thiruppaavai -- verse 29

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[ 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.

 

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. I invite

others to 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.

 

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.

 

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thiruppaavai, verse 29 -- kaRavaigaL pin senRu

-------------

 

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.

 

 

[ '*' indicates the end of a line, split

both for recitation as well as to help

with the meaning. ]

 

 

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Translation

-----------

 

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

 

We 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 even 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!

 

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Word for Word meaning

---------------------

 

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

 

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

maRRu change