ māl
- the red-eyed Lord
- kuṇam pāṭuvār
- those who sing His qualities
- irākkatar
- rakshasas, demons
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.9 · verse 368 of the four thousand
Meaning
In the groves full of branches, flocks of cuckoos sing the qualities of Govinda; Thirukkottiyur is ringed with walls of red gold and rich fields. When I see those who praise its Lord, the faithful One, Narasimha, again and again, I say: these, these are the very marks of my Lord. Then all my longings are fulfilled.
Word by word
- kuyiliṉam
- flocks of cuckoos
- cempoṉ ār matil cūḻ
- ringed with walls of red gold
- nampaṉai naraciṅkaṉai
- the faithful Lord, Narasimha
- naviṉṟu ēttuvārkaḷaik
- those who praise Him again and again
- empirāṉ taṉa ciṉṉaṅkaḷ
- the very marks of my Lord
- ācaikaḷ tīrvaṉē
- my longings are fulfilled
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.10 · verse 369 of the four thousand
Meaning
In Thirukkottiyur live generous people who, even in hard times when food is dear, do not hide what they have but feed others freely, asking nothing back, and win the praise of the land. Devotees who call out there, Kesava, Purushottama, One of blazing radiance, little Dwarf! may even sell me if they wish; I am theirs.
Word by word
- kāciṉ vāyk karam viṟkilum
- even when grain sells dear
- māṟṟu ili cōṟu iṭṭut
- feeding others, asking nothing in return
- tēca vārttai paṭaikkum
- earning the praise of the land
- kēcavā puruṭōttamā
- O Kesava, O Purushottama, Supreme Person
- kuṟaḷā
- O little Dwarf, Vamana
- viṟkavum peṟuvārkaḷē
- they may even sell me
Periyalwar Tirumozhi 4.4.11 · verse 370 of the four thousand
Meaning
Vishnuchitta, Periyalwar, the faultless Pattarpiran, lord of cool Puduvai, has spoken of the devotees of the First Lord of Thirukkottiyur, ringed by cool waters and rich fields, and of those who wander about without serving Him. Those who recite his words without fault will become servants of Hrishikesa.
Word by word
- cīta nīr puṭai cūḻ
- ringed by cool waters
- ātiyāṉ aṭiyāraiyum
- the devotees of the First Lord
- aṭimaiyiṉṟit tirivāraiyum
- those who wander without serving Him
- kōtil paṭṭarpirāṉ
- faultless Pattarpiran, Periyalwar
- putuvaimaṉ
- lord of Puduvai, Srivilliputtur
- iruṭīkēcaṉukku āḷarē
- will be servants of Hrishikesa
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.