Thirty verses in the long thandakam metre, held to be the last of Thirumangai Alwar's works. In its middle part the Alwar sings as a girl separated from the Lord, and as her mother speaking of her. Parasara Bhattar expounded this work to win the great scholar Nanjeeyar to the sampradaya, and so it is especially dear at Srirangam.
Tirunedundandakam 1 · verse 2052 of the four thousand
Meaning
He became the form of lightning, and in His first form the four Vedas; He became the light of a lamp and the moon that rises and grows. In later forms and in earlier ones He is the Unborn, untouched by disease or age; He is the golden form that the wise meditate on, their thoughts not set on what dies. He became the form of gems and the five elements, the form of water, the radiance shining in fire, His own form; and my Father stands within me in my own form. His feet, tender as young leaves, rest upon my head.
Word by word
- miṉ uru āy
- becoming the form of lightning
- vētam nāṉku āy
- becoming the four Vedas
- muḷaittu eḻunta tiṅkaḷ
- the moon that rises and grows
- piṇi mūppu illāp piṟappili
- the Unborn, free of disease and age
- pūtam aintu āy
- becoming the five elements
- eṉ uruvil niṉṟa entai
- my Father who stands within my own form
- taḷir puraiyum tiruvaṭi
- holy feet tender as young leaves
Tirunedundandakam 2 · verse 2053 of the four thousand
Meaning
He became earth, water, fire, wind and sky; He spread out as the many different faiths. When people look separately at the holy forms of the immortals, who stand as though there were three of beautiful form, one form is golden, one is red fire, one is like the great sea. When the three forms are seen, the One Light who is first among them is the form like a rain cloud: that is the form of our Lord.
Word by word
- nīr eri kāl vicumpum āki
- becoming water, fire, wind and sky
- pal vēṟu camayamum āyp
- becoming the many different faiths
- mūvarumē eṉṉa niṉṟa
- standing as though there were three
- poṉ uruvam
- a golden form, Brahma's
- oṉṟu centī
- one red as fire, Shiva's
- mā kaṭal uruvam
- a form like the great sea
- mukil uruvam em aṭikaḷ uruvam
- the cloud-dark form is our Lord's form
Tirunedundandakam 3 · verse 2054 of the four thousand
Meaning
Some say the tall, dark Mal had a red form; some say in the Treta age He shone with the white of a conch; and when, in His great form, He took the nectar from the sea, the Lord was dark blue. No one can grasp Him as having one shape and one form. Tell me, other than standing and praising Him age after age, who can ever see that Lord, dark in form and red of eye?
Word by word
- karu neṭumāl
- the tall, dark Mal
- cēyaṉ eṉṟum
- some say He is red
- tirētaikkaṇ vaḷai uruvāy
- in the Treta age, white as a conch
- kaṭal amutam koṇṭa kālam
- when He took the nectar from the sea
- karu nīla vaṇṇaṉ
- the dark-blue Lord
- ūḻitōṟu ūḻi niṉṟu ēttal allāl
- except by standing and praising age after age
- kaṭṭuraiyē
- tell me
Tirunedundandakam 4 · verse 2055 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the First One even of Indra and Brahma. He became the five elements: the wide earth, wind, fire, water and sky; He became the sound of fine Tamil and the northern tongue; He became the four directions, the moon and the sun. He is the Pure One whom even the gods in heaven cannot know, the sacred mantra the Brahmins keep at twilight. O simple heart, if you live always by that mantra, never forgetting Him, then you will truly live.
Word by word
- intiraṟkum piramaṟkum mutalvaṉ
- the First One even of Indra and Brahma
- pūtam aintu āy
- becoming the five elements
- tamiḻ ōcai vaṭacol āki
- becoming the sound of Tamil and of Sanskrit
- antaṇaṉai
- the Pure One
- anti vaitta mantirattai
- the mantra kept for the twilight prayer
- maṟavātu
- never forgetting
- maṭa neñcamē
- O simple heart
Tirunedundandakam 5 · verse 2056 of the four thousand
Meaning
With one bright step His foot pierced the waters and stood on the earth. His other foot went beyond every reckoning in the mind of the asura king of desirable glory, passed above the universe, went through the wide sky and rose higher, so that the cool moon and the sun moved out of its way. It ran on, brushing the outer edge of the stars, and went further still. My Father stood having taken in the whole earth, and I have bowed to His flower-like feet.
Word by word
- oṇ mitiyil
- with one bright step
- puṉal uruvi
- piercing the waters
- avuṇaṉ uḷḷattu eṇ matiyum kaṭantu
- beyond every reckoning in the asura's mind, Mahabali's
- aṇṭammītu pōki
- passing above the universe
- tārakaiyiṉ puṟan taṭavi
- brushing the outer edge of the stars
- maṇ muḻutum akappaṭuttu
- taking in the whole earth
- malar puraiyum tiruvaṭiyē
- flower-like holy feet
Tirunedundandakam 6 · verse 2057 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the King of the immortals with long, great hands that give without end; the sole rider of the bird with beautiful wings; the One who is ever stern and without mercy toward the asuras. Singing of His feet in every town He loves, O heart, let us go and worship at flowering Thirukkovalur, where the Pennai floods across the land, dragging tall bamboos that shed their pearls, pushing them on, spreading over the fields to grow gold, with ponds as its fence.
Word by word
- neṭun taṭakkai
- long, great hands
- amarar-vēntaṉ
- King of the immortals
- am ciṟaip puḷ taṉip pākaṉ
- sole rider of the bird with beautiful wings, Garuda
- kaluḻip peṇṇai
- the flooding Pennai river
- paṭu muttam
- pearls shed by the bamboos
- pūṅ kōvalūr
- flowering Thirukkovalur
- toḻutum-pōtu neñcē
- come, heart, let us go and worship
Tirunedundandakam 7 · verse 2058 of the four thousand
Meaning
Holding the sharp axe, He ruled the world until the kings with strong, mountain-like shoulders perished; He defeated Vel, who hurled his matchless spear into the long sea full of hills, and others besides. His town is flowering Thirukkovalur, guarded by the chaste young maiden who dwells in the Vindhya hills, ringed by fragrant groves, with long streets and a fence of lotuses, where the noble king of the hill country bows and stands. O heart, let us go and worship there.
Word by word
- varai neṭun tōḷ maṉṉar māḷa
- so that kings with mountain-like shoulders perished
- vaṭi vāya maḻu ēnti
- holding the sharp axe, as Parasurama
- taṉi vēl uytta vēḷ
- Vel, Murugan, who hurled his matchless spear
- vintam mēya
- who dwells in the Vindhya hills
- maṭak kaṉṉi kāval pūṇṭa
- guarded by the young maiden goddess
- kamala vēli
- fenced by lotuses
- malai-araiyaṉ
- the king of the hill country
Tirunedundandakam 8 · verse 2059 of the four thousand
Meaning
You who dwell at Thiruneeragam! You on the summit of the tall mountain! You at Nilathingal Thundam! You at Thiruvooragam in prosperous Kanchi, and at Thiruvekka with its bright bathing steps! You in the hearts of those who think of You! You at Thirukkaragam the world praises, and at Thirukkarvanam! O Thief! You at Thirupper, standing on the south bank of the lovely flowering Kaveri! You who never leave my heart! Lord, I have cherished only Your holy feet.
Word by word
- nīrakattāy
- You at Thiruneeragam
- neṭuvaraiyiṉ ucci mēlāy
- You on the summit of the tall mountain
- nilāttiṅkaḷ tuṇṭattāy
- You at Nilathingal Thundam
- veḵkā uḷḷāy
- You at Thiruvekka
- kaḷvā
- O Thief, who stole my heart
- pērakattāy
- You at Thirupper
- pērātu eṉ neñciṉ uḷḷāy
- You who never leave my heart
Tirunedundandakam 9 · verse 2060 of the four thousand
Meaning
You at Mallai by the sea, where waves wash up great gems brought by ships! You of walled Kanchi! You of Thirupper! You who share a side of the one whose chest bears a rich garland of honeyed konrai, who keeps on his left the young daughter of the king of mountains! You in the Sea of Milk, You above the earth, You on the summit of the snowy mountain, O coral-hued Lord! Where have You gone? My Lord, wretched as I am, must I go on wandering like this, searching for You?
Word by word
- vaṅkattāl mā maṇi vantu untu
- where waves wash up gems brought by ships
- mallaiyāy
- You at Mallai, Mamallapuram
- koṉṟai alaṅkal mārvaṉ
- he whose chest bears a konrai garland, Shiva
- paṅkattāy
- You who share a side of his body
- paṉi varaiyiṉ ucciyāy
- You on the summit of the snowy mountain
- pavaḷa vaṇṇā
- O coral-hued Lord
- eṅku uṟṟāy?
- where have You gone?
Tirunedundandakam 10 · verse 2061 of the four thousand
Meaning
You are gold; You are the glory that guards the seven worlds. I am a servant worthy only of scorn; wretched as I am, what do I know except to cry, "What You have become to me! What You have become to me!" You are the Elephant of the south and of the north, the Elephant of the west and the musth Elephant of the east, praised by the world; ever first to the immortals; the Light worshipped even by those who come later; You who dwell at Thirumoozhikkalam; You who are the First Cause!
Word by word
- poḻil ēḻum kāval pūṇṭa
- who guards the seven worlds
- ikaḻvāya toṇṭaṉēṉ
- a servant worthy of scorn
- eṉ āṉāy eṉ āṉāy
- what You have become to me!
- teṉ āṉāy vaṭa āṉāy
- Elephant of the south, Elephant of the north
- kuṇapāla mata yāṉāy
- musth Elephant of the east
- piṉ āṉār vaṇaṅkum cōti
- the Light worshipped by those who come later
- tirumūḻikkaḷattu āṉāy
- You who dwell at Thirumoozhikkalam
Tirunedundandakam 11 · verse 2062 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks of her daughter.) She forgets even to put on her silk, and grieves; she cares nothing for her doll; tears brimming in her long, cool eyes, she will not sleep; not for a moment the size of a sesame seed will she stay on my lap. She keeps asking, "Where is my Lord's Srirangam?" I asked the soothsayer, "Tell me truly who did this to my young doe, whose hair hums with bees heavy with honey." Friend, she said: "The sea-hued Lord did this." Then who can save her?
Word by word
- paṭṭu uṭukkum ayarttu
- forgets even to wear her silk
- pāvai pēṇāḷ
- cares nothing for her doll
- paḷḷi koḷḷāḷ
- will not sleep
- eḷ tuṇaip pōtu
- a moment the size of a sesame seed
- tiruvaraṅkam eṅkē?
- where is Srirangam?
- kaṭṭuvicci
- the soothsayer
- kaṭal vaṇṇar itu ceytār
- the sea-hued Lord did this
Tirunedundandakam 12 · verse 2063 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) Her heart melts, her eyes fill with tears; she stands still, then faints; she sighs long; she does not eat, she cares nothing for sleep. She cries, "O Nambi, who rests on the venomous serpent!" and "O young Lord of Thiruvali, with its fragrant flowering fields!" She sings and dances, "O Lord whose banner is the bird with beautiful wings!" She says, "Friend, shall we go to beautiful Srirangam?" I have borne a daughter who will not stay under my wing; I have earned blame across this wide world. Alas, the pity of it!
Word by word
- neñcu urukik kaṇ paṉippa
- heart melting, eyes filling with tears
- neṭitu uyirkkum
- she sighs long
- nañcu aravil tuyil amarnta nampī
- O Nambi, resting on the venomous serpent
- pū vayal āli maintā
- O young Lord of Thiruvali of flowering fields
- am ciṟaiya puṭkoṭiyē
- O You whose banner is the beautiful-winged Garuda
- eṉ ciṟakiṉkīḻ aṭaṅkāp peṇṇaip
- a daughter who will not stay under my wing
- ē pāvamē
- alas, the pity of it
Tirunedundandakam 13 · verse 2064 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) She says, "You lifted the rock and held off the rain of stones!" and "You who dwell at Thiruvooragam in lovely flowering Kanchi!" She says, "You broke the bow and embraced the shoulders of the gentle one!" and "O King who rests asleep at Thiruvekka!" She says, "Long ago You crushed the wrestlers and killed them!" and "My young Lord, whose hand tore the horse apart!" She teaches these words to her parrot and says, "Say it!", and droops as tears drip onto her breasts.
Word by word
- kal eṭuttuk kal-māri kāttāy
- lifted the rock and held off the rain of stones
- kacci ūrakattāy
- You at Thiruvooragam in Kanchi
- vil iṟuttu melliyal tōḷ tōyntāy
- broke the bow and embraced the gentle one, Sita
- veḵkāvil tuyil amarnta vēntē
- O King who rests asleep at Thiruvekka
- mā kīṇṭa kaittalattu
- whose hand tore the horse apart, Kesi
- taṉ kiḷiyaic collē eṉṟu
- telling her parrot, Say it!
Tirunedundandakam 14 · verse 2065 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) The parrot sang of Him: the rising sun, the rain cloud at Thirukkurungudi, the Ageless One who stands as the First beyond the three worlds, the precious nectar no one can measure, the Pure One who dwells at Srirangam, who lives in the thoughts of the Brahmins, the light of the lamp, the emerald, Tirumal of Thiruthankal and Thiruvekka. Hearing it, she said, "I have gained the fruit of raising you; come!" and she folded her hands and bowed to her young parrot.
Word by word
- muḷaik katirai
- the rising sun
- kuṟuṅkuṭiyuḷ mukilai
- the rain cloud at Thirukkurungudi
- aḷappu ariya ār amutai
- the precious nectar no one can measure
- antaṇar-tam cintaiyāṉai
- who lives in the thoughts of the Brahmins
- tiruttaṇkāvil
- at Thiruthankal
- vaḷarttataṉāl payaṉpeṟṟēṉ
- I have gained the fruit of raising you
- maṭak kiḷiyaik kaikūppi
- folded her hands to the young parrot
Tirunedundandakam 15 · verse 2066 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) "O Elephant who dwells at Kanchi, ringed by tall, high walls of stone!" "O Fruit who lies on the sea!" "O Lord who stands with delight at beautiful Thiruvazhundur, its fields fenced by ponds of lilies and lotuses!" So she sings, holding the long vina of noble sound against her breast, smiling just a little with a pure smile, stroking its strings until her soft fingers redden. There my innocent girl prattles on and on, like a gentle parrot.
Word by word
- kacci mēya kaḷiṟu
- the Elephant who dwells at Kanchi
- kaṭal kiṭanta kaṉiyē
- O Fruit who lies on the sea
- aṇi aḻuntūr
- beautiful Thiruvazhundur
- neṭu vīṇai
- the long vina
- tū muṟuval
- a pure smile
- meṉ kiḷipōl mika miḻaṟṟum
- prattles on like a gentle parrot
- eṉ pētaiyē
- my innocent girl
Tirunedundandakam 16 · verse 2067 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) She cries, "O young Bull who loved to graze the calves!" "My Fruit at Thirukkannapuram, ringed by fragrant groves!" "You who danced with joy in the village common!" "O young Lord who dwells at northern Thiruvenkatam!" "O King who conquered and rooted out the asura clans!" "You who stand at Thirunaraiyur, ringed by spreading groves!" "My dark-hued companion with thick curls!" And she droops as tears drip onto her breasts.
Word by word
- kaṉṟu mēyttu iṉitu ukanta kāḷāy
- O young Bull who loved to graze the calves
- kaṇapurattu eṉ kaṉiyē
- my Fruit at Thirukkannapuram
- vaṭa tiruvēṅkaṭam mēya maintā
- young Lord who dwells at northern Thiruvenkatam
- acurar kulam kaḷainta
- rooted out the asura clans
- tirunaṟaiyūr niṉṟāy
- You who stand at Thirunaraiyur
- tuṇai mulaimēl tuḷi cōra
- as tears drip onto her breasts
Tirunedundandakam 17 · verse 2068 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) A golden pallor spreads over her soft young breasts, and tears bud in her eyes, restless as fighting carp. She came out and stood, and at the faint call of a red-legged young dove speaking to its mate, her body melted. Lost in thought, she sang of Thiruthankal and cool Thirukkudanthai, and sang and danced of cool Thirukkovalur. Hearing her, I said, "Girl, is this good for our family?" At that she went on to sing of Thirunaraiyur too.
Word by word
- poṉṉē pūppa
- as golden pallor spreads
- poru kayal kaṇ
- eyes like fighting carp
- ceṅ kāla maṭap puṟavam
- the red-legged young dove
- ciṟu kuralukku uṭal urukic
- her body melting at its faint call
- taṇ kōvalūr pāṭi āṭak
- singing and dancing of cool Thirukkovalur
- nam kuṭikku ituvō naṉmai?
- is this good for our family?
- naṟaiyūrum pāṭuvāḷ
- she sings of Thirunaraiyur too
Tirunedundandakam 18 · verse 2069 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) His holy body has the hue of a rain cloud; His eyes, mouth, hands and two feet have the hue of the lotus. He is devoted to the young Earth-maiden and mad with love for the lady on the cool flower. I must have sinned! My lovely, innocent girl will not listen to me. She asks, "Where is my Lord's Srirangam?" She says, "I will go to Thiruneermalai, the hill of the water-hued Lord." Is this not how those who have lost their reserve behave?
Word by word
- kār vaṇṇam tirumēṉi
- holy body with the hue of a rain cloud
- kamala vaṇṇam
- the hue of the lotus
- pār vaṇṇa maṭa maṅkai pattar
- devoted to the young Earth-maiden, Bhudevi
- paṉi malarmēl pāvaikku
- for the lady on the cool flower, Lakshmi
- eṉ col kēḷāḷ
- will not listen to me
- nīrmalaikkē pōvēṉ
- I will go to Thiruneermalai
- niṟai aḻintār
- those who have lost their reserve
Tirunedundandakam 19 · verse 2070 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) The lady with full, lovely breasts lives on the broad chest of the wondrous Lord. Even seeing that, my girl has lost herself; her reserve is gone and she sighs. "Friend, shall we go to beautiful Srirangam?" she says. She will not hear a word her mother says. Singing His names and singing of cool Thirukkudanthai, she has gone to bathe in the golden lotus pond. My daughter is beyond compare. Is your golden girl like that too?
Word by word
- muṟṟu ārā vaṉa mulaiyāḷ pāvai
- the lady with full, lovely breasts, Lakshmi
- māyaṉ moy akalattuḷ
- on the broad chest of the wondrous Lord
- niṟai aḻintāḷ
- her reserve is gone
- peṟṟēṉ vāyc col
- the words of the mother who bore her
- poṟṟāmaraik kayam
- the golden lotus pond
- poru aṟṟāḷ
- beyond compare
- poṉṉum aḵtē?
- is your golden girl like that too?
Tirunedundandakam 20 · verse 2071 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The mother speaks.) He ended the wealth of the sword-wielding demon king of chariots and left southern Lanka in confusion; the red fire gave way before Him as He crossed the walls guarded by the warring sea and entered, so that Bana of the thousand arms, the warrior, was overcome. Great ruler of the earth, He dug up the earth, swallowed it, brought it out again, measured it and rules it. The girl who recites the names of that great Lord: can anyone on earth call her anything but one of great penance?
Word by word
- vāḷ arakkaṉ celvam māḷa
- the sword-wielding demon's wealth ended
- centī olki
- the red fire gave way
- āyiran tōḷ vāṇaṉ
- Bana of the thousand arms
- pār iṭantu pārai uṇṭu
- dug up the earth and swallowed it
- pār aḷantu
- measured the earth
- pēr ōtum peṇṇai
- the girl who recites His names
- perun tavattaḷ
- one of great penance
Tirunedundandakam 21 · verse 2072 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks to her friend.) His fragrant, dark curls falling behind, makara earrings shining and swinging on both sides, with only a fierce bow ready to shoot as companion, they came here, the two of them, and stood before me. His hands are lotus-hued, His mouth like a lotus, His two eyes lotuses, and His feet the same. Even seeing them like that, friend, we took them for gods and were afraid.
Word by word
- naṟuṅ kuñcik kuḻal piṉ tāḻa
- fragrant curls falling behind
- makaram cēr kuḻai
- fish-shaped makara earrings
- vem cilaiyē tuṇaiyā
- with only a fierce bow as companion
- iruvarāy vantār
- they came, the two of them
- kai vaṇṇam tāmarai
- hands of lotus hue
- tēvar eṉṟu añciṉōmē
- we took them for gods and feared
Tirunedundandakam 22 · verse 2073 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks.) Humming a tune, not looking at us, as if a little shy, He then worked His many charms; my heart and my eyes ran after Him and came to rest beneath my Lord's holy feet. On this side I could no longer see my bangles or my girdle; I saw only His two heavy makara earrings and His four shoulders. When I asked, "How far is my Lord's temple?" He Himself replied, "Is this not beautiful Thiruvali?"
Word by word
- nammai nōkkā
- not looking at us
- nāṇiṉār pōl
- as if shy
- tiruvaṭikkīḻ aṇaiya
- came to rest beneath His holy feet
- kaivaḷaiyum mēkalaiyum kāṇēṉ
- I could not see my bangles or my girdle
- nāṉku tōḷum
- His four shoulders
- eḻil āli
- beautiful Thiruvali
Tirunedundandakam 23 · verse 2074 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks.) He gave me, and me alone, a sickness of the mind that creeps through me, and took my bright bangles and my fair colour, saying, "Our town is Srirangam, where carp leap about after drinking the clear toddy that flows from young coconut palms." I see Him in my dreams, wearing a garland of fresh tulasi dripping honey, and when I see Him I say, "O Thief who rides the bird, do not go!" Even so, it ends only in a lovers' quarrel between us.
Word by word
- uḷ ūrum cintai nōy
- a sickness of the mind that creeps within
- oḷi vaḷaiyum mā niṟamum koṇṭār
- took my bright bangles and fair colour
- cēl ukaḷum
- where carp leap
- tiruvaraṅkam nam ūr
- Srirangam is our town
- kaṉaviṭattil yāṉ kāṇpaṉ
- I see Him in my dreams
- puḷ ūrum kaḷvā
- O Thief who rides the bird
- pulavi
- a lovers' quarrel
Tirunedundandakam 24 · verse 2075 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks.) The conch bangles will not stay on my two hands; alas, the pity of it! His hue is that of a great-bellied dark cloud that has drunk up the vast, shining, roaring sea. With sages of great and rare penance around Him, a conch in one hand and the discus in the other, He of the great mouth that swallowed the world came here. He made tears well up in my eyes, restless as fighting carp, left me sulking, and went away saying, "Srirangam among the waters is My town."
Word by word
- iru kaiyil caṅku-ivai nillā
- the conch bangles will not stay on my hands
- ellē pāvam
- alas, the pity of it
- peru vayiṟṟa karu mukilē
- a great-bellied dark cloud
- oru kaiyil caṅku oru kai maṟṟu āḻi
- conch in one hand, discus in the other
- ulaku uṇṭa peru vāyar
- He of the great mouth that swallowed the world
- puṉal araṅkam ūr eṉṟu
- saying Srirangam among the waters is His town
Tirunedundandakam 25 · verse 2076 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks.) He showed me His holy form gleaming like lightning, His great shoulders, the hand that raged at the elephant, His eyes and mouth, and the makara earrings shining low beneath the fresh, fragrant tulasi. He took my beauty, my reserve, my thoughts and my bangles; He took me as His own; and He went away through the groves of fragrant cherunthi blooming gold, saying, "Srirangam among the waters is My town."
Word by word
- miṉ ilaṅku tiruvuruvum
- holy form gleaming like lightning
- kari muṉinta kaittalamum
- the hand that raged at the elephant
- naṟun tuḻāy malariṉ kīḻē
- beneath the fragrant tulasi
- eṉ nalaṉum eṉ niṟaiyum
- my beauty and my reserve
- eṉṉai āḷum koṇṭu
- taking me as His own
- naṟuñ ceruntip poḻiliṉūṭē
- through the groves of fragrant cherunthi
Tirunedundandakam 26 · verse 2077 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks to a bee.) Little six-legged bee with your bright markings, you and your mate have drunk the honey of the flowers blooming in the honey-laden groves, and live happily among them. I worship you. Go today to the King of the immortals who grazed the herds of cows, who stands at beautiful Thiruvazhundur. Go near Him without fear, and just say a word: "There is a girl who longs for You."
Word by word
- aṟu kāla ciṟu vaṇṭē
- little six-legged bee
- poṟiyil ārnta
- with bright markings
- toḻutēṉ uṉṉai
- I worship you
- nirai mēytta amarar-kōmāṉ
- King of the immortals who grazed the herds
- aṇi aḻuntūr niṉṟāṉukku
- to Him who stands at beautiful Thiruvazhundur
- añcātē
- without fear
- niṉ nayantāḷ
- she longs for You
Tirunedundandakam 27 · verse 2078 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks to a crane.) Young crane with red legs, if you go today, enter Thirukkannapuram and tell my red-eyed Mal, my companion, of my love, no joy could equal that for me. Then this whole green land will be yours every day, and I will give you fish from the paddy pools to catch and eat. If you do this, you and your mate can come here, live happily, and enjoy sweet joy on this wide earth.
Word by word
- ceṅ kāla maṭa nārāy
- young crane with red legs
- tirukkaṇṇapuram pukku
- entering Thirukkannapuram
- ceṅ kaṇ mālukku
- to the red-eyed Mal
- eṉ kātal
- my love
- paiṅ kāṉam
- the green land
- paḻaṉa mīṉ
- fish from the paddy pools
- iṉpam eytalāmē
- you may enjoy sweet joy
Tirunedundandakam 28 · verse 2079 of the four thousand
Meaning
(The girl speaks.) He shattered the fortress of southern Lanka so that the demon died; He went and measured all three worlds; with a single chariot He drove on until the royal host of the Bharata war was destroyed. Friend, that great elephant, vast as a mountain, I would bind to my gold-gleaming breasts, so that He could not get away; then I would quarrel with Him, and so that every limb of mine came to joy, I would stay for ever, thinking of Him and melting.
Word by word
- teṉ ilaṅkai araṇ citaṟi
- shattering the fortress of southern Lanka
- ulakam mūṉṟiṉaiyum tirintu
- going through all three worlds
- ōr tērāl
- with a single chariot
- varai uruviṉ mā kaḷiṟṟai
- the great elephant vast as a mountain
- pōkāmai vallēṉāy
- able to keep Him from leaving
- niṉaintu uruki iruppaṉ
- I would stay thinking of Him and melting
Tirunedundandakam 29 · verse 2080 of the four thousand
Meaning
He is the Lord of the cowherd girl, Nappinnai, long ago; the Lord who churned the wave-tossed sea and bridged it; who conquered, shooting arrows from His cruel bow until the demon king of unfailing strength died and his clan was rooted out; whose shoulders lifted the hill; who stands every day at Thiruvinnagar by the spreading waves; Mal who lies at cool Thirukkudanthai; the Tall One. I, a dog at His feet, have thought of Him.
Word by word
- āyar kulamakaḷukku araiyaṉ
- Lord of the cowherd girl, Nappinnai
- kaṭaintu aṭaitta ammāṉ
- the Lord who churned the sea and bridged it
- arakkar kōṉai māḷa
- so that the demon king, Ravana, died
- kuṉṟu eṭutta tōḷiṉāṉai
- whose shoulders lifted the hill
- viṇṇakaram
- Thiruvinnagar
- taṇ kuṭantaik kiṭanta mālai
- Mal who lies at cool Thirukkudanthai
- aṭi nāyēṉ
- I, a dog at His feet
Tirunedundandakam 30 · verse 2081 of the four thousand
Meaning
"O cloud-hued Lord, over whom great rain clouds flash with lightning, Lord of the gods, show us grace!" So the sages and immortals praised Him, and He became the Swan and revealed the rare Veda. Of that Lord, Kaliyan, Parakalan, Thirumangai Alwar, of the honoured spear, king of Mangai with its great jewelled mansions, sang this well-woven garland of Tamil. Those who master it can cut their ancient karma at its root.
Word by word
- miṉṉu mā maḻai tavaḻum
- where great clouds crawl, flashing lightning
- viṇṇavar-tam perumāṉē
- Lord of the gods
- aṉṉam āy
- becoming the Swan, Hamsa
- arumaṟaiyai veḷippaṭutta
- revealed the rare Veda
- māṉa vēl parakālaṉ kaliyaṉ
- Parakalan, Kaliyan, of the honoured spear, Thirumangai Alwar
- paṉṉiya nūl tamiḻ-mālai
- well-woven garland of Tamil
- paḻaviṉaiyai mutal ariya
- to cut ancient karma at its root
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.