Tiruppavai: Verse 10

nOtru chuvargam

nOtruch chuvargam pugugindra ammanAi

mAtramum thArArO vAsal thiravAdhAr

nAtrath thuzhAimudi nArAyaNan nammAl

pOtrap paraitharum puNNiyanAl paNdorunAL

kUtraththin vAivIzhndha kumbakaraNanum

thOtrum unakkE perunthuyilthAn thandhAnO

Atra ananthaludaiyAi! arunkalamE!

thEtramAi vandhu thiravElOr empAvAi.

Essence of the verse

Andal is awakening another of her peers, who she is convinced is not really asleep but only pretending to do so. In a lighter vein, therefore, Andal asks her friend if Kumbhakarna, known for sleeping six months straight, had gambled away to her his legendary capacity to sleep!

The purpose of going from house to house, assembling all the people, is also made clear in the opening lines. It is not for each to experience in isolation the bliss of union with God through service. The experience has to be shared so that all are uplifted together.

Word meaning

nOtru

• Performing the rituals related to our mission (as outlined in verse 2)

suvargam pugugindra

• (And thus) Experiencing uninterrupted bliss

ammanAi

• Dear one!

vAsal thiravAdhar

• One who refuses to unlatch the door (and join us)

mAtramum thArArO

• Won’t you utter at least a few words in response?

nAtra thuzhAi mudi

• He who dons the fragrant basil (tulsi)

nArAyaNan

• He who is known as Narayana

nammAl pOtra

• Whose praises having been sung by us

parai tharum

• Has blessed us with the ability to do his work according to our capacity

puNNiyanAl

• Peerless embodiment of virtue is he

paNdu oru nAL

• Once, a long time ago

kUtraththin vAi vIzhndha

• He who fell into the jaws of death (personified as Yama)

unakkE thOtru

• Having lost to you (in a wager)

perum thuyil thAn

• His unmatched penchant for sleep

thandhAnO?

• Did he hand over to you?

Atra ananthal udaiyAi

• One who has mastered the art of sleeping!

arum kalamE

• Incomparable jewel!

thEtramAi vandhu thira

• With conviction come and open the door

El Or empAvAi

• Hear, and resolve to do as said, my girl.

Commentary

The jivAtma (sentient being) is by nature flawed despite having consciousness or mental prowess (chit) akin to the paramAtma (The supreme soul), unlike matter (achit), which has no consciousness. The jivAtma’s dependence on and subservience to the universal spirit (Narayana: that which resides in everything and that in which everything resides) is beyond question. It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that we submit ourselves to him, says Andal. Only universal bliss can result by coming together in service of the blemish-less embodiment of virtue, who has blessed each of us with the ability to do his work according to our capacity.