Tiruppavai: Verse 15

yellE iLaNkiLiyE

yellE iLaNkiLiyE! inam urangudhiyO?

sil endrazhaiyEnmin nangaimIr pOdhargindrEn

vallaiyun katturaigaL paNdEyun vAyaridhum

vallIrgaL nINgaLE nAnEdhAn Ayiduga

ollai nI pOdhAi unakkenna vErudaiyai

yellArum pOndhArO pOndhAr pOndheNNikkoL

vallAnai kondrAnai mAtrArai mAtrazhikka

vallAnai mAyanaip pAdElOr empAvAi.

Essence of the verse

This verse is in the form of a dialogue between Andal and the friend she is seeking to awaken and take along to Krishna’s mansion. Though seemingly light-hearted, it serves to emphasise that social harmony stems from togetherness – no one is to be left out in this ritual that seeks God’s blessing to be able to be of service to him.

Word meaning

iLam kiLiyE

• Young parrot (attractive in speech and appearance, and also naïve to imagine we will believe that you’re still asleep)

yellE

• Enchantress!

innam

• Still (even at this late hour, despite all of us knocking at your door)

urangudhiyO

• Are you sleeping (really)?

nangaimIr

• Girls!

sil endru azhaiyEnmin

• Don’t call out in that shrill manner

pOdhargindrEn

• I’m coming

vallai

• Glib tongued girl!

un katturaigaL

• Your oratory

un vAi

• Your way with words

paNdE aridhum

• Are legendary

nIngalE vallIrgaL

• You all are the eloquent ones (not me)

nAnEdhAn Ayiduga

• (Or) let it be that I am as you say (the eloquent one)

nI ollai pOdhAi

• You should join us soon

unakku yenna vErudaiyai

• What other prize do you cherish?

yellArum pOndhArO?

• Has everyone come?

pOndhAr

• They have come

pOndhu yeNNikkoL

• Come and count them yourself

vallAnai

• The mighty one

koNdrAnai

• He who destroyed (the evil forces)

mAtrArai mAtrazhikka vallAnai

• He whose strength rendered the hostile forces powerless

mAyanai

• The enigmatic one

pAda

• To sing in praise of

El Or empAvAi

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

Commentary

Andal and her cohort of village girls are at the doorstep of a young woman who is feigning sleep. The hymn is in the form of a dialogue between this girl and the group of girls who have all responded to Andal’s call. Significantly, the young woman who is hesitant to join is not shying away because of apathy. Rather, she is already in close communion with Krishna and is loath to break away from the experience. However, she is well aware of the importance of communality and conviviality in achieving social harmony. Her true nature is revealed by her inquiry if anyone one has been left behind (yellArum pOndhArO?) and her desire to not hurt another even in jest (After saying you all are the people who have a way with words, she corrects herself and says, never mind let it be as you say… let it be me that is ‘eloquent’).