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...

Tamil text and transliteration:

கீழ்மையினால் அங்கு ஓர் கீழ்மகன் இட்ட முழவின் கீழ்,
நாழ்மை பல சொல்லி நீர் அணங்கு ஆடும் பொய் காண்கிலேன்,
ஏழ்மைப் பிறப்புக்கும் சேமம் இந் நோய்க்கும் ஈதே மருந்து,
ஊழ்மையில் கண்ணபிரான் கழல் வாழ்த்துமின் உன்னித்தே.

kīḻmaiyiṉāl aṅku ōr kīḻmakaṉ iṭṭa muḻaviṉ kīḻ,
nāḻmai pala colli nīr aṇaṅku āṭum poy kāṇkilēṉ,
ēḻmaip piṟappukkum cēmam in nōykkum ītē maruntu,
ūḻmaiyil kaṇṇapirāṉ kaḻal vāḻttumiṉ uṉṉittē.

English translation of verse 4.6.9:

Ye, womenfolk, witness I can’t your activities base,
The dirty concert of a mean fellow and hear the rotten words
By him uttered; meditate on Kaṇṇaṉ’s feet and praise
His glory; for generations it will do you good,
It will cure this lady’s sickness besides.

Note:

While condemning the base activities indulged by the womenfolk, the mate advises them to meditate on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet and sing His glory, as this will operate both ways, that is, it will stand them in good stead for generations to come besides curing Parāṅkuśa Nāyakī of her God-sickness. This is like those harvesting jute making bundles of it with jute itself, unlike the paddy stalks, for tying which one has to look for some other material, a string or rope.

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