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 4.7.9
Tamil text and transliteration:
இடகிலேன் ஒன்று அட்ட கில்லேன் ஐம்புலன் வெல்ல கில்லேன்,
கடவன் ஆகி காலந்தோறும் பூப்பறித்து ஏத்த கில்லேன்,
மட வல் நெஞ்சம் காதல் கூர வல்வினையேன் அயர்ப்பாய்த்,
தடவுகின்றேன் எங்குக் காண்பன் சக்கரத்து அண்ணலையே?
iṭakilēṉ oṉṟu aṭṭa killēṉ aimpulaṉ vella killēṉ,
kaṭavaṉ āki kālantōṟum pūppaṟittu ētta killēṉ,
maṭa val neñcam kātal kūra valviṉaiyēṉ ayarppāyt,
taṭavukiṉṟēṉ eṅkuk kāṇpaṉ cakkarattu aṇṇalaiyē?
English translation of verse 4.7.9:
Alms I gave not, nor did I allay to any extent
The thirst of others, the senses five I kept not under restraint,
Flowers I offered not unto the Lord at the appropriate time,
Rash and hard-hearted, an impudent fool I am,
Sinner heavy, I am still fondly groping thro’, to get hold
Of the Lord, wielding the discus; Him where shall I behold?
Notes
The Āḻvār puts himself the question whether he, who did not pursue the disciplines of ‘Karma-yoga’ etc, had at all the ‘Means’ to get at the Lord. All the above-mentioned omissions and transgressions notwithstanding, the Āḻvār fondly hopes to get hold of the Lord, gripping the discus even as Queen Yaśodhā caught hold of Śrī Kṛṣṇa red handed while gripping (stealing) butter.