A few gems from nammaazhvaar

[Guest guest]

Here are two paasurams from nammaazhvaar's thiruvaaymozhi.

They struck me as remarkable as soon as I read them.

I wanted like to share them with the rest of you.

 

I will let the poetry of Our Saint speak for itself, and

let those who are more knowledgable in Tamil speak on the

finer sentiments expressed by the aazhvaar.

 

Please pardon and correct any translation errors.

 

thiruvaaymozhi 5.4

 

oorellaam thunchi yulagellaam naLLiruLaay,

neerellaam thERiyOr neeLiravaay neendadhaal,

paarellaa mundanNam paambaNaiyaan vaaraanaal,

aarellE! valvinaiyEn aavikaap paarinaiyE? (2) 5.4.1

 

aavikaap paariniyaar? aazhkadalmaN viNmoodi,

maavikaara maayOr valliravaay neendathaal,

kaavisEr vaNNanen kaNNanum vaaraanaal,

paaviyEn nenchamE! neeyumbaaNG gallaiyE? 5.4.2

 

 

The whole town is asleep

The whole world is engulfed in darkness

All the waters have calmed

Night stretches into eternity

The Lord who swallowed the earth sleeps on

a serpent couch

Alas! He comes not! Who can save my sinful soul

now?

 

 

A ghastly pall engulfs the sea, earth and sky

Stretching into one sinister night

My golden hued Krishna does not come, alas!

O sinful heart, you too are not with me;

Who can save me anymore!

 

 

[Translation based on Sri Rama Bharati's rendition of

the thiruvaaymozhi into English.]

 

nammaazhvaar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

Mani