thiruppavai day three song three

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THIRUPPAVAI - DAY THREE – SONG THREE

 

Transliteration

 

Onki ulakaLantha uthaman pEr pAti

nAnkaL nam pAvaikkuc cArru nIratinAL

thInkinri nAtellAm tinkal mummAri peythu

Onku perum cennel Utu kayal ukaLa

pUnkuvalaip pOthil porivantu kanpatuppa

thEnkAthe pukkiruntu cIrtha mulai paRRi

vAnkak kutam niraikkum vaLLal perum pacukkaL

nInkAtha selvam niRainthElor empavay.

 

Translation

 

Sing do we the praise of the Unselfing

Manifesting Himself in all His magnitude

To measure the whole world in a single stride.

Resolved are we in our devotion

And bathe in pavai observance.

Thrice do the rains bless the whole nation.

Paddy grows to full length and fish swim in fertile fields.

Dapples gnats lie asleep in the petals of the kuvalai.

Munificent cows with udders brimming with milk

Fill pot after pot at the hands of the industrious herdsmen,

Adding inexhaustible wealth to the clan.

 

The first song of the Thiruppavai referred to Narayana, the transcendent

reality. The second song referred to His condescending manifestation on the

milky ocean. The third song refers to the deed of manifestation in the form

of Vamana. Mahabali was a mighty king of the asuras. He had won over all the

worlds including that of the gods and reduced them to servility. The

dethroned gods sought Narayana’s intervention. Narayana took the form of

Vamana, the dwarf brahmin.

 

He obtained Mahabali’s promise of the gift of lands measurable in three

strides of the dwarf. Once promised the gift, Narayana grew in magnitude and

in one stride measured the whole world. In another he measured the world of

gods. Having no place to measure further, He placed His foot on the head of

Mahabali and liquidated him. This act of helping the servile gods is

celebrated at the beginning of the song.

God is named Uttaman in the first line which is translated into the

Unselfing. It needs an explanation. People are of four types. Atamatman : he

who nourishes himself at the expense of the others. Ataman: the one who

lives and lets the others live. Matyaman – the one who works not only for

his living but also for the living of others. Uttaman – the one who makes

the others thrive even at his own expense. Narayana accepted the humiliation

of assuming the form of a dwarf for the sake of helping the gods in

servitude and therefore is called Uttaman.

 

Then follows a reiteration of the commitment to pavai observance declared in

the previous song. The benefits that accrue on the world consequent upon

their observance are mentioned next. Three spells of rains a month is a

blessing in that it ensures safety from disease, famine and other such

either because of continuos rain or because of drought.

The subsequent abundance is indicated in the reference to paddy that grows

full well. Abundance and perennial supply of water are indicated by the

reference to the fish that are to be found not only in ponds and other water

sources but in the fields as well. Naturally, the cows are well-fed and

easily yield quantities of milk. Milk is the source of wealth to the clan of

the herdsmen and therefore inexhaustible wealth is further added thereon.

 

Interpretation to the song by extension will be as follows:

Praise to God and experiencing the Divine will dispel the consciousness of

the physical which will otherwise remain a blemish of the world.

 

The growth of ANANYARHASESHADHWAM (Oneness with God), ANANYASARANATHVAM

(total surrender that negates the feeling of separate identity) and

ANANYABOKYATHVAM (the experience of the divine instress in atma) will be

obtained. Souls will thrive happily in the universe then. The gnat of God

will enter the hearts of the devotees, the flower, and remain there. The

wealth indicated refers to the wealth of spiritual knowledge to be imparted

by the right kind of teachers (gurus). Thus the third song of Thiruppavai

speaks about the benefits that accrue to the devotee consequent upon

praising God and taking upon oneself the pavai observance.

 

Ramani