THIRUVIRUTTAM 68

மலர்ந்தே ஒழிந்தில மாலையும்

மாலைப்பொன் வாசிகையும்

புலந்தோய் தழைப்பந்தர்

தண்டுற நாற்றி, பெருங்கடல்சூழ்

நிலந்தாவிய எம் பெருமான் தனது

வைகுந்தமன்னாய்!

கலந்தார் வரவு எதிர்கொண்டு,

வன்கொன்றைகள் கார்தனவே

Malarnte ozhintila maalaiyum

Maalaiponvaacikaiyum

Pularnte tazhaippantar

Tanturha naarhrhi, perunkadalcoozh

Nilantaaviya emperumaan tanatu

Vaikuntamannai!

Kalandaar varavedirkondu,

Vankonrhaikal kaarththanave

(Thiruviruttam: 68)

They haven’t flowered yet,

The fat konrai trees,

Nor hung out their garlands

And golden circlets

In their sensual canopy of leaves

Along the branches

Dear girl,

Dear as the paradise of our lord

Who measured the earth

Girdled by the restless sea,

They are waiting

With buds

For the return of your lover

Once twined in your arm

(Translation: A.K. Ramanujan)

The maid/friend addresses the woman-in-love in this poem. The buds of the konrai (cassia fistula) trees have opened into flowers. The woman is sad that the lover has not returned at the rainy season as promised. The flowers are opening up in expectation of the lover’s return. The friend’s declaration is made to console the woman. This is a time-illusion. The poem is interpreted as the colleagues consoling the Alvar to relieve his distress on the delay in enjoying the grace of the Lord and the company of his devotees.

Similar poem occurs in kuruntokai of ancient Tamil era.