Tiruppavai:Verse 21

yEtra kalangaL

yEtra kalangaL yedhirpongi mIdhaLippa

mAtrAdhE pAl soriyum vaLLal perum pasukkaL

Atrap padaiththAn maganE arivurAi!

Utram udaiyAi periyAi ulaginil

thOtramAi nindra sudarE! thuyilezhAi

mAtrAr unakku valitholaindhun vAsarkaN

AtrAdhu vandhun adipaNiymApOlE

pOtriyAm vandhOm pagazhndhElOr empAvAi.

Essence of the verse

Comparing their cohort of maidens reaching the doorstep of Krishna to the assemblage of vanquished kings knocking at his doors, Andal remarks on the similarity of the action but the difference in the purpose and perception of the two groups.

Word meaning

yEtra kalangaL

• As many vessels as are available

yedhir pongi

• Flowing freely into them

mIdhu aLippa

• Filling them freely to the brim and more

pAl soriyum

• They shower milk

vaLLal

• Such generous

perum pasukkaL

• Gigantic cows

Atra padaiththAn

• He that owns them (Nandagopa)

maganE

• You, who are his son

arivurAi

• Please become conscious

Utram udaiyAi

• Dependable well-spring of succour!

periyAi

• Distinguished one!  (One whose eminence is beyond imagination)

ulaginil

• In this world

thOtramAi nindra

• You manifested yourself

sudarE

• You who are radiance personified

thuyil ezhAi

• Be pleased to awaken

mAtrAr

• Your opponents

unakku vaili tholaindhu

• Having lost their all to you

un vAsal kaN

• At your doorsteps

AtrAdhu vandhu

• They hang around helplessly

un adi paNiyum A pOlE

• (And) surrender at your feet. Similarly

yAm

• We

pugazhndhu

• Sing your praises

pOtri

• Extol your virtues

vandhOm

• (And) Have come.

ElOr empAvAi

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

Commentary

Starting with this verse, over the next couple of verses, Andal and her cohort of young women, who have reached the doorstep of Krishna’s mansion, are seeking to awaken only Krishna. It would seem that Nappinnai has, therefore, awoken, responding to Andal’s plea in the previous verse.

This verse underscores both the omnipotence and the benevolence of God (mEnmai and nIrmai. He is kAruNikanAna sarvEsvaran, the compassionate Supreme Being). Nandagopa’s cows, at the mere sight of a vessel, voluntarily flow and fill it up to the brim. They are a metaphor for God’s generosity, which is always freely overflowing; what is required of us is the capacity to be able to ‘catch’, or comprehend it.

The kings, shorn of their pride, wait at the palace gates for an audience with Krishna. So too, says Andal, have she and her cohort of young women of Aaypaadi reached his doorstep, shorn of their ego (aham). While the former wish to pray for restoration of their glory, Andal and her friends are praying to be accepted in Krishna’s service, to spread the glory of his name through their actions.