Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.1 · verse 1648 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks of her daughter.) She says, 'The shining bow, the golden discus, the strong sword, the mace, the bright conch!' She says, 'Four shoulders shining like mountains; see how wondrous He is!' The lovely pallor of longing spreads first over her breast, and her love runs on ahead of her as she sits. Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, where men of shining learning and speech dwell?
Word by word
- cilai ilaṅku poṉ āḻi
- the shining bow, the golden discus
- eṉkiṉṟāḷāl
- so she says
- malai ilaṅku tōḷ nāṉkē
- four shoulders shining like mountains
- pūm payalai
- the lovely pallor of lovesickness
- aṉpu ōṭi
- her love running ahead
- kaṇṇapurattu ammāṉaik
- the Lord of Thirukkannapuram
- kaṇṭāḷkolō?
- has she seen Him?
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.2 · verse 1649 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'Is not the bow in His hand the one that once destroyed the might of His foes?' She says, 'In His other hand is the golden discus that once ended the war against warriors firm as mountains.' She says, 'No one at all is equal to You; my Father, You have no equal!' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, who stands like a dark mountain?
Word by word
- ceruvarai
- the enemies in battle
- ācu aṟutta cilai
- the bow that destroyed their strength
- poṉ āḻi maṟṟu oru kai
- the golden discus in the other hand
- oppu ilā eṉ appā
- my Father who has no equal
- karu varaipōl niṉṟāṉai
- Him who stands like a dark mountain
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.3 · verse 1650 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'On His crown studded with great gems the tulasi garland shows!' She says, 'His gleaming makara earrings of great gems send out rays!' She says, 'The necklace of gold and great gems shines on His beautiful chest!' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, girdled by great walls that no foe has ever breached?
Word by word
- tuṉṉu mā maṇi muṭimēl
- on the crown studded with great gems
- tuḻāy alaṅkal
- the tulasi garland
- makara kuṇṭalaṅkaḷ
- earrings shaped like makara fish
- vil vīcum
- send out rays of light
- aṇi ākattu
- on His beautiful chest
- kaṉṉi mā matiḷ
- great walls never breached
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.4 · verse 1651 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'His mountain-like chest wears a garland of cool tulasi, furrowed by bees!' She says, 'My Lord rides the bird Garuda, and broke the tusk of the war elephant!' She says, 'Everyone, come and see: His mouth is beautiful coral!' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, where dark rain clouds stand and thunder?
Word by word
- taṇ tuḷapa
- cool tulasi
- vaṇṭu uḻuta
- furrowed by bees
- varai mārpaṉ
- He of the mountain-like chest
- pōr āṉaik kompu ocitta
- who broke the tusk of the war elephant
- puḷpākaṉ
- rider of the bird, Garuda
- am pavaḷam vāy
- a mouth of beautiful coral
- kār vāṉam niṉṟu atirum
- where dark clouds stand and thunder
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.5 · verse 1652 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'His feet are lotuses, and His lovely hands are lotuses too!' She says, 'His crown and His golden ornaments never leave my heart!' She asks, 'Is it the Lady of the flower, with long, wide eyes like a whetted blade, who dwells on His mountain-like chest?' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, where fragrant lotuses spill their honey?
Word by word
- aṭittalamum tāmaraiyē
- His feet are lotuses
- am kaikaḷum paṅkayamē
- His lovely hands are lotuses too
- eṉ neñcattuḷ akalā
- never leave my heart
- vaṭit taṭaṅ kaṇ malaravaḷō
- the Lady of the flower, eyes long and keen as a blade
- varai ākattuḷ
- on His mountain-like chest
- kaṭik kamalam kaḷ ukukkum
- where fragrant lotuses spill honey
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.6 · verse 1653 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'He is the Great One with a thousand names, the Great One!' She says, 'He wears beautiful, heavy makara earrings; He has eight shoulders!' She says, 'He is like a rain cloud full of water, like a tall mountain!' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, set among fields rich with the rains?
Word by word
- pēr āyiram uṭaiya pērāḷaṉ
- the Great One with a thousand names
- kaṉa makara kuṇṭalattaṉ
- wearing heavy makara earrings
- eṇ tōḷaṉ
- He of eight shoulders
- nīr ār maḻai mukilē
- a rain cloud full of water
- nīḷ varaiyē
- a tall mountain
- kār ār vayal
- fields rich with the rains
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.7 · verse 1654 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'He wears a garment of deep red silk, and over it a fine sash!' She says, 'His lovely red feet and His beautiful hands are lotuses!' She asks, 'His gem-like form, dark as kohl: is it emerald? Is it a rain cloud?' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, where brahmins tend the sacred fire with their own hands?
Word by word
- cev aratta uṭai āṭai
- a garment of deep red silk
- kaccu
- a sash at the waist
- av aratta aṭi-iṇaiyum
- His pair of lovely red feet
- mai vaḷarkkum maṇi uruvam
- His gem-like form, dark as kohl
- marakatamō? maḻai mukilō?
- is it emerald? is it a rain cloud?
- kai vaḷarkkum aḻalāḷar
- those who tend the sacred fire by hand
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.8 · verse 1655 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'He comes through the town square, riding the matchless bird of victory!' She says, 'He is like Indra even to Indra, victorious in war!' She says, 'If we could win His embrace, would we who are born women not be saved?' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, where Vedic scholars learned in the sacred texts dwell?
Word by word
- koṟṟap puḷ
- the bird of victory, Garuda
- maṉṟūṭē varukiṉṟāṉ
- He comes through the town square
- intiraṟkum intiraṉē
- an Indra even to Indra
- avaṉ ākam
- His embrace
- peṇ piṟantōm uyyōmō?
- would we, born women, not be saved?
- kaṟṟa nūl maṟaiyāḷar
- Vedic scholars learned in the texts
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.9 · verse 1656 of the four thousand
Meaning
She says, 'The forest garland where bees settle gives out its fragrance on His gem-set crown!' She says, 'I have love for Him; I will never part from Him!' Again and again she asks, 'In which town did we see Him before and come to know Him?' Has she seen the Lord of Thirukkannapuram, who makes all who see Him give their hearts away?
Word by word
- vaṇṭu amarum vaṉamālai
- the forest garland where bees settle
- maṇam nāṟum
- gives out its fragrance
- orukālum pirikilēṉ
- I will never part from Him
- paṇṭu ivaraik kaṇṭu aṟivatu ev ūril?
- in which town did we see and know Him before?
- payilkiṉṟāḷāl
- she keeps on saying
- kaṇṭavar-tam maṉam vaḻaṅkum
- who makes those who see Him give their hearts
Periya Tirumozhi 8.1.10 · verse 1657 of the four thousand
Meaning
Kaliyan, Thirumangai Alwar, sang of how the young girl with soft eyes like a fawn's saw the wondrous Lord of Thirukkannapuram, ringed by fragrant groves and gardens. Those who can sing these five and five, a Tamil garland of rich verse, will be kings in the golden world of the flowering wishing tree, and worthy of praise.
Word by word
- mā vaḷarum meṉ nōkki
- she with soft eyes like a fawn's
- māyavaṉaik
- the wondrous Lord
- kā vaḷarum kaṭi poḻil
- fragrant groves and gardens
- pā vaḷarum tamiḻ-mālai
- a Tamil garland rich in verse
- aintum aintum
- five and five, the ten verses
- kaṟpakam cēr poṉ ulakil
- in the golden world of the wishing tree
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.