Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.1 · verse 1922 of the four thousand
Meaning
(A cowherd girl sulks at Krishna, who has come to her late at night.) Studs in your ears, a fine cloth wrapped round you, adorned with lovely cool tulasi rich in pollen, you let the hour go by, and now you come and stand outside. Why? What is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- kātil kaṭippu iṭṭu
- studs in your ears
- kaliṅkam uṭuttu
- wrapped in a fine cloth
- tātu nalla taṇ am tuḻāy
- lovely cool tulasi rich in pollen
- pōtu maṟuttu
- letting the hour go by
- puṟamē vantu niṉṟīr
- you come and stand outside
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.2 · verse 1923 of the four thousand
Meaning
Dressed in an ochre cloth, twirling a ball, your hair tied up in a forked knot, a fine sash bound tight, you come and stand outside the door set in the wall. Who is this? What is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- tuvar āṭai
- an ochre-red cloth
- ceṇṭu ciluppi
- twirling a ball
- kavar āka muṭittu
- hair tied in a forked knot
- kalik kaccuk kaṭṭi
- a fine sash bound tight
- ivar ār?
- who is this?
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.3 · verse 1924 of the four thousand
Meaning
You who own the one and only Garuda banner, peerless charioteer, You who angrily stretched out Your foot and sent the cart rolling! You came singing a melody of love and entered the house. In the dark, what is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- karuḷak koṭi
- the Garuda banner
- taṉip pākīr
- peerless charioteer
- uruḷac cakaṭam
- the cart, sent rolling
- maruḷaikkoṭu pāṭi
- singing a melody, the marul tune
- iruḷattu
- in the dark
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.4 · verse 1925 of the four thousand
Meaning
O noble Narayana, You who have so many names, You smell strongly of Your tulasi garland! Singing as though You were Kama, the god of love, You came and entered the house. At midnight, what is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- nāmam palavum uṭai
- You who have many names
- nāraṇa nampī
- O noble Narayana
- tāmat tuḷavam
- the tulasi garland
- kāmaṉ eṉap pāṭi
- singing as though You were Kama
- ēmattu
- at midnight
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.5 · verse 1926 of the four thousand
Meaning
Your curling locks hanging down, a dagger at Your side, adorned with many great gems and gold besides, You came into the courtyard and stood there smiling. What for? What is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- cuṟṟum kuḻal tāḻa
- curling locks hanging down
- curikai aṇaittu
- a dagger at Your side
- mā maṇi poṉ
- great gems and gold
- muṟṟam pukuntu
- entering the courtyard
- muṟuval ceytu
- smiling
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.6 · verse 1927 of the four thousand
Meaning
Leaving the cowherds and the herds of cattle back there, holding a curved, victorious bow in Your hand, You come in only after checking who has gone and who is still here. In front of the others, what is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- āṉ-āyarum
- the cowherds
- ā-niraiyum
- the herds of cattle
- kūṉ āyatu ōr koṟṟa vil
- a curved, victorious bow
- pōṉār iruntāraiyum pārttu
- checking who has gone and who is still here
- ēṉōrkaḷ muṉ
- in front of the others
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.7 · verse 1928 of the four thousand
Meaning
O Bridegroom whose rounded shoulders fought the wrestlers! We knew in the night what You had in mind. You never stop making promises, yet You never come at the hour You named. Ah, You! What is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- mallē poruta tiraḷ tōḷ
- rounded shoulders that fought the wrestlers
- maṇavāḷīr
- O Bridegroom
- num maṉattiṉ karuttai
- what You had in mind
- collātu oḻiyīr
- You never stop making promises
- coṉṉapōtiṉāl vārīr
- You never come at the hour You named
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.8 · verse 1929 of the four thousand
Meaning
O pure One, who plunged in and held the dancing serpent and made it dance! These days we are nothing at all to You; You have so many worthy queens. Alas! What is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- āṭu aravam piṭittu āṭṭum
- who held the dancing serpent and made it dance, Kaliya
- puṉitīr
- O pure One
- ētoṉṟum allōm
- we are nothing at all
- takkār palar tēvimār
- many worthy queens
- ekkē
- alas!
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.9 · verse 1930 of the four thousand
Meaning
Dancing and swaying, You went off with the young cowherd girls and joined hands in the kuravai circle dance, You tender lad! And all the while great Sri and the Earth-lady stand searching for You. O friend, what is this? What is this? What is all this?
Word by word
- āy maṭavāroṭu
- with the young cowherd girls
- kuravai piṇai
- joined hands in the kuravai circle dance
- kōmaḷap piḷḷāy
- You tender lad
- tiru mā makaḷ maṇmakaḷ
- great Sri and the Earth-lady
- ēṭi
- O friend, a girl's call to her companion
Periya Tirumozhi 10.8.10 · verse 1931 of the four thousand
Meaning
This garland tells how a cowherd girl sulked at night with the Lord whose eyes are like petalled lotuses. Kaliyan, Thirumangai Alwar, whose shoulders are full and firm as rock, made it. Those who recite it and praise Him will be free of sorrow.
Word by word
- allik kamalak kaṇṇaṉai
- the Lord with eyes like petalled lotuses
- ellip poḻutu
- at night
- ūṭiya ūṭal
- the sulking, a lovers' quarrel
- kalliṉ mali tōḷ
- shoulders full and firm as rock
- tukkam ilarē
- will be free of sorrow
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.