ThiruppAvai, Day 15

[Guest guest]

Respected Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

I am still waiting on pAsurams 11-15 to be uploaded into HH Sri Chinna

Jeeyar Swamy's web site. However, I could not help but want to share

the message of what is considered to be one of the most, if not the

most, important verse in the thirty verses of Thiruppavai, the one that

describes what Sri E S Bhuvarachariar Swamy calls the 10 Commandments

for a Sri Vaishnava.

 

I am taking the liberty of borrowing the transliteration and translation

of this pAsuram from one of the newest members of the Society, Sri

Ramani Naidu; the explanation is by Sri ESB Swamy.

 

For a detailed explanation, please download the eloquent discourse by HH

Sri Chinna Jeeyar that is available on his website: www.chinnajeeyar.org

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mohan

 

pAsuram 15

 

Transliteration

 

ellE ilamkiliyE innam urankuthiyO

cillenRu azaiyEn min nankaimIr pOtharkinREn

vallai un katturaikal pantE un vAyaRithum

vallIrkaL nInkaLE nAnEthAn Ayituka

ollai nI pOthAy unakkenna vERutaiyai

ellOrum pOnthArO pOnthAr pOl ennikkoL

vallAnaik konRAnai mARRArai maRRaLikka

vallAnai mAyAnaip pAtElOr empAvAy.

 

Translation

 

Hey young parrot! Are you still asleep?

Don’t be so harsh maids. I’ll join you.

We know your vain promises of the past.

I know you, don’t I? Take me as you please.

Join us quick. Why do you make exceptions?

Is everyone there? Of course, you can count for yourself.

Let us sing in praise of the Inscrutable,

Who annihilated the mighty elephant,

Who cured the foes of their pride.

 

Explanation by Sri E S Bhuvarahachariar Swamy's explanation:

 

This pasuram which brings out the caharacteristics of a SriVaishnava is

considered to be the very essence of Tiruppavai by our Acharyas.

 

The girl who is woken up begins to sing.

 

1.YELLE ILANKILIYE -the implied sense is that the speech of the devotees

is most welcome.

 

2.INNAM URANGUDIYO -It is wrong to indulge in other things if the

company of Devotees is available.

 

3.CHIL ENRU AZHAYENMIN - Not a single harsh word should be used with

the Bhaktas.

 

4.NANGAIMIR PODARGINREN - Devotees should be addressed respectfully.

 

5.VALLAI UN KATTURAIGAL - Even the chastisement by a Bhakta (which will

always be constructive) should be accepted gratefully.

 

6.VALLEERGAL NEENGALE NAANE THAN AAYIDUGA - owning others mistakes as

one's own is the hallmark of a Sri Vaishnava. For example, Bharata

holds himself responsible for Rama's exile.

 

7.OLLAI NEE PODAAY - Separation from devotees even for a second is

unbearable.

 

8.UNAKKENNA VERUDAYAI - The path laid down by one's ancestors is to be

followed,not what is dictated by one's own mind.

 

9.ELLAARUM PONDAARO PONDU ENNIKKOL- seeing a congregation of devotees

is the most desired fruit in this life. The enjoyment

is not complete even if one devotee is missing. Their sight

and touch are all contributory factors to one's enjoyment.

 

10.VALLAANAI..etc - Singing His virtues,valour,victory etc are vital to

a Sri Vaishnava as a means of pleasing other Srivaishnavas; as such it

results in the service of Bhagavatas.

 

These ten commandments (golden rules) are to be cherished as they

constitute the acid test for testing whether one is really a Sri

Vaishnava.