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 5.2.6
Tamil text and transliteration:
கொன்று உயிர் உண்ணும் விசாதி பகை பசி தீயன எல்லாம்
நின்று இவ் உலகில் கடிவான் நேமிப் பிரான் தமர் போந்தார்
நன்று இசை பாடியும் துள்ளி ஆடியும் ஞாலம் பரந்தார்
சென்று தொழுது உய்ம்மின் தொண்டீர்! சிந்தையைச் செந்நிறுத்தியே.
koṉṟu uyir uṇṇum vicāti pakai paci tīyaṉa ellām
niṉṟu iv ulakil kaṭivāṉ nēmip pirāṉ tamar pōntār
naṉṟu icai pāṭiyum tuḷḷi āṭiyum ñālam parantār
ceṉṟu toḻutu uymmiṉ toṇṭīr! cintaiyaic cenniṟuttiyē.
English translation of verse 5.2.6:
Devotees of the Lord wielding the discus have come here
And spread themselves out, singing and strutting about,
To banish from this abode pestilence, hunger and hate,
Evils, one and all; Ye, worldlings! let not your minds wander,
Better fix them on morals sound and revere, with a mind pure,
These devotees and at their feet salvation secure.
Note
The Lord’s devotees are here in this abode to quell all evils, just as His discus does. The Āḻvār exhorts the worldlings to get themselves salved through this holy band. A precondition for worship is concentration of the mind and this is being stressed here. Again, purity of worship consists in seeking nothing in return, worship being an end in itself.