Twenty verses in the short thandakam metre. Thirumangai Alwar sings of how the Lord came to dwell in his heart, of the joy of holding Him there in meditation, and of the divya desams where he saw Him.
Tirukkurundandakam 1 · verse 2032 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is my treasure, a pillar of coral, the goal of those who know how to think of Him in the right way. Long ago He saw Kamsa die, and He rules the universe; He is wisdom itself. Praising Mal and bowing to Him, I, His servant, have found the good fortune that came of itself into my heart. I will never let Him go.
Word by word
- nitiyiṉai
- the treasure
- pavaḷat tūṇai
- the pillar of coral
- neṟimaiyāl niṉaiya vallār
- those who can think of Him in the right way
- katiyiṉai
- the goal, the refuge
- kañcaṉ māḷak
- so that Kamsa died
- maṉattu vanta vitiyiṉaik
- the good fortune that came into my heart
- viṭukilēṉē
- I will never let go
Tirukkurundandakam 2 · verse 2033 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the wind, the water and the fire; the Bull who destroyed Lanka with its guarded walls; the beautiful heap of gems who dwells in the Himalayas; the river of joy and the nectar; Death to the precious life of the demon. O heart, take hold of His virtues and speak of them: that is the way you should speak.
Word by word
- kāṟṟiṉai puṉalai tīyai
- the wind, the water, the fire
- kaṭimatiḷ ilaṅkai ceṟṟa
- who destroyed Lanka with its guarded walls
- imayam ēya
- dwelling in the Himalayas
- eḻil maṇit tiraḷai
- the beautiful heap of gems
- iṉpa āṟṟiṉai
- the river of joy
- avuṇaṉ ār uyirai uṇṭa kūṟṟiṉai
- Death who took the demon's precious life
- kūṟu-nī kūṟumāṟē
- speak; that is how you should speak
Tirukkurundandakam 3 · verse 2034 of the four thousand
Meaning
In the vast, wide ocean He whirled the great mountain, stood by the gods and took out the nectar for them. He is my Father, my Lord. I have bowed to that young Lord who dwells at Thirumaliruncholai, ringed by bamboo groves so dense that the spreading rays of the sun shrink back.
Word by word
- pā irum paravai-taṉṉuḷ
- in the vast, wide ocean
- paru varai tirittu
- whirling the great mountain
- amutaṅ koṇṭa
- took out the nectar
- vēy iruñ cōlai
- great bamboo groves
- viri katir iriya
- so that the sun's spreading rays shrink back
- mā iruñ cōlai mēya
- who dwells at Thirumaliruncholai
- maintaṉai
- the young Lord
Tirukkurundandakam 4 · verse 2035 of the four thousand
Meaning
Something has happened to me that is worth hearing. In a dream I saw Him coming to me, the Lord with the hue of a flower who became the Boar and took back the world. With my speech, with my deeds, with my mind and with my faith, longing overflowing, I took Him in and swallowed Him whole. How sweet it was!
Word by word
- kēṭka yāṉ uṟṟatu uṇṭu
- something has happened to me worth hearing
- kēḻal āy ulakam koṇṭa
- who became the Boar and took back the world
- pūk keḻu vaṇṇaṉāraip
- the Lord with the hue of a flower
- kaṉavil kaṇṭu
- seeing in a dream
- vākkiṉāl karumam-taṉṉāl
- with speech and with deeds
- vēṭkai mītūra
- longing overflowing
- viḻuṅkiṉēṟku iṉiyavāṟē
- how sweet it was to me who swallowed Him
Tirukkurundandakam 5 · verse 2036 of the four thousand
Meaning
Like water drunk up by red-hot iron, my hard-won love went wholly into my Lord; I took on His service and was saved. I held close in my heart the Lord whose hue is a gathering rain cloud, and drank Him like the sweet juice of sugarcane. How sweet it is!
Word by word
- irumpu aṉaṉṟu uṇṭa nīrpōl
- like water drunk up by red-hot iron
- arum peṟal aṉpu
- hard-won love
- aṭimaipūṇṭu uyntu pōṉēṉ
- I took on His service and was saved
- varum puyal vaṇṇaṉārai
- the Lord with the hue of a gathering rain cloud
- karumpiṉ iṉ cāṟu pōlap
- like the sweet juice of sugarcane
- parukiṉēṟku iṉiyavāṟē
- how sweet for me who drank Him
Tirukkurundandakam 6 · verse 2037 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the One who is first among the three; the King who took the world; the cluster of bright gems who dwells at Thirukkudanthai; the song of joy, fresh honey, pure gold, the flower worn on the heads of the immortals. What words can even His devotees find to praise Him?
Word by word
- mūvaril mutalvaṉ āya
- the first among the three
- ulakam koṇṭa kōviṉai
- the King who took the world
- kuṭantai mēya
- who dwells at Thirukkudanthai
- kuru maṇit tiraḷai
- the cluster of bright gems
- iṉpap pāviṉai
- the song of joy
- amarar ceṉṉip pūviṉaip
- the flower on the heads of the immortals
- eṉ collip pukaḻvar
- with what words can they praise Him?
Tirukkurundandakam 7 · verse 2038 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is this life and the next; He is the truth that stands as our liberation; He dwells at vast Srirangam with its spreading groves. He is the upright One, the dark One, the One who stays wholly in Thirumalai. Those who meditate on His nature will stay on my head for ever.
Word by word
- immaiyai maṟumai-taṉṉai
- this life and the next
- emakku vīṭu āki niṉṟa
- who stands as our liberation
- viyaṉ tiru araṅkam mēya
- who dwells at vast Srirangam
- cemmaiyai karumai-taṉṉai
- the upright One, the dark One
- tirumalai orumaiyāṉai
- who stays wholly in Thirumalai
- talaimicai maṉṉuvārē
- will stay on my head
Tirukkurundandakam 8 · verse 2039 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the rain cloud in the sky, Mal, the honey born in the mountain hive, the juice of sugarcane, Sri herself. Alas, those who do not draw near Him and live do not value their human birth. Know this: all they have sought is security for their life in this hut of flesh.
Word by word
- vāṉiṭaip puyalai
- the rain cloud in the sky
- varaiyiṭaip piracam īṉṟa tēṉiṭaik
- the honey born of the mountain hive
- tiruviṉai
- Sri, the auspicious one
- maruvi vāḻār
- those who do not draw near and live
- māṉiṭap piṟavi antō matikkilar
- alas, they do not value their human birth
- ūṉiṭaik kurampai vāḻkkaikku
- for life in this hut of flesh
Tirukkurundandakam 9 · verse 2040 of the four thousand
Meaning
My mind does not stay on any one thing. My heart melts like an ant on a firebrand that the roaring fire is eating away. O Clear One, God of all the gods, Radiant One who took the world: we have no help but You through all seven births.
Word by word
- uḷḷamō oṉṟil nillātu
- my mind does not stay on any one thing
- koḷḷimēl eṟumpupōlak
- like an ant on a firebrand
- kuḻaiyumāl
- melts away
- teḷḷiyīr
- O Clear One
- tēvarkku ellām tēvarāy
- God of all the gods
- eḻumaiyum tuṇai ilōmē
- we have no help through all seven births
Tirukkurundandakam 10 · verse 2041 of the four thousand
Meaning
My mind will not stay steady; what can I do, sinner that I am? My Father, grant that I become one who has the love that devotion needs. O emerald with the lustre of pearl, Lord with the hue of a roaring, shining cloud, my Master: I know nothing at all but service to You.
Word by word
- cittamum cevvai nillātu
- my mind will not stay steady
- tīviṉaiyēṉ
- sinner that I am
- pattimaikku aṉpu uṭaiyēṉ
- one with the love devotion needs
- muttu oḷi marakatamē
- emerald with the lustre of pearl
- muḻaṅku oḷi mukil vaṇṇā
- Lord with the hue of a roaring, shining cloud
- niṉ aṭimai allāl
- but service to You
Tirukkurundandakam 11 · verse 2042 of the four thousand
Meaning
My Father, grant that I see the way to praise You with every kind of service and to worship and bow at Your feet, and so become one whose anxiety is ended. You are the universe, the origin of the eight directions, the very substance of what is right, the Supreme Light. You alone will I praise.
Word by word
- toṇṭu ellām paravi
- praising with every kind of service
- aṭi paṇiyumāṟu
- the way to bow at Your feet
- kavalai tīrppāṉ
- one whose anxiety is ended
- eṇ ticaikkum āti āy
- origin of the eight directions
- nīti āṉa paṇṭam
- the very substance of what is right
- parama cōti
- the Supreme Light
Tirukkurundandakam 12 · verse 2043 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is my life, Mal of Srirangam. I, an impure servant with a soiled body and a defiled mouth, spoke His ancient names. Then I was afraid, thinking, "Sinner that I am, what a wrong I have done!" He said, "Do not fear," and the Lord dark as the blue lily came and appeared within my eyes.
Word by word
- āviyai
- my life
- araṅka mālai
- Mal of Srirangam
- aḻukku uṭampu eccil vāyāl
- with a soiled body and a defiled mouth
- tollai nāmam
- the ancient names
- añcal eṉṟu
- saying, Do not fear
- kāvipōl vaṇṇar
- the Lord dark as the blue lily
Tirukkurundandakam 13 · verse 2044 of the four thousand
Meaning
Water drunk up by red-hot iron might sooner come back out; but all my grievous ills and sins have left me for good. For I have found the sugarcane who took the great temple of Srirangam, ringed by groves where the bees dwell, and see how my two eyes rejoice!
Word by word
- irumpu aṉaṉṟu uṇṭa nīrum pōtarum
- even water drunk by red-hot iron may come back out
- arum piṇi pāvam ellām
- all my grievous ills and sins
- curumpu amar cōlai
- groves where bees dwell
- araṅka mā kōyil
- the great temple of Srirangam
- karumpiṉaik
- the sugarcane, the Lord
- kaṇ-iṇai kaḷikkumāṟē
- how my two eyes rejoice
Tirukkurundandakam 14 · verse 2045 of the four thousand
Meaning
Thinking every day only of union with women whose eyes outshine the blue lily, I set my thoughts on sin, and in it I grew ripe and rotten. I did not meditate on the Lord of Thirukkudanthai, ringed by waters where feathered swans dwell; and so, sinner that I am, I became a sinner indeed.
Word by word
- kāviyai veṉṟa kaṇṇār
- women whose eyes outshine the blue lily
- kalaviyē karuti
- thinking only of union
- paḻuttoḻintēṉ
- I ripened and rotted
- tūvi cēr aṉṉam
- feathered swans
- kuṭantaiyāṉaip
- the Lord of Thirukkudanthai
- pāviyātu
- not meditating on Him
- pāviyēṉ āyiṉēṉē
- I became a sinner
Tirukkurundandakam 15 · verse 2046 of the four thousand
Meaning
Long ago, after burning wicked Ravana's old-walled Lanka, Hanuman came there with love and bowed at His two feet. For that Lord, all my bones melt and flow, and I, His servant, will bathe Him with the water of wisdom, poured by the love that is my heart.
Word by word
- polā irāvaṇaṉ-taṉ
- of wicked Ravana
- mutu matiḷ ilaṅkai vēvittu
- burning old-walled Lanka
- aṉumaṉ
- Hanuman
- aṭi-iṇai paṇiya
- to bow at His two feet
- eṉpu elām uruki
- all my bones melting
- ñāṉa nīr koṇṭu āṭṭuvaṉ
- I will bathe Him with the water of wisdom
Tirukkurundandakam 16 · verse 2047 of the four thousand
Meaning
He destroyed the magic deer; He walked between the marudu trees until they broke; He measured the earth; He whirled the great mountain until the vast ocean surged, and gave the nectar to the gods. For Mal, my Lord, I, His servant, will weave the pure, great garland of my words and adorn Him with it.
Word by word
- māya māṉ māyac ceṟṟu
- destroyed the magic deer
- marutu iṟa naṭantu
- walked so the marudu trees broke
- vaiyam tāya
- measured the earth
- taṭa varai tirittu
- whirling the great mountain
- eṉṉuṭaic coṟkaḷ eṉṉum
- that are my words
- tūya mā mālaikoṇṭu cūṭṭuvaṉ
- will adorn Him with a pure, great garland
Tirukkurundandakam 17 · verse 2048 of the four thousand
Meaning
Those who spoke of the greatness of the Lord of many names left birth behind; even those who reviled Him were saved: such is the way of this world. I have spoken of Him; I will not revile Him. Foolish as I am, know this: great indeed is my longing to be free of birth, and it is fixed on the Lord with the hue of the wave-tossed sea.
Word by word
- piṟavi nīttār
- left birth behind
- pēr uḷāṉ perumai pēci
- speaking the greatness of the Lord of many names
- ēciṉār uyntu pōṉār
- even those who reviled Him were saved
- iv ulakiṉ vaṇṇam
- the way of this world
- piṟavi nīttaṟku ācaiyō peritu
- great is my longing to be free of birth
- alai kaṭal vaṇṇarpālē
- toward the Lord with the hue of the wave-tossed sea
Tirukkurundandakam 18 · verse 2049 of the four thousand
Meaning
They still the motion of the breath, sit, close their eyelids, restrain the boundless five senses, place their love in Him and meditate with an unwavering mind; and as He appears and shines there, they see the Lamp by that discipline. Can such seekers truly see the Truth?
Word by word
- iḷaippiṉai iyakkam nīkki
- stilling the motion of the breath
- imaiyaik kūṭṭi
- closing the eyelids
- aimpulaṉ aṭakki
- restraining the five senses
- tuḷakkam il cintaiceytu
- meditating with an unwavering mind
- viḷakkiṉai
- the Lamp, the Lord
- meymmaiyaik kāṇkiṟpārē?
- can they truly see the Truth?
Tirukkurundandakam 19 · verse 2050 of the four thousand
Meaning
He freed from his curse the shaven-headed one who carried a skull bowl full of alms and went begging from house to house. The towns of that one Lord, praised by the world, are Thirukkandiyur, Srirangam, Thirumeyyam, Kanchi, Thirupper and Mallai. Those who throng to them are saved; can anyone else be saved?
Word by word
- piṇṭi ār maṇṭai ēnti
- carrying a skull bowl full of alms
- muṇṭiyāṉ cāpam tīrtta
- freed the shaven-headed one, Shiva, from his curse
- kaṇṭiyūr araṅkam meyyam
- Thirukkandiyur, Srirangam, Thirumeyyam
- kacci pēr mallai
- Kanchi, Thirupper, Mallai (Mamallapuram)
- maṇṭiṉār uyyal allāl
- but for those who throng there and are saved
Tirukkurundandakam 20 · verse 2051 of the four thousand
Meaning
The king of the gods and Brahma on the lotus scatter fragrant flowers every day and praise the red feet of Mal, the red-eyed Lord. Kaliyan, Thirumangai Alwar, of the honoured spear, sang of Him this rich garland of Tamil, four times five verses. Those who master it without a flaw will rule the shining heaven.
Word by word
- vāṉavar-taṅkaḷ-kōṉum
- the king of the gods, Indra
- malarmicai ayaṉum
- Brahma on the lotus
- tē malar tūvi
- scattering fragrant flowers
- māṉa vēl kaliyaṉ
- Kaliyan of the honoured spear, Thirumangai Alwar
- vaṇ tamiḻ-mālai nālaintu
- rich garland of Tamil, four times five verses
- oḷi vicumpu āḷvar
- will rule the shining heaven
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.