Thiruppavai - 17th verse- ambaramE thaNNeerE soRE aram cheyyum

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

Today’s verse is the 17th verse. Let us continue to enjoy the wonderful

commentary of His Holiness Srimath Paravakkottai Andavan of Sri Poundarikapuram

Swami ashramam, Srirangam – translated into English by Sri CG Balaji Swami.

 

amparamE thaNNIrE cORE aRaNYceyyum *

emperumaan nan^thakOpaalaa ezhun^thiraay *

kompanaarkku ellaam kozhun^thE kulaviLakkE *

emperumaatti yacOthaay aRivuRaay *

amparam UtaRuththu ONGki uLaku aLan^tha *

umpar kOmaanE uRaNGkaathu ezhun^thiraay *

cem poR kazhalatic celvaa palathEvaa *

umpiyum nIyum uRaNGkEl Or empaavaay. 17.

 

The guards, after having realised that the ensemble of Gopis

was very dear to Kannan, threw open the palace doors for them

conducting them into the corridors. The ensemble then plans to

wake up Nandagopan, Yashoda, Balarama and Kannan. Fearing

that some Gopi might take away Kannan, Nandagopan was asleep

in the first couch. But is such a thing possible? Yes it is. The land

of Shonitanagara was ruled by Banasura, the son of Bali

chakravarthi. He had a daughter by name Usha. She lost her heart

to Aniruddha, the grandson of Kannan having seen Him in her

dream. Her maid Chitraloka, using the power of Yoga, brought

Aniruddha in his sleep along with his couch and presented him to

Usha. Being wary of such situations, Nandagopa therefore slept in

the first couch.

 

ambaramE; thanneerE; sore- aRam cheyyum nandhagOPAlaa! – “Oh generous

Nandagopa, who, during the times of drought, gave away in charity, clothing,

food and water to the

subjects of Ayirpadi, awake to bestow upon us the supreme Lord

Kannan, who is the delectable most of foods and the relishable

most of potable water, that satiates our hunger and thirst. In this

world, different relations like father, mother, brother, son, friend et

al, give us delight and make us happy in their own ways. Kannan

on the other hand gives us pleasure and delight of every way. You,

who shall be bestowing upon us such an objects of bliss is indeed

our Lord (Emperumaan). Wake up Oh Lord, wake up.†Next they

approach towards Yashoda.

 

Kombanaarkkellaam kozhundhE kula viLakkE.. yemperumaatti! yasOdhA! aRivuRaay

 

“The branches of vanchi tree bend themselves

to offer support during times of torrential floods. Similar to this,

Yashoda gave happiness to everybody, overlooking the effort and

weariness on her part. Kozhundu - She was like the maid in

command to all. She was intuitive of the difficulties that might

come upon her folks and would always help them in alleviating the

same. Kulavilakke - She stood bedazzling as the light of the entire

woman community. Having begotten Kannan, Yashoda was like a

sovereign to the whole universe. When Nandagopa, who bestows

grace and benevolence upon us that do good to us in turn (hitam),

is already awake, is it correct for Yashoda, who bestows upon us

the fruits of all our desires (ishtam), to be asleep still? Will there be

any despair for the womenfolk, while the knowledgeable Yashoda is

awake?†Having taken her permission, they then behold, through

the window, the divine visage of Kannan, who is reclining in the

next couch.

 

Ambaramoodu aRutthOngi ulagaLandha umbar kOmAnE – When the Devas sought back

from you, the kingdom that they had lost to Bali, you assumed a magnificent

form, so huge, that rose over the skies. The shadow of your lotus foot took

everything in its shade.

With your other foot, you blessed everyone with munificent grace

just as how a mother would caress her baby’s head with drops of

oil. You also adorned the celestials, daily votaries and all the worlds

as embellishments to your lotus feet and made one and all

Srivaishnavas.

 

uRangaadhu yezhundhiraay - You have bestowed your lotus feet to those who knew

you not and even without their bidding. Arise oh Kanna! to bestow your lotus

feet upon us who are aware of your

essential nature (svarupam) and who have sought you as our

refuge and our object of delightful contemplation.

Hanuman says to Seetha, “Sri Rama who is now separated

from you is always awake and never sleeps. If at all he sleeps for a

while, he takes your name sweetly while waking up†Andal says “Is

it correct on your part to lay asleep while you have actually

incarnated to wake us up from sleep with your holy names on our

lips?â€. Kannan then directs them to Balaraman. As per protocol,

Balarama should have been awakened first and then Kannan. He is

the incarnation of Adisheshan a great devotee and preceptor. Since

he is the sub-servient and also the reclining couch for Perumal, he

incarnated prior to Kannan. Having realised their oversight they

approach Baladeva now.

 

sempoRkazhaladi selvaa baladevA– Lakshmana was born later to Sri Rama and

engaged himself in Sri Rama’s servitude. But,

Balarama was born before Kannan and stayed in His servitude.

Balarama housed himself in Devaki’s womb before Kannan. He had

purified Devaki’s womb with the touch of his feet. It is because of

this reason that the eighth child of Devaki did not have the same

fate as the six that were born before Balarama. The touch of his

feet brought prosperity and auspiciousness.

 

Umbiyum neeyum uRangEl – Your brother Kannan is obedient to

you and so are you to him. Pray arise from your slumber, heeding

to our prayers. At times when Kannan would disappear, Balarama

would console the weeping Gopis who had lost their hearts to

Kannan, with sweet and soothing words of joy.

 

Subjects, who embark upon worshipping the Lord, should

begin the same contemplating upon their preceptors and should

then seek their approval for the same. This purport gleams forth

through this verse

 

Andal ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan