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From: Mani Varadarajan (mani_at_be.com)
Date: Fri Jan 09 1998 - 10:54:15 PST
[ Today, January 8, is the 24nd day of maargazhi
(December-January). On each day of maargazhi,
one verse from Andal's divine poem ``thiruppaavai''
is savored. Today's verse is "anRu iv ulagam".
What I have presented is the surface meaning.
Each verse can actually be understood in many
poetic and profoundly philosophical ways. Perhaps
others can offer further thoughts and reactions.
An introduction to Andal and the thiruppaavai
can be found on the Web:
http://www.best.com/~mani/new/andal-bio.html
http://www.best.com/~mani/andal.html
Pardon me for skipping some verses.
Vacation and illness conspired against me,
and I hope to make up the missed posts in the meantime.
-- Mani ]
Recap
-----
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.
In verses 5-15, she goes about waking up
her friends in the wee hours of the morning so they
can go perform this vow. In verses 16-22, Andal and
her friends gather at the doors of the household of
Krishna and ask that they rise and grace them. Her
appeals start first with his father Nandagopa and
end with Krishna himself and his wife Nappinnai.
As Krishna awakens (23), Andal is overwhelmed by his
presence. Enamored and concerned only for Him, in
verse 24 she sings a song of praise and benediction.
----------------------------------------
thiruppaavai, verse 24 -- anRu iv ulagam
----------------------------------------
anRu iv ulagam aLandhaay adi pORRi *
senRanguth then ilangai seRRaay thiRal pORRi *
ponRach chakatam udhaiththaay pugazh pORRi *
kanRu kuNil aaveRindhaay kazhal pORRi *
kunRu kudaiyaay eduththaay guNam pORRi *
venRu pagai kedukkum nin kaiyil vEl pORRi *
enRu enRu un sEvagamE Eththip paRai koLvaan *
inRu yaam vandhOm irangElOr embaavaay
[ '*' indicates the end of a line, split
both for recitation as well as to help
with the meaning. ]
-----------
Translation
-----------
That day, long ago, you measured these worlds
Hail your feet!
You went and destroyed southern Lanka
Hail your strength!
You kicked the cart to pieces
Hail your fame!
You flung the calf demon like a sling
Hail your feet!
You lifted a hill as an umbrella
Hail your gracious good qualities!
You vanquished your foes
Hail the spear in your hand!
In so many ways we praise your greatness
We have come today for the drum
Have pity on us
---------------------
Word for Word meaning
---------------------
anRu then, long ago
iv ulagam these worlds
aLandhaay you strode
adi your feet
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
senRu after going
angu there
then ilangai Ravana's city of southern Lanka
seRRaay you destroyed
thiral your vigour
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
ponRa destroying
chakatam the demon who came as an cartwheel
udhaiththaay by kicking
pugazh your fame
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
kanRu the demon who came as a calf
kunilaa you used as a stick (against another demon)
eRindhaay threw
kazhal your feet
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
kunRu the Govardhana hill
kudaiyaay as an umbrella
eduththaay you lifted
guNam your good nature
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
venRu to win
pagai enemies
kedukkum destroy
nin kaiyil in your hand
vEl spear
pORRi we sing "All Hail, all glory!"
enRu enRu in all these ways
un sEvakamE Eththi
praising your greatness
paRai koLvaan to get the drum
inRu today
yaam we
vandhOm have come
irangu have mercy on us