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 6.8.9
Tamil text and transliteration:
பேர்த்து மற்று ஓர் களைகண் வினையாட்டியேன் நான் ஒன்று இலேன்,
நீர்த் திரைமேல் உலவி இரை தேரும் புதா இனங்காள்
கார்த் திரள் மா முகில் போல் கண்ணன் விண்ணவர் கோனைக் கண்டு,
வார்த்தைகள் கொண்டு அருளி உரையீர் வைகல் வந்திருந்தே.
pērttu maṟṟu ōr kaḷaikaṇ viṉaiyāṭṭiyēṉ nāṉ oṉṟu ilēṉ,
nīrt tiraimēl ulavi irai tērum putā iṉaṅkāḷ
kārt tiraḷ mā mukil pōl kaṇṇaṉ viṇṇavar kōṉaik kaṇṭu,
vārttaikaḷ koṇṭu aruḷi uraiyīr vaikal vantiruntē.
English translation of verse 6.8.9:
Ye, herds of herons, wading thro’ waves, in search of food,
Other than you, this sinner has none to go and meet the Lord,
Like unto dense rain-clouds, Chief of the Celestials
And bring His message and recount graciously
Unto me, sitting beside me, days on end.
Note
These birds are commissioned by the Nāyakī to go and meet the Lord in Heaven, surrounded by Angels and regaling them (like unto rains, unleashed on the ocean instead of on the crops, withering away) and tell Him, His greatness lay not in His might and majesty in that transcendent setting but in His loving condescension unto the desolate Nāyakī who was dwindling, down below, sunk deep in dejection. And then, these birds were to bring back His message and keep recounting His words to her, sitting by her side, days on end, being the only source of sustenance for her, in the present context.