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 3.9.7
Tamil text and transliteration:
சேரும் கொடை புகழ் எல்லை இலானை, ஓர் ஆயிரம்
பேரும் உடைய பிரானை அல்லால் மற்று யான் கிலேன்,
மாரி அனைய கை மால் வரை ஒக்கும் திண் தோள் என்று,
பாரில் ஓர் பற்றையைப் பச்சைப் பசும் பொய்கள் பேசவே.
cērum koṭai pukaḻ ellai ilāṉai, ōr āyiram
pērum uṭaiya pirāṉai allāl maṟṟu yāṉ kilēṉ,
māri aṉaiya kai māl varai okkum tiṇ tōḷ eṉṟu,
pāril ōr paṟṟaiyaip paccaip pacum poykaḷ pēcavē.
English translation of verse 3.9.7:
Utter I Can’t damned white lies that project
The duds on Earth as the cloud munificent
And glorify their shoulders as mountains great;
Praise I can only my gracious Lord of glory unlimited,
Bearing a thousand names, my benefactor great.
Notes
(i) In the preceding songs, the Āḻvār addressed the world around but his advice fell on deaf cars, as before. In sheer disgust he withdraws unto himself, satisfied that he could get back from the earthly poets, uncontaminated, like unto a person clearing a dacoit-infested area, without getting robbed.
(ii) Thousand names: Doesn’t mean exactly thousand. Actually, it connotes innumerable names, even as His glory is inexhaustible.
(iii) While lies: Abominable lies, without the slightest tinge of truth.