Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.1 · verse 1068 of the four thousand
Meaning
He struck down the great bow festival, Kamsa, the wrestlers, the elephant and its mahout, so that all fell. He is the God who removed the grievous affliction of Shiva, who had burnt the cities. He took the whip in hand and stood before Arjuna's chariot so that the foes perished. At the word of His younger mother He gave up His crown. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- vil peru viḻavum
- the great festival of the bow, in Kamsa's Mathura
- vēḻamum pākaṉum
- the elephant and its mahout
- puram eri ceyta civaṉ
- Shiva, who burnt the three cities
- uṟu tuyar kaḷai tēvai
- the God who removed his grievous affliction
- kōl kaiyil koṇṭu
- taking the charioteer's whip in hand
- ciṟṟavai paṇiyāl
- at the bidding of His younger mother, Kaikeyi
- tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇṭēṉē
- I saw Him at Thiruvallikeni (Triplicane)
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.2 · verse 1069 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the Veda, and the sweet fruit and essence of the Veda; the flawless sweet fruit that great sages swallow whole; Nandagopa's young elephant; the First Cause whom all the people of the earth worship and praise; the Nectar; my Father who owns me as His servant. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni in great Mayilai of mansions, where women without equal live.
Word by word
- vētattiṉ cuvaip payaṉai
- the sweet fruit and essence of the Veda
- viḻumiya muṉivarar viḻuṅkum
- that great sages swallow whole
- kōtu il iṉ kaṉiyai
- the flawless sweet fruit
- nantaṉār kaḷiṟṟai
- Nandagopa's young elephant
- eṉṉai āḷ uṭai appaṉai
- my Father who owns me as His servant
- māṭa mā mayilai
- great Mayilai (Mylapore) of mansions
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.3 · verse 1070 of the four thousand
Meaning
The demoness came in a mother's form to deceive Him; she screamed and fell to the earth as He drank her life through her poisoned breast. He is the Master, the death of the danavas. Long ago He took a woman's form and gave out the nectar of lovely taste, while the vidyadharas, gods, charanas and siddhas marvelled and praised. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- tāy uru āki vanta pēy
- the demoness who came in a mother's form, Putana
- nañcu amar mulai
- the poisoned breast
- tāṉavar kūṟṟai
- death to the danavas
- viñcai vāṉavar cāraṇar cittar
- vidyadharas, gods, charanas and siddhas, beings of heaven
- peṇ uru āki
- taking a woman's form, Mohini
- am cuvai amutam
- the nectar of lovely taste
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.4 · verse 1071 of the four thousand
Meaning
The cowherds had prepared a lovely festival for Indra. When Indra did not receive the worship due by the old rule of mantras, he poured down rain. The cowherds, faltering, cried, 'Our Lord, be gracious, so that we and our herds of cows do not perish!' He stopped the rain with a hill without end. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- intiraṉukku eṉṟu
- meant for Indra
- eḻil viḻavil
- in the lovely festival
- paḻa naṭaicey mantira vitiyil
- by the old rule of mantras
- iṉa ā-nirai
- the herds of cows
- antam il varaiyāl
- with a hill without end, Govardhana
- maḻai taṭuttāṉai
- Him who stopped the rain
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.5 · verse 1072 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the joy of Lakshmi, Lady of the lotus, His sweet companion; He is Lord of the good Earth; He is Lord of Nappinnai, the cowherd girl, His companion, and of all others. Becoming the strong support of the five Pandavas, He went as their messenger carrying their spoken word. He is my companion, the Lord of my father and of his father. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- patumattu alarmakaḷ
- the Lady of the lotus flower, Lakshmi
- nal puvi-taṉakku iṟaivaṉ
- Lord of the good Earth, Bhudevi
- āyar pāvai nappiṉṉai
- Nappinnai, the cowherd girl
- pañca pāṇṭavarkku
- for the five Pandavas
- vāy urai tūtu
- as messenger carrying their spoken word
- eṉ tuṇai
- my companion
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.6 · verse 1073 of the four thousand
Meaning
The blind king's son, younger brother of that king of kings, went up to Draupadi, the jewelled lady, and said, 'Be our servant.' Unable to bear it, she cried, 'Our Lord, be gracious!' So that the sorrow of the lady with fragrant dark hair might end, and the wives of the hundred brothers lose their wedding threads, He stood before the chariot of Indra's son. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- antakaṉ ciṟuvaṉ
- son of the blind king Dhritarashtra
- aṇi iḻaiyai
- the jewelled lady, Draupadi
- urimai cey
- be our servant
- cantam al kuḻalāḷ
- the lady with fragrant dark hair
- nūṟṟuvar-tam peṇṭirum
- the wives of the hundred Kauravas
- nūl iḻappa
- losing their wedding threads
- intiraṉ ciṟuvaṉ
- Indra's son, Arjuna
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.7 · verse 1074 of the four thousand
Meaning
Bharata and his younger brother Shatrughna, with Lakshmana and Maithili, praise Him night and bright day as He stands there: the slayer of Ravana, my Lord. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni, where in cool groves fragrant with kuravam blossom the peacocks dance as the koels sing, and the rays of the sun have never found a way in.
Word by word
- parataṉum tampi catturukkaṉaṉum
- Bharata and his younger brother Shatrughna
- maitiliyum
- and Maithili, Sita
- irāvaṇāntakaṉai
- the slayer of Ravana
- kuravamē kamaḻum
- fragrant with kuravam blossom
- kuyiloṭu mayilkaḷ niṉṟu āla
- peacocks dancing with the koels
- iraviyiṉ katirkaḷ
- the rays of the sun
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.8 · verse 1075 of the four thousand
Meaning
His little son came home from school, and a thousand holy names flowed from his mouth, shining. Unable to bear it at all, the father raged at the child and in fury struck the pillar. Then the God became a radiant lion, with crescent teeth, eyes of fire and a cavernous mouth. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni!
Word by word
- paḷḷiyil ōti vanta
- who came back from his lessons at school
- taṉ ciṟuvaṉ
- his little son, Prahlada
- ōr āyiram nāmam
- a thousand holy names
- tūṇ puṭaippa
- as he struck the pillar
- piṟai eyiṟṟu aṉal viḻi
- crescent teeth and fiery eyes
- teḷḷiya ciṅkam
- the radiant lion
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.9 · verse 1076 of the four thousand
Meaning
A forest elephant went down with longing into a pool where fish live, to pluck fresh flowers. When the crocodile seized its leg, it raised its trunk and screamed. To end the elephant's distress, He rode on the bird, went, stood there and let fly the discus. Him I saw at Thiruvallikeni in great Mayilai of mansions and honey-filled groves.
Word by word
- mīṉ amar poykai
- a pool where fish live
- kāṉ amar vēḻam
- the forest elephant, Gajendra
- kaieṭuttu alaṟa
- raising its trunk and screaming
- karā
- the crocodile
- puḷ ūrntu
- riding on the bird, Garuda
- āḻitoṭṭāṉai
- Him who let fly the discus
Periya Tirumozhi 2.3.10 · verse 1077 of the four thousand
Meaning
With lasting cool groves, tanks, walls, mansions and halls, good Mayilai's Thiruvallikeni was built by the southern king, lord of the Tondai people; and there the Lord stands. Kalikanri of lovely glory, Thirumangai Alwar, chief of Mangai with its fine mansions, spoke this garland of ten. Those who master it will rule the world of heaven in sweet happiness.
Word by word
- maṉṉu taṇ poḻilum
- lasting cool groves
- teṉṉaṉ toṇṭaiyar-kōṉ
- the southern king, lord of the Tondai people
- tiruvallikkēṇi niṉṟāṉai
- the Lord who stands at Thiruvallikeni
- kāmaru cīrk kalikaṉṟi
- Kalikanri of lovely glory
- cukam iṉitu āḷvar
- will enjoy sweet happiness
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.