Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.1 · verse 1118 of the four thousand
Meaning
Shiva, who burnt the three cities, and Brahma on the flower marvelled; He roared like the great sea with breaking waves; the three worlds bowed to Him in due order. With a mane like fire and gleaming teeth, He split Hiranya's chest in two, taking the form of a lion. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- tiripuram mūṉṟu erittāṉum
- Shiva, who burnt the three cities
- malarmicaimēl ayaṉum
- Brahma on the flower
- muri tirai mā kaṭal pōl muḻaṅki
- roaring like the great sea with breaking waves
- eri aṉa kēcara
- a mane like fire
- ari uru
- the form of a lion
- aṭṭapuyakarattēṉ
- I am of Ashtabhujakaram, the eight-armed Lord's shrine in Kanchi
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.2 · verse 1119 of the four thousand
Meaning
He looks like a hero among heroes of fierce strength. Is He the God whom the immortals worship, reciting the Vedas, and whom those who sing fine Tamil worship? I cannot make it out. He looks like the Brahmin who came as a dwarf, grew tall, and measured the earth at Mahabali's sacrifice. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- vem tiṟal vīraril vīrar
- a hero among heroes of fierce strength
- centamiḻ pāṭuvār
- those who sing fine Tamil
- terikkamāṭṭēṉ
- I cannot make it out
- kuṟaḷ uruvāy nimirntu
- growing tall from a dwarf's form
- māvali vēḷviyil
- at Mahabali's sacrifice
- antaṇar pōṉṟivar
- He looks like that Brahmin
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.3 · verse 1120 of the four thousand
Meaning
In His right hand, bright with red gold, an arrow; a strong bow, with a mace and conch; a bright sword; the discus, like the two lights of heaven; a shield; and a bright flower: He holds them all. Oh, what a sight! He plucked out a white tusk so that the mighty elephant, burning with rage, fell. Like a dark rain cloud He stands. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- valaṅkai vāḷi
- an arrow in His right hand
- tiṇ cilai taṇṭoṭu caṅkam
- a strong bow, with mace and conch
- umpar iru cuṭar āḻiyōṭu
- with the discus, like heaven's two lights
- kēṭakam oṇ malar
- a shield and a bright flower
- veṇ maruppu oṉṟu paṟittu
- plucking out one white tusk
- iruṇṭa amputam
- a dark rain cloud
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.4 · verse 1121 of the four thousand
Meaning
Is He the Cowherd who held up the great gem-hill that rises to the clouds, guarded the herds from the great rain, and plucked a tusk from the conjured elephant so that it trembled? I cannot fathom this wonder. Holding the fiery radiant discus and the conch, He first spoke the Vedas. He is like a lovely radiance in the high heaven. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- mañcu uyar mā maṇik kuṉṟam
- great gem-hill rising to the clouds
- mā maḻai kāttu
- guarding from the great rain
- māya āṉai
- the conjured elephant
- māyam aṟiyamāṭṭēṉ
- I cannot fathom this wonder
- vētam muṉ ōtuvar
- He first spoke the Vedas
- am cuṭar
- lovely radiance
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.5 · verse 1122 of the four thousand
Meaning
In His graciousness He gave the arts, the Vedas, the books of right conduct, the rules of ritual, words and their meanings, and every other station of life, to the gods and to all others. He is like the wave-tossed sea, where tall mountains, great gems, the Lady on the flower, and conches rest. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- kalaikaḷum vētamum nīti nūlum
- the arts, the Vedas and the books of right conduct
- kaṟpamum
- the rules of ritual, kalpa
- col poruḷ-tāṉum
- words and their meanings
- nīrmaiyiṉāl aruḷceytu
- graciously giving out of His goodness
- malarmēl maṅkaiyum
- the Lady on the flower, Lakshmi
- alai kaṭal pōṉṟivar
- He is like the wave-tossed sea
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.6 · verse 1123 of the four thousand
Meaning
However much we ponder His form, we can make nothing of it. He enters in and makes the bangles, the hearts and the modesty of jewelled women all His own. He Himself is like the surging dark sea, like the puvai and kaya flowers and the opening blue lily, like a cloud that has put them all on. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- ētum aṟikilam
- we can make nothing of it
- ēntiḻaiyār
- jewelled women
- caṅkum maṉamum niṟaiyum
- their bangles, hearts and modesty
- tammaṉa ākap pukuntu
- entering in to make them His own
- pūvai kāyā
- the puvai and kaya flowers, dark blue blossoms
- pōtu aviḻ nīlam
- the blue lily as it opens
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.7 · verse 1124 of the four thousand
Meaning
His crown wreath of thronging cool tulasi flowers, where bees bathe and play, and the lovely sandal paste smeared on His body: how can I tell how beautiful He looked? His eyes like lotuses painted by fine artists, His raised and beautiful chest, His shoulders and lips, all are lovely. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- muḻuci vaṇṭu āṭiya
- where bees bathe and play
- taṇ tuḻāyiṉ moym malark kaṇṇiyum
- His wreath of thronging cool tulasi flowers
- mēṉi am cāntu
- lovely sandal paste on His body
- eṅṅaṉam collukēṉ
- how can I tell it?
- ōvi nallār eḻutiya tāmarai
- a lotus painted by fine artists
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.8 · verse 1125 of the four thousand
Meaning
The gods come from every side to worship Him; He speaks the Vedas. The Lady born of the sea, His Consort, is on one side; the roaring conch on that side, the discus on this. If you ponder His form, He is like the blue lily, like the sea too; tall in eyes and in form, He is like my very life. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'At Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- eppālum viṇṇōr vaṇaṅka
- the gods worshipping from every side
- munnīr maṭantai
- the Lady born of the sea, Lakshmi
- atir caṅkam
- the roaring conch
- kāvi oppār
- He is like the blue lily
- kaṇṇum vaṭivum neṭiyar
- tall in eyes and in form
- eṉ āvi oppār
- He is like my very life
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.9 · verse 1126 of the four thousand
Meaning
My bangles will not stay; they have gone to Him for refuge, and my heart too is His. As I pondered this, He looked closely at my waist, slender as a vanji creeper, and opened His lips and said something to me. His glance holds poison; I cannot make Him out, and I am afraid. 'Who is this?' I asked. 'I am the Lord of Ashtabhujakaram,' He said.
Word by word
- tañcam ivarkku
- taking refuge with Him
- eṉ vaḷaiyum nillā
- my bangles will not stay
- neñcamum tammatē
- my heart too is His
- vañci maruṅkul
- waist slender as a vanji creeper
- nañcam uṭaittu ivar nōkkum nōkkam
- His glance holds poison
- añcuvaṉ
- I am afraid
Periya Tirumozhi 2.8.10 · verse 1127 of the four thousand
Meaning
The First Lord dwells at Ashtabhujakaram in Kanchi, a city encircled by the might and fame of Vayiramegan, king of the Tondai people, whose tall crown bears a garland and who bows to Him. Kalikanri of lovely glory, Thirumangai Alwar, king of Mangai with its fine great unbreached walls, spoke this garland of fine words in unfailing sweet music. For those who can praise Him with it, their place is Vaikuntha.
Word by word
- toṇṭaiyar-kōṉ
- king of the Tondai people
- vayiramēkaṉ
- Vayiramegan, the king
- kacci aṭṭapuyakarattu āti
- the First Lord at Ashtabhujakaram in Kanchi
- kaṉṉi nal mā matiḷ
- fine great unbreached walls
- kuṉṟā iṉ icaiyāl
- in unfailing sweet music
- iṭam vaikuntamē
- their place is Vaikuntha
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.