Old Tamil Poetry

Thiruvasagam – 8.39.3

Kinsfolk I don’t yearn for; a town to live I don’t yearn for;
Fame I don’t yearn for; company of learned men I don’t yearn for;
All I’ve learned is enough; O’ My dancing Lord who resides in Kuttralam!
I yearn to mellow down and melt at your anklet tinkling feet,
like that of a cow’s heart yearning for its calf.

உற்றாரை யான்வேண்டேன் ஊர்வேண்டேன் பேர்வேண்டேன்
கற்றாரை யான்வேண்டேன் கற்பனவும் இனியமையுங்
குற்றாலத் தமர்ந்துறையுங் கூத்தாஉன் குரைகழற்கே
கற்றாவின் மனம்போலக் கசிந்துருக வேண்டுவனே.

This verse is part of Thiruvasagam by 9th century Shaivite poet Manikkavasagar. Thiruvasagam (Sacred utterances) is considered one of the pinnacles of Tamil Bhakti (Devotional) poetry.

In this verse Manikkavasagar says he doesn’t yearn to be with his kith and kin. He doesn’t yearn to have a town to live in. Nor does he yearn for worldly fame. He doesn’t crave the company of learned men whose knowledge is just the tomes that they have learned. He says all that he has learned so far in this world is enough. He pleads to Lord Shiva who resides in his abode in the hills of Kuttralam that all he yearns for is to be at the anklet tinkling feet of the Lord. He yearns for it with a melting heart, like that of a cow yearning for its calf.

உற்றார் – Relative / Kinsfolk
வேண்டேன் – வேண்ட மாட்டேன் – I don’t desire / I don’t yearn
பேர் – fame
கற்றார் – learned men
இனி அமையும் – henceforth enough
குற்றாலத்து அமர்ந்து உறையும் – who resides in Kuttralam
கூத்தன் – Dancer / Dancing Lord (Shiva)
குரை – sounding / tinkling
கழல் – anklet
கற்றா – கன்று (உடைய) ஆ – Cow with calf
கசிந்து உருக – become tender and melt