SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
periya thirumozhi >> Ninth centum >> Fourth decad
Highlights from avathArikai (Introduction)
We cannot remain in the land from where he separated; she cannot enter the land towards where she started walking; what a painful state we have? – says parakAla nAyaki.
pAsuram
kAvAr madal peNNai anRil arikuralum
EvAyinUdu iyangum ehkil kodithAlO!
pUvAr maNam kamazhum pullANi kai thozhudhEn
pAvAy! idhu namakkOr pAnmaiyE AgAdhE
Word-by-Word meanings
madal – having flaps as the identity
peNNai – present in the palm trees
anRil – anRil birds’
kAvu – in the orchards
Ar – filled
ari – stammering
kuralum – voice
EvAyin – in the main portion of wound which was caused by love arrows
Udu – amidst
iyangum – roaming
ehkil – more than the spear
kodidhu – tormenting more cruely
Al – my bad;
pU – in the flowers
Ar – abundant
maNam – by fragrance
kamazhum – remaining very fragrant
pullANi – dhivyadhESam named thiruppullANi
kai thozhudhEn – I surrendered (desirously).
pAvAy – Oh friend who looks like a doll!
idhu – this
namakku – for us
Or – a
pAnmaiyE AgAdhE – has become natural?
Simple translation
The stammering voice of the anRil birds which are filled in the orchards and are present in the palm trees which are identified by the flaps, and that which is crueler than a spear which is roaming inside the entrance of the main portion of wound, which was caused by love arrows, are troubling me; my bad. I surrendered unto the dhivyadhESam named thiruppullANi which is pervaded by the great fragrannce of the abundant buds in the flowers. Oh doll like friend! This [suffering] has become our nature now!
Highlights from vyAkyAnam (Commentary)
kAvAr madal peNNai anRil ari kuralum – Do we need the sound of this bird on top of our mother’s advice?
anRil ari kuralum – The sound of the anRil bird which is stammering due to love; or the sound which torments me; as said in periya thirumadal “ennudaiya nenjukkOr Ir vALAm en seyvEn” (What will I do for this sword which pierces my heard?). When one itself is intolerable, it has pervaded everywhere. That is – a single flap has grown everywhere to make an orchard. Alternative explanation – the anRil birds which are filled in the orchard which has palm tree flaps. Just as it is said in lankA is filled with rAkshasas. Just as dacoits will enter the water-outlet which is placed by righteous persons, the anRil bird has entered the palm trees which was placed for those who will sustain by performing madal. This is performed when even prapaththi fails. When bhagavAn does not act according to his svarUpam (true nature), the AthmA will try to attain him even at cost of destroying’s ones own svarUpam.
EvAyin Udiyangum – The whole body is wounded by love arrows. Just as the birds will roam around in the mountains which were pierced by subrahmaNya’s spear and SrI paraSurAmAzhwAn’s arrow. Creating new wounds in the body parts which were attacked by the arrows.
ehkil kodidhAlO – More than a spear; alternative explanation – like a spear. To pacify the sound of the anRil bird, it looks like we should use the spear. Usually the fire in hell will be crueler than fire in this world.
pUvAr maNam kamazhum pullANi kai thozhudhEn – I have nicely [unsuccessfully] tried to reach thiruppullANi where the fragrance is not intolerable. I have nicely tried to abandon this place which is a hurdle for me and reach the divine abode which is the goal.
pAvAy – The friend is being called out now [since she is remaining like a doll]. Seeing her pAravaSyam (being mesmerised by bhagavAn), it remains that parakAla nAyaki’s friend in such a state, that parakAla nAyaki should help her [instead of friend helping her]. As said in thiruvAimozhi 9.9.4 “yAmudaith thuNai ennum thOzhimArum” (our friends who are fully subservient to us, to be said as companions), she is being a companion for namesake only. parakAla nAyaki has the sorrow of separation from her nAyakan (bhagavAn) only. For the friend, she has feel the sorrow for nAyaki’s sorrow as well as his non-arrival. This cannot be expressed in words [hence she remains quiet like a doll]. Unable to remain in the place from where he separated; unable to go to and enter thiruppullANi, which is the apt goal; we have not good companions as well; when it comes to the loss, it will be the same for the nAyaki and her friend.
Or pAnmaiyE AgAdhE – Instead of joy and sorrow occurring interchangeably, this [sorrow] has become the nature. nithyasUris are eternally enjoying. The residents of this abode are focussed on worldly engagements only. parakAla nAyaki says – To torment us he made us as the third vibhUthi.
In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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