Saturday, September 21, 2013

NAMMALVAR: TIRUVOIMOZHI: A SELECTION: 5-6-1





கடல் ஞாலம் செய்தேனும் யானே என்னும்
கடல் ஞாலம் ஆவேனும் யானே என்னும் 
கடல் ஞாலம் கொண்டேனும் யானே என்னும்
கடல் ஞாலம் கீண்டேனும் யானே என்னும்
கடல் ஞாலம் உண்டேனும் யானே என்னும்
கடல் ஞாலம் ஈசன் வந்து ஏறக்கொலோ?
கடல் ஞாலத்தீர்க்கு இவை என் சொல்லுகேன்
கடல் ஞாலத்து என் மகள் கற்கின்றவே?
(5-6-1)

The world girt by the sea,
I made it.
And I am the world,
I rule over it,
I break it,
And I swallow it in the end.
I am the Lord.
(Translation: A  Srinivasa Raghavan)

“I made the world
      Surrounded by the sea,” says she.
“I became the world
       Surrounded by the sea,” says she.
“I once redeemed from the demon
        The world surrounded by the sea,” says she.
“I pitchforked with my tusks
          The world once drowned in the sea,” says she.
“I devoured once
           The world surrounded by the sea,” says she.
Such talk!
Can it because our lord
       Of the world surrounded by the sea
Has come and taken her over?
How can I explain
        My girl who lives within this world
            Surrounded by the sea
To you people of this world
     Surrounded by the sea?
(Translation: A K Ramanujan)

The words “I am that world” are significant. Besides being created, sustained, dissolved and recreated by Him in an endless leela or play, this cosmos as we see it, ever changing, dying and coming to new birth in its innumerable parts, is still the body of the Lord, his Virat swarupa, his infinite form. In this sense, He is the world.

These paasurams portray a worried mother whose young daughter, influenced by her strong passion for the Supreme God, utters strange words. They also bear a close resemblance to sloka No.32, Chapter X of Gita: sarganam aadih antah cha…
“Of creations I am the beginning, the end and also the middle, O Arjuna! Of the sciences, I am the science of the self; Of those who debate I am the dialectic.”      





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