thiruvAimozhi – 4.5.9 – vAnaththum

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Full series >> Fourth Centum >> Fifth decad

Previous pAsuram

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In ninth pAsuram, AzhwAr becomes blissful saying “I can praise him in all his states such as all-pervading antharyAmi, and avathArams (incarnations)”.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, AzhwAr says “Is there anyone like me who can praise him in all his states such as all-pervading antharyAmi, and avathArams (incarnations)?”.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nampiLLai‘s introduction.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s introduction as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

Ninth pAsuram. AzhwAr says “Is there anyone like me who can praise him in all his states such as all-pervading antharyAmi, and avathArams (incarnations)?”. nithyasUris (eternally free souls) being engrossed in the unlimited pleasure in paramapadham, would not know anything else; since mukthar (liberated souls) would not think about the material realm as said in chAndhOgya upanishath 8.12.3 “nOpajanam smaran idham SarIram” (AthmA will not contemplate about the material body after reaching the spiritual realm), they are comparable to nithyar (nithyasUris); sages like parASara, pArASarya (vyAsa) et al would each be engaged in different aspects; SrI vAlmIki bhagavAn would not think about anything other than SrI rAmAvathAram; SrI parASara bhagavAn and SrI vEdha vyAsa bhagavAn would not think about anything other than krishNAvathAram; SrI Saunaka bhagavAn would be greatly attached to archAvathAram; unlike all of these personalities, I can sing about any aspect of emperumAn – is there any one comparable to me?

pAsuram

vAnaththum vAnaththuL umbarum maNNuLLum maNNin kIzhth
thAnaththum eN thisaiyum thavirAdhu ninRAn thannai
kUnaRsangath thadakkaiyavanaik kudamAdiyai
vAnak kOnaik kavi solla vallERku ini mARuNdE

Listen

Word-by-Word meanings (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

vAnaththum – in svarga (heaven) which is indicated by the word “AkASa” (sky)
uL vAnaththu – residing inside the sky
umbarum – in the higher regions
maNNuLLum – in the earth
maNNin kIzh thAnaththum – the lower regions below earth such as pAthALa etc
eN thisaiyum – eight type of entities (which exist in these different regions, classified by categories such as dhEva (celestial), manushya (human), thiryak (animal), sthAvara (plant) and varNa such as brAhmaNa, kshathriya, vaiSya and SUdhra)
thavirAdhu – without missing anything
ninRAn thannai – one who has the nature of pervading everything

(not only protecting by pervading everywhere in this invisible manner,)
kUn – bent
nal – attractive
sangam – having SrI pAnchajanya (the divine conch)
thada – large
kaiyavanai – one who is having divine hands
kudamAdiyai – one who performs activities such as dancing with pots, which captivate the hearts of everyone

(in this state,)
vAnam kOnai – emperumAn who has the greatness of being enjoyed by nithyasUris (eternally free souls)

(consuming all his states such as all pervading [omnipresence], incarnations, his activities and his supremacy)
kavi solla vallERku – for me who can sing his praises
ini – now
mARu – [matching] opponent
uNdE – is there any?

Simple translation (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

emperumAn has the nature of pervading everything such as svarga (heaven) which is indicated by the word “AkASa” (sky), those who are residing in the higher regions, the earth, the lower regions below earth such as pAthALa etc and in the eight type of entities, without missing anything; is having large divine hands where he is having attractive bent SrI pAnchajanyam (the divine conch); he performs activities such as dancing with pots, which captivate the hearts of everyone; now, is there any [matching] opponent for me who can sing the praises of such emperumAn who has the greatness of being enjoyed by nithyasUris (eternally free souls)?

vyAkyAnams (commentaries)

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s vyAkyAnam

See vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s translation.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

  • vAnaththum – In svarga.
  • vAnaththuL umbarum – in those regions which are higher than such svarga, i.e., mahar lOkam etc.
  • maNNuLLum – on the earth
  • maNNin kIzhth thAnaththum – in the lower regions such as pAthALam etc.
  • eN thisaiyum – eight directions.
  • thavirAdhu ninRAn thannaiemperumAn who fully pervades all these regions and the residents of these regions such as dhEva (celestial beings) etc, like the presence of [water in] ocean. With this, the difference between aNu dhravyam (objects of minuteness) and vibhu dhravyam (objects of hugeness) is explained. AthmA which is aNu (miniscule) will not pervade the whole body; AkAsa (ether) which is huge and all pervading, does not control the entities which it is pervading.

Alternative explanation,

  • vAnaththum … – Higher regions such as svarga etc and the great brahmA et al who reside in such higher regions.
  • kUnal sangath thadakkaiyavanai – Such emperumAn who is pervading everywhere, incarnates among those pervaded objects to be with them – that is being explained here. When asked “Such emperumAn who is incarnating, is he descending with a mortal body?”, as said in thiruvAimozhi 3.5.5Adhi am sOdhi uruvai angu vaiththu ingup piRandha” (having the same primordial spiritual splendorous form here as present in paramapadham), he brought in his auspicious spiritual form and presented the same as a human body.  It is said in SrI bhAgavatham 5.3 “jAthOsi dhEva dhEvE SaSanka chakra gadhAdhara” (Oh lord of nithyasUris who are the controllers of dhEvas (celestial beings)! you have taken birth with your conch, disc and mace).
  • kUnal sangam – As said in SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 4.42 “prAnjalim prahvamASInam” (humbly sitting with folded palms), pAnchajanyam which resembles lakshmaNa who is bowing out of enjoying bhagavAn. SrI pAnchajanyAzhwAn is known for enjoying emperumAn‘s hands and mouth.
  • thadak kaiyavanai – The hands are so huge that, even if both the realms (spiritual and material realm) rest on them, there is lot more space remaining to accommodate more.
  • kudamAdiyai – Just as he pervaded everywhere, he danced with pots to be seen by everyone in the town. This is an example for all his divine activities.
  • vAnak kOnaiemperumAn who is bestowing his presence not just for a town, but for the whole [spiritual] realm.
  • kavi solla vallERku – For me who can glorify such emperumAn in all of his forms/states.
  • ini mARu uNdE –  Should I say specifically “agal vAnam” (the spiritual realm) [as in previous pAsuram]? There is no one in both the realms [spiritual and material realm].

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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