Pasuram 8.3.2

Tamil text and transliteration:

சரணமாகிய நான்மறை நூல்களும் சாராதே
மரணம் தோற்றம் வான்பிணி மூப்புஎன்றுஇவை மாய்த்தோம்
கரணப்பல்படை பற்றறஓடும் கனல்ஆழி
அரணத்திண் படைஏந்திய ஈசற்கு ஆளாயே.

caraṇamākiya nāṉmaṟai nūlkaḷum cārātē
maraṇam tōṟṟam vāṉpiṇi mūppueṉṟuivai māyttōm
karaṇappalpaṭai paṟṟaṟaōṭum kaṉalāḻi
araṇattiṇ paṭaiēntiya īcaṟku āḷāyē.

English translation of verse 8.3.2:

Alas! even those, who abjure the path the Vedas four prescribe
For acquiring riches, have their final goal circumscribed
By mere freedom from birth and death, pestilence and old age
And do not get themselves in service engaged
Of the Lord who the grand galaxy of protective weapons wields.

Notes:

In the preceding song, the Saint condemned those who hanker after the transient riches, instead of getting soley absorbed in God-love. And now, he speaks disparagingly of the ‘Kevalas’, those whose final goal is limited to mere emancipation from the terrific cycle of birth and death and remain-ling thereafter in disembodied state, lost for ever in that stupid self-enjoyment, thereby denying themselves the Supreme bliss of serving the Lord in Heaven in that glorious setting. It is a great pity, these persons are not alive to their essential nature (Svarūpa), as the exclusive vassals of the Lord, bound to serve Him exclusively. And so, the Āḻvār can hardly muster strength for the service of the Lord either from the ranks of the seekers of the so-called ‘riches’ or those of the ‘Kevalas’.