Tiruppavai
Tiruppavai
Verse 29
Today's verse, "siRRam sirukaalE", is the penultimate
verse of the poem and represents the essence of the
entire work.
What is presented below is the surface meaning.
Each verse can actually be understood in many
poetic and profoundly philosophical ways.
Today, January 13, is the 29th day of maargazhi
(December-January). On each day of maargazhi,
one verse from Andal's divine poem ``thiruppaavai''
is savored.
siRRam siRu kaalE vandhu unnai sEviththu * un poRRaamarai adiyE pORRum poruL kELaay * peRRam mEyththu uNNum kulaththil piRandhu * nee kuRREval engaLaik koLLaamal pOgaadhu * iRRaip paRai koLvaan anRu kaaN gOvindhaa * eRRaikkum Ezh Ezh piRavikkum * un thannOdu uRROmE aavOm unakkE naam aatcheyvOm * maRRai nam kaamangaL maaRRElOr embaavaay.
In the first five songs, Andal described the sacred vow (paavai nonbu) she and her friends will undertake during the month of maargazhi to get the "divine drum", which only the Lord of the Universe, Narayana (Krishna), can give them.
Imagining herself to be a cowherd-girl in Brindavana, the idyllic setting of Lord Krishna's youth, Andal goes about waking up her friends in the wee hours of the morning so they can go perform this vow (5-15). In verses 16-22, Andal and her friends gather at the doors of the household of Krishna and ask that those inside rise and grace them. She finally takes her appeal directly to Krishna and his wife Nappinnai who are slumbering inside.
As the Lord and His consort awaken and cast their glances on the girls who have gathered, Andal describes their reason for coming and the girls' inherent and unbreakable relationship to the Divine Couple. In this verse, she declares that the drum she asked for was just a pretext, an excuse to come worship the Lord. All they desire is to be with the Lord and serve Him at all times.
In the early hours of the morning
We came to lovingly serve you
Listen to why we praise
Those golden lotuses that are your feet
You are born in the clan of cowherds
Who subsist by tending cattle
You shouldn't reject our
loving, personal service
Look here, Govinda!
It's not that we just want to get
the drum
today;
But for ever and ever
Seven times seven births
We will be bound to you in eternal relationship
And to you alone will we be slaves
Please, change whatever other desires we have!
siRRam siRu kaalE in the early hours of the morning vandhu having come here unnai you sEviththu worshipped, adored, served un your poRRaamarai (pon + thaamarai) golden lotus adiyE feet pORRum to praise poruL fruit, purpose kELaay listen! peRRam cattle mEyththu rearing uNNum eat by, subsist by kulaththil in the clan (of cowherds) piRandhu born nee you kuRREval selfless, loving, personal service engaLai of ours koLLaamal pogaadhu shouldn't reject iRRai for today paRai koLvaan to get the drum anRu it is not kaaN Look! govindhaa Govinda! (a name of the Lord emphasizing His simplicity and familiarity) eRRaikkum for ever Ezh Ezh seven upon seven (i.e., endless) piRavikkum births un thannOdu with you uRROmE definitely related avOm we will be unakkE only to you naam we aatcheyvOm (aaL + cheyvOm) will be your slaves (aaL = slave) maRRai remaining nam our kaamangaL desires maaRRu change
