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periya thirumozhi >> Fifth centum >> Eighth decad
Highlights from avathArikai (Introduction)
It is said that though those who sing these pAsurams may not have the same emotions/purity of AzhwAr, just by doing so, their hurdles for the ultimate goal will leave them.
pAsuram
mAdamALigai sUzh thirumangai
mannan onnalar thangaLai vellum
AdalmA valavan kali kanRi
aNipozhil thiruvarangaththammAnai
nIdu thol pugazhAzhi vallAnai
endhaiyai nedumAlai ninaindha
pAdal paththivai pAdumin thondIr!
pAda nummidaip pAvam nillAvE
Word-by-Word meanings
mAdam – by maNdapams (festive halls)
mALigai – by homes
sUzh – surrounded
thirumangai – for thirumangai region
mannan – being the king
onnalar thangaLai – enemies
vellum – one who defeats
Adal mA – a prancing horse which is named Adal mA
valavan – one who rides
kali kanRi – AzhwAr who eradicates sins
aNi – decorative
pozhil – having orchards
thiruvarangaththu – for the dhivyadhESam named thiruvarangam
ammAnai – being the lord
nIdu – being immeasurable
thol – eternal
pugazh – having fame
Azhi – thiruvAzhi (sudharSana chakra)
vallAnai – one who controls
endhaiyai – being my lord
nedu – endless
mAlai – azhagiya maNavALan who is having love towards his devotees
ninaindha – enjoyed and sung due to that experience
ivai paththu pAdal – these ten pAsurams
thoNdIr – Oh bhAgavathas!
pAdumin – sing
pAda – as you sing (these pAsurams)
nummidai – with you
pAvam – sins which are hurdles for the goal
nillA – will be eradicated
Simple translation
thirumangai AzhwAr, who is the king of thirumangai region which is surrounded by maNdapams and homes, who defeats the enemies, who rides a prancing horse which is named Adal mA and who eradicates sins, sang these ten pAsurams, after enjoying azhagiya maNavALan who is having endless love towards his devotees, who is the lord of the dhivyadhESam named thiruvarangam which is having decorative orchards, who controls thiruvAzhi which is having immeasurable, eternal fame, due to that experience. Oh bhAgavathas! Sing these pAsurams. As you do that, the sins which are with you and are hurdles for the goal, will be eradicated.
Highlights from vyAkyAnam (Commentary)
mAdam … – AzhwAr is saying that it is because of the birth in this town, he got all the goodness. With this, the greatness of his birth place is identified. For the world to accept something, it should be said “This is spoken by a trustworthy person” as said in SrI rAmAyaNam bAla kANdam 4.1 “vAlmIkir bhagavAn rushi:” (the most knowledegable sage vAlmIki), “sa hOvAcha vyAsa: pArASarya:” (thus spoke vyAsa, the famous son of parASara), “kurugUrch chadagOpan” (nammAzhwAr from thirukkurugUr).
onnalar … – As thirumangai AzhwAr started his procession with decorations, enemies will be destroyed like a full vegetable boiling and breaking down. Enemies of AzhwAr are – bAhyas who insult pramANams (vEdhams etc) and kudhrushtis who insult pramEyam (bhagavAn). [bAhyas reject vEdhas; kudhrushtis reject bhagavAn’s true nature, forms, qualities etc]. Winning them means – as said in SrIrangarAja sthavam pUrva Sathakam 36 “jitha bAhya jinAdhi maNiprathimA api vaidhikayan iva rangapurE | maNimaNdapa vapragaNAn vithanE parakAla kavi: praNamEmahi thAn ||” (thirumangai AzhwAr who was like yama for jainas et al who were speaking against vEdhams, defeated them with his debates. He converted their idols which are made of gold and gems, to vaidhika purpose. With this wealth, he built beautiful maNdapams and forts in SrIrangam), he built forts with the outsiders’ idols; he eliminated the supremacy of rudhra which is held by the followers of Saiva Agama.
kalikanRi – Destroyer of enemies. These words are said, respecting bhagavAn’s greatness.
Further, he is explaining the nature of the entity who is sung about.
aNi pozhil thiruvarangaththammAnai – parASara bhattar would say “As soon as he saw the thirumangai region, where did the beautiful orchards of SrIrangam disappear?” .
nIdu thol pugazh Azhi vallAnai – In the protection of devotees, sudharSana chakra will be ahead of bhagavAn’s divine heart. It is said in thiruvAimozhi 2.10.5 “aRamuyal Azhi” (divine chakra engaged in righteous acts).
thol pugazh – It is not incidental. [But it is natural.]
Azhi vallAnai – His greatness is such that he can keep the sudharSana chakra at his disposal and get anything accomplished.
endhaiyai – If there is no relationship, even if he had the tools, he need not engage in others’ tasks; here, the relationship which makes him act for us, is highlighted.
Even if he has the relationship, if he lacks love towards us, there is no use.
nedu mAlai – One who is greatly affectionate. With these, the qualities which are required in him for others to surrender unto him are explained.
ninaindha pAdal – The words of those who follow these principles clearly. The words which are an outcome of the overflowing experience.
paththivai – Collected in ten pAsurams, just as one who knows the nature of pearls, makes a necklace and checks them by wearing in their hands.
pAdumin thoNdIr – Oh you who are all desirous towards bhagavath vishayam (matters relating to bhagavAn)! Speak out due to overflowing joy.
pAda nummidaip pAvam nillAvE – Just as a disease gets eradicated by drinking milk, as we recite AzhwAr’s pAsurams, the hurdles for the goal will be eradicated automatically, as said in SrI bhagavath gIthA 18.66 “sarvapApEbhyO mOkshayishyAmi” (I will ensure that all sins are eradicated for you). In saying “nIdu thol pugazh Azhi vallAnai“, AzhwAr is focussing on bhagavAn’s ability indicated in “aham” in the same SlOkam from SrI bhagavath gIthA.
In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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