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 3.4.8
Tamil text and transliteration:
ஒளி மணி வண்ணன் என்கோ! ஒருவன் என்று ஏத்த நின்ற
நளிர் மதிச் சடையன் என்கோ! நான்முகக் கடவுள் என்கோ,
அளி மகிழ்ந்து உலகம் எல்லாம் படைத்து அவை ஏத்த நின்ற,
களி மலர்த் துளவன் எம்மான் கண்ணனை மாயனையே!
oḷi maṇi vaṇṇaṉ eṉkō! oruvaṉ eṉṟu ētta niṉṟa
naḷir matic caṭaiyaṉ eṉkō! nāṉmukak kaṭavuḷ eṉkō,
aḷi makiḻntu ulakam ellām paṭaittu avai ētta niṉṟa,
kaḷi malart tuḷavaṉ emmāṉ kaṇṇaṉai māyaṉaiyē!
English translation of verse 3.4.8:
Could I call Kaṇṇaṉ, my Liege-Lord of wondrous traits and deeds,
Sporting the floral garland of tuḷacī which honey sheds,
Who the worlds did with delight create and is by them adored,
As the lustrous One of sapphire hue or as Śiva, who sports
The cool crescent Moon on matted locks and stands revered
(By his votaries) as the God supreme or as Nāṉmukaṉ (Brahmā, the four-headed)?
Notes
(i) The Āḻvār points out here that Śiva, sporting the cool, crescent Moon on his matted locks, mistakenly revered by some as the Supreme and Brahmā, the four-headed Demi-urge, also form part of Lord Viṣṇu’s possessions.
(ii) ‘Liege-Lord’: Viṣṇu, who put the Āḻvār on the right track and thereby made him solely worship Him, without straying into the domain of worship of the lesser deities.