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 7.4.2
Tamil text and transliteration:
ஆறு மலைக்கு எதிர்ந்துஓடும் ஒலி, அரவு
ஊறு சுலாய் மலை தேய்க்கும் ஒலி, கடல்
மாறு சுழன்று அழைக்கின்ற ஒலி, அப்பன்
சாறுபட அமுதம்கொண்ட நான்றே.
āṟu malaikku etirntuōṭum oli, aravu
ūṟu culāy malai tēykkum oli, kaṭal
māṟu cuḻaṉṟu aḻaikkiṉṟa oli, appaṉ
cāṟupaṭa amutamkoṇṭa nāṉṟē.
English translation of verse 7.4.2:
During the festive days when the great Sire for Devas gave
The nectar from the ocean churned, the great noise came
Of rivers bound for the ocean running back to the mountains,
Of the mighty snake rustling round the gigantic mountain
And of the oceanic water whirling round and round.
Notes:
When the momentous churning of the Milk-ocean took place, so great was the upheaval of the ocean that the rivers bound for the ocean were repulsed so fast that they had to swirl back to the mountains whence they sprang. And then, there was the mighty serpent, Vāsukī functioning as the rope churning the great mountain, making all the noise that the tremendous friction could produce; and to cap it all was the roaring of the oceanic water whirling with great momentum. What an astounding scene indeed! It is even more astonishing that the Āḻvār could visualise it in such graphic details at this distance of time. As already mentioned elsewhere, the Lord assumed multifarious roles in this breath-taking project.