Pasuram 3.1.7

Tamil text and transliteration:

வாழ்த்துவார் பலர் ஆக நின்னுள்ளே நான்முகனை,
மூழ்த்த நீர் உலகு எல்லாம் படை என்று முதல் படைத்தாய்
கேழ்த்த சீர் அரன் முதலாக் கிளர் தெய்வமாய்க் கிளர்ந்து,
சூழ்த்து அமரர் துதித்தால் உன் தொல் புகழ் மாசூணாதே?

vāḻttuvār palar āka niṉṉuḷḷē nāṉmukaṉai,
mūḻtta nīr ulaku ellām paṭai eṉṟu mutal paṭaittāy
kēḻtta cīr araṉ mutalāk kiḷar teyvamāyk kiḷarntu,
cūḻttu amarar tutittāl uṉ tol pukaḻ mācūṇātē?

English translation of verse 3.1.7:

First and foremost, Nāṉmukaṉ (Brahmā) You did, by your resolve, raise
And bade him create the worlds many, out of the deep waters;
If Araṉ (Śiva) of prowess great and other devas who pose
As the gods potent, your creatures all, were to sing your praise,
Would it not your ancient glory efface?

Note

What does it matter how many sing the Lord’s glory and how powerful and knowledgeable they are? None can indeed be more articulate than the Vedas and even they can have only a sense of participation in a scheme of recital of the Lord’s glory, as distinguished from a sense of due fulfilment. Even the exalted Śiva, known for His extra ordinary wisdom, is no exception and fares no better. The measure of the Lord’s glory is as unlimited as the capacity of even the most knowledgeable of His subjects to sing His glory is miserably limited and pales into insignificance. Any attempt on their part to exhaustively sing His glory is thus an affront to His hoary fame.