Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar | 388,514 words
This is the English translation of the Tiruvaymoli (or, Thiruvaimozhi): An ancient Tamil text consisting of 1102 verses which were sung by the poet-saint Nammalvar as an expression of his devotion to Vishnu. Hence, it is an important devotional book in Vaishnavism. Nammalvar is one of the twelve traditional saints of Tamil Nadu (Southern India), kn...
Pasuram 1.4.10
Tamil text and transliteration:
உடல் ஆழிப் பிறப்பு வீடு உயிர் முதலா முற்றுமாய்க்
கடல் ஆழி நீர் தோற்றி அதனுள்ளே கண்வளரும்
அடல் ஆழி அம்மானைக் கண்டக்கால் இது சொல்லி
விடல் ஆழி மட நெஞ்சே! வினையோம் ஒன்றாம் அளவே.
uṭal āḻip piṟappu vīṭu uyir mutalā muṟṟumāyk
kaṭal āḻi nīr tōṟṟi ataṉuḷḷē kaṇvaḷarum
aṭal āḻi ammāṉaik kaṇṭakkāl itu colli
viṭal āḻi maṭa neñcē! viṉaiyōm oṉṟām aḷavē.
English translation of verse 1.4.10:
Oh, my fickle mind, ‘tis our birthright to serve the Lord,
Go to Him, holding the bright discus and reclining in the deep sea,
The Architect of all created worlds, and let Him see
Our sad plight; leave Him not till unto Him we get restored.
Note
When the details of service unto the Lord were spelt out by the Āḻvār in the preceding stanza, his mind, bent upon such service, was about to slip out of the body. It is held by some that the Āḻvār requested his mind not to get parted till stability with the Lord was attained. Being, however, a decad where the Āḻvār sends errands, it would be more appropriate to say that he sent his mind also on such an errand, briefing it not to leave the Lord till He eventually deigns to get restored to the Āḻvār.