A DECAD FROM ‘THIRUVOIMOZHI’
(Rendered
from Tamil)
By
Translator’s
Note: Saint Satakopa’s
‘Thiruvoimozhi’ or ‘The Sacred Utterance Unique’ is justly regarded as the magnum
opus in the Golden Treasury of verses of all the Alwars,
the collection of 4,000 entitled ‘Nalayira Divya Prabandham’. The verses in
the ‘Thiruvoimozhi’ are nearly a thousand in number and form the most arresting
and most significant in that anthology.
Several
great commentaries were written on the ‘Thiruvoimozhi’ by eminent scholars of
old, well versed in both Sanskrit and Tamil literature, and these have engaged
the attention of devout Sri Vaishnavas for centuries.
Nammalwar’s God-realisation was unique and his
philosophy has been termed ‘Bhagavatha Vishayam’ or God-theme. The ‘Thiruvoimozhi’ is regarded as
a fine crystallised translation in Tamil of the
sacred Vedic thought, and Sri Vedanta Desika found in
these verses even new meanings and interpretations which the obscure
text in the Vedas failed to convey. The ten verses rendered
here may be deemed to be autobiographical in character, since they convey the
mystic experiences of Nammalwar.
It
was foretold of Parankusanayaki (the pen name by
which Nammalwar is known) that she would lead a very
happy life, but that she should not be taken on pilgrimage to the village
‘Tholaivillimangalam’, where she would be lost beyond hope of recovery. But it
was very difficult to follow this injunction, as the family tradition had all
along been centred in the love they entertained for
that beautiful village: to forbid her visit to that place was like denying the
bee its freedom to drink honey as it listed. When Parankusanayaki
came of age, she was taken to Tholaivillimangalam at the time of its great
festival. These verses express the divine communion and soul-absorption of the
girl in that place and the impossibility of reclaiming
her to the ordinary householder’s life.
The
devotee usually figures in Indian religious literature as a bride waiting for
the Bridegroom-Eternal, (like Radhika waiting for
(1)
With faultless gems of purest ray adorned, rise high the stately domes of Thlaivillimangalam, which she adores. Mothers dear! No use fondling her henceforth; you must abandon her to herself.
Ever
and anon she sings of His fair white conch, and dise,
and large lotus eyes.
Her
eyes, sweet as lily-blossoms, brim with tears; and lo! she
sways and sways in a swirl of speechless agony.
(2)
Enticing
her into Tholaivillimangalam where festive sounds run riot in wordless melody,
ye have forsaken, with scarce a trace of love, this maiden whose soft speech is
sweet as nectar. Alas! Like one palsy-stricken she stands! And when she speaks,
her lips quiver with the Songs of the Lord of the Lords of Angels. And her eyes
overflow with tears as, broken and self-forgetful, she melts in to grief.
(3)
Hieing with her to
Tholaivillimangalam, whose charming groves vast, and smiling verdure bright,
abut the river-banks, pitilessly have ye deserted her
to her fate–this maiden, in Sweet speech well-versed.
She
prates for ever of how He came to sleep on the billowy ocean vast; how He leapt
forth at a bound this world, with all its bounds to measure; and how by Him
Were tended hundreds of cattle in days of yore! And thus she
stands, dripping with endless tears from her broad eyes wide open!
(4)
Thus
she speaks,–tireless and unabashed, overflowing with joy, her heart full of
rejoicing, lost in wonder unspeakable!
(5)
Hasting with
this poor sorrowing waif of bright countenance, ye have discovered unto her the
sweet pose of the Lord whose eyes are gracious as roseate lotus-blossoms, and
whose radiance shines with adornments full.
Like
rain pouring down in torrents, her eyes have been wet with tears, and she has
been in a trance unbroken.
Oh!
Mothers dear! Her mind has plunged into Beauty; for, gazing yonder, she bows in
reverence.
(6)
Wheresoever she turns her glances,
endless groves of sugarcane, and ever-stretching fields of paddy-red, loom
large with rising lotus-blossoms of roseate hue on the northern banks of the Tamraparni river, where nestles
the rich
If
ever she gazes at all, she looks towards one side, and none other; and if ever
she speaks from that day forth, Oh! Mothers dear,
her blissful utterance ever enshrines her Beloved’s name!
(7)
Mothers
dear! This girl who is fair as a peafowl and lovely as a young deer, is now out
of our loving grasp; and other than Tholaivillimangalam no
word would she deign to hear.
Is
this the fortunate decree of fate?–or a miracle wrought by the Cloud-Coloured One?
Her
mouth is resonant with the praises sweet of His weapons,
and His names beautiful.
(8)
Vedas
sanctified, hoary rites, and wealth abundant showered by the Goddess of Plenty,
have made life sweeter than heaven on the northern banks of the Tamraparni river where flourishes the fertile
From
the day that this girl with large black eyes began to adore this spot with her
folded hands until this day, she has been lisping, ever and anon, the name of
the Lotus-eyed One, and melting into tears and pining with grief.
(9)
Melting into grief–her
mouth trembling with utterance sweet, and her eyes raining tears–she cries so
soft and tenderly
“Oh! my Beloved of Sapphire hue”, that woodlands echoing, all weep in unison with her.
She
raises her folded hands in prayer to the Lord who abides in
Tholaivillimangalam–the name gains a sweeter charm after she has learnt to sing
its praise.
(10)
Is
she Nappinna (beloved of Sri Krishna) or the sweet
Goddess of Earth, or beauteous Lakshmi, reborn?
What
a marvel is this? She stands, and stands; and calls aloud and oft, the names of
the Great One.
And ahead of her, the Lord Himself has chosen His abode in Tholaivillimangalam towards which she bends her head low, and whose fascinating beauty she ever loves to contemplate.