THIRUPPAVAI 11 & 12

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PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES

 

In the eleventh pAsuram of Thriuppavai 'kaRRuk kaRavai ' "kaRandhu" refers the

fact that the cows are being milked and the duty of their clan is properly

performed. This indicates that a person should not deviate from duties which are

prescribed to him according to the clan-varNAsramam.

 

In the twelfth pAsuram of ThiruppAvai 'kaNaithiLam kARRerumai kanRukk irangi,

ninaitha muali vazhiyE ninRu pAl sOra' refers to the fact that there is nobody

to milk the cows and hence the milk come out flooding the muddy floors. Here,

the non-performance of duty is indicated as nobody is milking the cows.

 

In the former pAsuram as the words "kuRRamondRillAdha' indicates that the

performance of duties is as a blemishless act. In the latter pAsuram '

nARchelvan thangAi' refers to the fact that the person is alongwith Lord KrishNa

and hence he is a good wealthy person. This implies that though he has not

performed his duty to the cows, he is termed as a good wealthy person.

 

Thus it may be observed that both performing the duty and non-performance of

duty is appreciated by Andal. Is it not a paradox?

 

Our pUrvAchAryAs have responded to this in various grandham-s including AchArya

Hridhayam. Normally one is expected to perform one's duties which is

appreciated. Abdication of one's duties is not suggested but for any rule

exceptions do exist. For this rule the exception is that when one is performing

athAnich chEvagam ( most intimate service to the Lord) the regular duties or the

duties which are peculiar to the varNAsramam withers off. It is pertinent to

note that the duty is not abdicated by the person who is involved in the service

of the Lord but these duties withers off like objects gradually falling from the

hand of a sleeping person ( vuRanguvAn kaippaNdam pOl athAnich chEvagathil

nazhuvum)

 

Therefore, the essence of these two themes are- under general circumstances one

is expected to perform duties but when performing service to the Lord the duties

are relegated to the background..

 

vAnamAmalai padmanAbhan