Old Tamil Poetry

Thiruppavai – 10

Oh’ Mamma ascending heavens through these vows!
Won’t you give us a word even if you don’t open the doors!
Narayanan, whose crown is adorned with fragrant basil,
The benefactor who bestows boons when we praise him – 
In days of yore, the ever sleeping Kumbakarna
was felled to death because of Him; did that Kumbakarna
lose to you and hand over his long sleep?
Oh’ rarest of gems, blessed with eternal sleep,
Come quickly and open the doors, my friend!

நோற்றுச் சுவர்க்கம் புகுகின்ற அம்மனாய்
மாற்றமும் தாராரோ வாசல் திறவாதார்
நாற்றத் துழாய்முடி நாராயணன் நம்மால்
போற்றப் பறைதரும் புண்ணியனால்
பண்டுஒருநாள் கூற்றத்தின் வாய்வீழ்ந்த
கும்ப கருணனும் தோற்றும் உனக்கே
பெருந்துயில்தான் தந்தானோ ஆற்ற
அனந்தல் உடையாய் அருங்கலமே
தேற்றமாய் வந்து திறவேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.

Andal and other girls are still waking up the girl who is asleep. “Yesterday you promised us that we will keep these vows together and ascend to heaven because of this. Oh Mamma. But today you are still asleep. You are not opening your doors. Atleast give us a word saying you will wake up soon. Even that you are not doing.

Our Narayanan wears a fragrant garland made of holy basil in his crown. When we sound our drums and pray to him, he bestows boons on us. Once upon a time, in his avatar as Rama, he felled to death the ever sleeping Kumbakarna. Did that Kumbakarna lose to you instead and give his everlasting sleep? Such eternal sleep you have, you  rarest of gems. Come quickly and open your doors”