thiruvAimozhi – 3.8.8 – kOlamE

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Full series >> Third Centum >> Eighth decad

Previous pAsuram

namperumal2

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In eighth pAsuram – AzhwAr says “Even if you ask ‘should the time not be right for me to fulfil your desire?’, that time is also under your control. Such being the case, how can I miss out on this experience?”.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, AzhwAr asks “When will I see and enjoy you who have enjoyable beauty etc?”.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

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

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

pAsuram

kOlamE(y) thAmaraik kaNNAdhOr anjana
neelamE! niRu enadhAviyai IrginRa
seelamE! senRu sellAdhana munnilAm
kAlamE! unnai ennAL kaNdu koLvanE?

Listen

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

kOlamE – very pleasant (like having specifically decorated form)
thAmarai – like a lotus flower
kaNNadhu – having eyes
Or – unparalleled
anjanam – black pigment
neelamE – having form which is an embodiment of blackish-blue complexion

(not just the beauty)
ninRu – firmly standing
enadhu Aviyai – my soul
IrginRa – cuts
seelamE – having qualities [such as simplicity] as his identity
senRu – past times which are gone
sellAdhana – future times which are yet to occur
munnilAm kAlamE – one who is the controller of the present times as well
unnai – (such) you
ennAL – when
kaNdu koLvan – will I see and enjoy?

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

Oh emperumAn who is very pleasant to see, who has lotus like flowers, who is having an unparalleled form which is an embodiment of blackish-blue complexion of black pigment, having as his identity, qualities [such as simplicity] of cutting my soul by standing firmly, who is the controller of past, future and present times! when will I see and enjoy (such) you?

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

  • kOlamE – Instead of being two aspects – beauty and the object which hosts such beauty, emperumAn is being the embodiment of beauty. In SAsthram, gyAthA [knower] is said as gyAnam [knowledge] due to thadhguNasArathvam [when an entity is fully pervaded by a particular attribute, the entity is called as the attribute itself – when AthmA‘s primary quality is gyAnam, AthmA itself is at times cited in SAsthram as gyAnam]; in such manner, when there is abundance of beauty, AzhwAr wanting to identify emperumAn with his beauty, calls him “kOlamE!” (Oh beauty!).
  • thAmarai … – The nature of the divine body of emperumAn which is the abode of such beauty. That too, the beautiful nature of each part of the divine body [since lotus like eyes are specifically addressed]. Oh one who has beautiful eyes which is in some sense comparable to the lotus flower due to the reddish colour, blossomed form and tenderness.
  • anjana neelamE – anjanamE (oh one who is like black pigment)! neelamE (Oh one who is having dark blue complexion)! Since one example is not sufficient to explain his beauty, AzhwAr is highlighting with various aspects. [Alternatively] One who is having the dark blue complexion of black pigment as his divine body.

Though he has beautiful form, would he not have attachment in his heart?

  • ninRu … – One who is having qualities such as simplicity which cuts my heart in separation – even if I can forget his divine beauty, I cannot forget his qualities! AzhwAr is thinking about the simplicity of archAvathAram which was identified by him in thiruvAimozhi 3.6.9 “nenjinAl ninaippAn yavan avan Agum nIL kadal vaNNan” (sea (blackish blue) coloured emperumAn who assumes the forms sought out by his devotees) in thiruvAimozhi 3.6 “seyya thAmaraik kaNNan” decad. Alternatively, AzhwAr can be said to be thinking about emperumAn’s simplicity which let AzhwAr unite with emperumAn in thiruvAimozhi 1.5 “vaLavEzhulagu” decad.

Though emperumAn has beauty and auspicious qualities, is there not a right time to attain him?

  • senRu … – Isn’t time under your control too? mahAbhAratham udhyOga parvam 68.13 “kAlasya cha hi mruthyOScha jangamasthAvarasya cha | ISathE bhagavAnEka: sathyamEthadhbravImi thE” (sanjaya says – bhagavAn is the only controller for time, yama, movable and immovable entities; I am telling you “this is truth only”). emperumAn was present before creation of objects, he is the controller for the kAla (time) which remains even after the destruction of all these objects and the creators and destroyers of such objects; [does mruthyu indicate all destroyers or only yama] all destroyers are indicated by the term mruthyu as said in katavallI 1.2 “mruthyur yasyOpasEchanam” (even the destroyers are consumed like pickle is consumed in the end) – mruthyu indicates destroyers. emperumAn is the only one who is present before the creation of all objects during srushti, being present even after destruction, being aware of everything always, controls the creators, created entities and the destroyers. There is no exaggeration in bhagavath vishayam as said in “sathyam …“; When one is believed to be Aptha (trustworthy), he/she won’t lie to those who believe in him/her. senRu – past; sellAdhana – future; munnilAm kAlam – present.
  • kAlamE – Oh one who has the three times (past, present and future) at his disposal!
  • unnai … – Your beauty and qualities does not let me leave you; you cannot avoid by saying “the time is not right”. This being the case, tell me, when will I see you? As promised for bharathAzhwAn and arrived after 14 years as said in SrI rAmAyaNam yudhdha kANdam 127.1 “pUrNE chathurdhaSE varshE panchamyAm…” (after completing 14 full years SrI rAma, elder brother of SrI lakshmaNa arrived at bharadhwAja maharishi’s ASramam on a panchami day and worshipped the maharishi) – tell me that “You will see me on this particular day”.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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