Old Tamil Poetry

Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years

Thiruppavai – 16

O’ sentinel of our Lord Nandagopan’s mansion!
O’ guard of the festooned gateway where flags fly high!
Please open the gem embedded doors;
He will gift throbbing drums to us, pastoral maidens,
The dark hued magician promised yeserday;
We’ve come cleansed and pure, to wake him up with our song;
Don’t utter words of denial now, please;
Unlatch the divine doors, O’ Swami!

நாயக னாய்நின்ற நந்தகோ பன்உடைய
கோயில்காப் பானே கொடித்தோன்றும்
தோரண வாயில்காப் பானே மணிக்கதவம் தாள்திறவாய்
ஆயர் சிறுமிய ரோமுக்கு அறைபறை
மாயன் மணிவண்ணன் நென்னலே வாய்நேர்ந்தான்
தூயோமாய் வந்தோம் துயில்எழப் பாடுவ
வாயால்முன் னம்முன்னம் மாற்றாதே அம்மாநீ
நேய நிலைக்கதவம் நீக்கேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.

After finally gathering all their friends, the girls go to the temple. They call it the mansion of Nandagopan, Krishna’s father. Krishna is residing in that mansion. The doors are yet to open. They request the guard to open the festooned, gem adorned doors.

“We are young maidens from cowherds clan. Krishna, the dark hued magician promised us yesterday that he will give us drums for us to complete our vows. So we have come here today after cleansing ourselves. We are here to wake him up with our songs. O’ guard please don’t deny us. Please open the divine doors, O’ swami”

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