०१ कडवुळ् वाऴ्त्तु - ईशवन्दना

ईशवन्दना

अ-कर-मुदल+++(=मूल)+++ ऎऴुत्त् ऎल्लाम्+++(←सर्वासाम् भाषाणाम् अपि)+++, आदि
भगवन् मुदऱ्ऱे उलगु +++(←लोक)+++। १

अकाराद् एव निर्यान्ति
समस्तान्य् अक्षराणि च ।
चराचर-प्रपञ्चोऽयम्
ईश्वराद् एव जायते ॥ १॥

०००१
With alpha begins all alphabets;
And the world with the first Bhagavan. *
(K.N. Subramanyam), (K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar)

१. “Bhagavan”. Scholars differ in their opinion as to what this word stands for. Most traditional and modern scholars, based on the title of the chapter “In praise of God”, render the word to mean “Creator God”. However Jaina scholars claim that the word “आदि भगवन्” [Ādi bhagavan] is a clear reference to the name of the first Jina Thirthankara “ādeenath” or rashabha (Chakravarti, १९५१; Subramanyam, १९८७). It is interesting to note that Valluvar who has used very few words of Sanskrit origin in his whole work, opted for the twin word “आदि भगवन्” here. Moreover, since the simile “ऎऴुत्तॆल्लाम्” is plural, the emphasis “उलगु” should also be taken in plural. The “world” could thus means the “people of the world” (उलगत्तार्क्कु).

1. akaram mutala, eḻuttu ellām; āti-
pakavaṉ mutaṟṟē, ulaku.

1. All the letters have the letter ‘A’ as their Origin; this world has God as its origin.

1. அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு
‘A’ leads letters; the Ancient Lord
Leads and lords the entire world. 1

1 अक्षर सबके आदि में, है अकार का स्थान ।
अखिल लोक का आदि तो, रहा आदि भगवान ॥

1. अक्षरगळिगॆल्ला अकारवे मॊदलु, लोकक्कॆल्ला मॊदलु आदि भगवन्

अगर मुदल ऎऴुत्तॆल्लाम् आदि
भगवऩ् मुदऱ्ऱे उलगु। १

कऱ्ऱतऩाल्+++(=शिक्षया)+++ आय पयऩ्+++(=फलम्)+++ ऎऩ् कॊल्+++(=नु)+++ वाल्+++(=शुद्ध/बहु)+++-अऱिवऩ्
नल्+ताळ्+++(=अपूजयन्तः)+++ तॊऴाअर्+++(=अपूजयन्तः)+++ ऎऩिऩ्+++(=इति चेत्)+++। २

ईशस्य ज्ञानरूपस्य
विना पाद-निषेवणम् ।
सन्त्व् अधीतानि शास्त्रणि
न तैर् अस्ति प्रयोजनम् ॥ २॥

०००२
Of what avail is learning if one worships not
The holy feet of Pure Intelligence? *
(V.V.S. Aiyar), (G. Vanmikanathan)

2. kaṟṟataṉāl āya payaṉ eṉkol-vāl-aṟivaṉ
nal tāḷ toḻāar eṉiṉ?.

2. Of what avail is learning, if the learned do not adore the good feet of Him who is Immaculate Wisdom?

2. கற்றதனா லாய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன்
நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்
That lore is vain which does not fall
At His good feet who knoweth all. 2

2 विद्योपार्जन भी भला, क्या आयेगा काम ।
श्रीपद पर सत्याज्ञ के, यदि नहिं किया प्रणाम ॥

2. परम शुद्दज्ञान स्वरूपद भगवन्तन सत् पादगळिगॆ नमिसदिद्दरॆ कलितन्दरिन्दाद फलवेनु ?

कऱ्ऱतऩाल् आय पयऩॆऩ्कॊल् वालऱिवऩ्
नऱ्ऱाळ् तॊऴाअर् ऎऩिऩ्। २

+++(हृदय-)+++मलर्-मिसै एकिऩाऩ्+++(=चलतः)+++ माण्+++(=महत्)+++-अडि सेर्न्दार्
निल+++(=भू)+++-मिसै+++(=खं)+++ नीडु+++(=स्थिरं)+++ वाऴ्वार्। ३

भक्तानां मानसाम्भोज-
वासिनो जगद्-ईशितुः ।
भजतां पाद-युगलं
जायन्ते नित्य-सम्पदः ॥ ३॥

०००३
Long life on earth is theirs who reach
The glorious feet of Him who walked on flowers.
(P.S. Sundaram), (V.V.S. Aiyar)

३. An alternate ‘mystical’ translation, but not implied in the original: “The Supreme dwells within the lotus of the heart. Those who reach His Splendid Feet dwell endearingly within unearthly realms” - (Satguru Subramuniyaswami). Other translators who adopted this interpretation Parithiyār and Kālingar (two of the five known ancient commentators of Tirukkural) include (G. Vanmikanathan), (K. Krishnaswamy & Vijaya Ramkumar) and (C. Rajagopalachari).

3. malarmicai ēkiṉāṉ māṇ aṭi cērntār
nilamicai nīṭu vāḻvār.

3. Those who find refuge in the great feet (of Him) who lives in the lotus of the heart (of the devotee) live eternally in heaven.

3. மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்
நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்
Long they live on earth who gain
The feet of God in florid brain. 3

3 हृदय-पद्‍म-गत ईश के, पाद-पद्‍म जो पाय ।
श्रेयस्कर वरलोक में, चिरजीवी रह जाय ॥

3. मलरॊळुज्जीविसुववन परम पादगळन्नु सेरिदवरु भूमिय मेलॆ निडुगाल बाळुवरु

मलर्मिसै एकिऩाऩ् माणडि सेर्न्दार्
निलमिसै नीडुवाऴ् वार्। ३

वेण्डुदल् वेण्डामै इलाऩ् अडि सेर्न्दार्क्कु
याण्ड्+++(=कदाचन)+++ उम् इडुम्बै+++(=दुःखं)+++ इल। ४

दयालोः सर्वमित्रस्य
शरणागत-साक्षिणः ।
नमतां पादयुगलं
न स्याद् दुःखं कदाचन ॥ ४॥

०००४
No evil will befall those who reach the feet
Of the One beyond likes and dislikes.
(N.V.K. Ashraf)

4. vēṇṭutal vēṇṭāmai ilāṉ aṭi cērntārkku
yāṇṭum iṭumpai ila.

4. Those who have attained the feet of Him who has no likes or dislikes will be rid of all troubles.

4. வேண்டுதல் வேண்டாமை இலர்ன்அடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு
யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல
Who hold His feet who likes nor loathes
Are free from woes of human births. 4

4 राग-द्वेष विहीन के, चरणाश्रित जो लोग ।
दुःख न दे उनको कभी, भव-बाधा का रोग ॥

4. बेकु बेडगळॊन्दू इल्लदवन (भगवन्तन) अडिगळन्नु सेरिदवरु दुगुडदिन्द दूरवागुवरु

वेण्डुदल् वेण्डामै इलाऩटि सेर्न्दार्क्कु
याण्डुम् इडुम्बै इल। ४

इरुळ्+++(=तमः)+++-सेर् इरु+++(=२)+++ विऩैय्+++(=कर्मस्)+++ उम् सेरा, इऱैवन्+++(=नियमनवान्)+++
पॊरुळ्-सेर् पुगऴ् पुरिन्दार् माट्टु+++(=अवलम्ब्य/ विषयीकृत्य)+++। ५

माहात्म्यम् अप्रमेयस्य
ज्ञात्वा तं भजतां नृणाम् ।
अज्ञान-मूलकं कर्म
द्विविधं चापि नश्यति ॥ ५॥

०००५
The twin deeds of dark illusion do not affect those
Who delight meaningfully in Lord’s praise. *
(S.M. Diaz)

५. Twin deeds [of dark illusion] are fruits of both good and evil deeds.

5. iruḷ cēr iru viṉaiyum cērā, iṟaivaṉ
poruḷ cēr pukaḻ purintārmāṭṭu.

5. Actions, both good and bad that spring from darkness of the mind will never touch those who ever chant the glories of the Lord.

5. இருள்சேர் இருவினையும் சேரா இறைவன்
பொருள்சேர் புகழ்புரிந்தார் மாட்டு
God’s praise who tell, are free from right
And wrong, the twins of dreaming night. 5

5 जो रहते हैं ईश के, सत्य भजन में लिप्त ।
अज्ञानाश्रित कर्म दो, उनको करें न लिप्त ॥

5. मनद इरुळिन्दुण्टागुव ऒळितु, कॆडकुगळॆम्ब ऎरडु विधवाद कर्मगळू भगवन्तन महिमॆयन्नु हॊगळुववरिगॆ सेरुवुदिल्ल

इरुळ्सेर् इरुविऩैयुम् सेरा इऱैवऩ्
पॊरुळ्सेर् पुगऴ्बुरिन्दार् माट्टु। ५

पॊऱि+++(=[मूष-ग्रह-]यन्त्रम् → इन्द्रियम्)+++ वायिल्+++(=मुखे)+++ ऐन्द् अवित्ताऩ्+++(=दान्तवान् →हृषीकेशः)+++ पॊय्-तीर् ऒऴुक्क+++(=सृत)+++
नॆऱि+++(=विधिं)+++ निऩ्ऱार् नीडु वाऴ्वार्। ६

पञ्चेन्द्रियाणि सम्मृश्य
तान्य् अर्थेभ्यो निवर्तयन् ।
ईश्वरोक्तेन मार्गेण
गच्छन् नित्य-सुखी भवेत् ॥ ६॥

०००६
Long life is theirs who tread the path of Him
Who conquered the five senses.
(P.S. Sundaram)

६. This cannot be a reference to God, for God is beyond the senses and only mortals will be required to control the five senses. Almost all translators, however, have taken this as a reference to God. Some translators have attempted to get over this difficulty by employing non-committal renderings like this one: “He who has controlled the five senses and is established in the path of righteousness will lead a life of fulfillment” - (K. Krishnaswamy & Vijaya Ramkumar). It is worth noting that the word ‘Jina’ literally means “conqueror or victorious”, i.e. the conqueror of five senses. This couplet could actually be a reference to a Jaina Tirthankara. Buddha also conquered the five senses, but neither Gautama nor the preceding Buddhas were called Adi Bagavan.

6. poṟi vāyil aintu avittāṉ poy tīr oḻukka
neṟi niṉṟār nīṭu vāḻvār.

6. Those who still the five senses and walk in truth and right will ever live.

6. பொறிவாயில் ஐந்தவித்தான் பொய்தீர் ஒழுக்க
நெறிநின்றார் நீடுவாழ் வார்
They prosper long who walk His way
Who has the senses signed away. 6

6 पंचेन्द्रिय-निग्रह किये, प्रभु का किया विधान ।
धर्म-पंथ के पथिक जो, हों चिर आयुष्मान ॥

6. ऐदु इन्द्रियगळ बागिलन्नु मुच्चिदवनु भगवन्त. अवन कळङ्कविल्लद नेरवाद ऋजुमार्गदल्लि निन्तवरु निडुबाळन्नु नडॆसुवरु.

पॊऱिवायिल् ऐन्दवित्ताऩ् पॊय्दीर् ऒऴुक्क
नॆऱिनिऩ्ऱार् नीडुवाऴ् वार्। ६

तऩक्क् उवमै+++(=उपमा)+++ इल्लादाऩ् ताळ्+++(=अङ्घ्रिं)+++ सेर्न्दार्क्क् अल्लाल्
मऩक्-कवलै+++(=व्याकुलता)+++-माऱ्ऱल्+++(=परिवर्तनम्)+++ अरिदु। ७

ईशं निरुपमं नित्यं
यो वै शरणम् आश्रितः ।
स एव दुःख-रहितो
नित्यं सुखम् इहाश्नुते ॥ ७॥

०००७
They alone escape from sorrows who take refuge
In the feet of Him beyond compare. *
(V.V.S. Aiyar)

7. taṉakku uvamai illātāṉ tāḷ cērntārkku allāl,
maṉak kavalai māṟṟal aritu.

7. Only those who have sought refuge in the feet of the peerless can shake off anxiety. Others cannot.

7. தனக்குஉவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க்கு கல்லால்
மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது
His feet, whose likeness none can find,
Alone can ease the anxious mind. 7

7 ईश्वर उपमारहित का, नहीं पदाश्रय-युक्त ।
तो निश्चय संभव नहीं, होना चिन्ता-मुक्त ॥

7. तनगॆ उपमॆयिल्लदवनु भगवन्त. अवन पादगळन्नु नम्बिदवरिगॆ अल्लदॆ, उळिदवरिगॆ मनस्सिन कळवळ कळॆदु कॊळ्ळुवुदु असाध्य.

तऩक्कुवमै इल्लादाऩ् ताळ्सेर्न्दार्क् कल्लाल्
मऩक्कवलै माऱ्ऱल् अरिदु। ७

अऱव्+++(=धर्म)+++-आऴि+++(=अब्धि)+++-अन्दणऩ्+++(=अम्/सु+तण्/शीतल+अऩ्)+++ ताळ्+++(=अङ्घ्रि)+++ सेर्न्दार्क्क् अल्लाल्
पिऱव्+++(→अन्यो जनः/ अर्थकामाद्य्-)+++ आऴि+++(=अब्धि)+++ नीन्दल्+++(=तरणम्)+++ अरिदु। ८

धर्मसिन्धोः दया-मूर्तेः
नावं चरण-रूपिणीम् ।
अलब्ध्वा दुःख-जल-धेः
पारं गन्तुं न शक्यते ॥ ८॥

०००८
None can swim the sea of births, but those united
To the feet of that Being, a sea of virtue. *
(W.H. Drew and J. Lazarus)

८. The word “अऱवाऴि” can be taken to mean, either “sea of virtue” or “wheel of the virtue”. Similarly, the word “पिऱ” could either mean “birth” or “other”. Depending on the combination of these meanings chosen, the couplet can also be translated in the following ways: (i) “Only those who reach the feet of the lord, the ocean of virtue, can cross those other oceans.” - * (Norman Cutler). The other two oceans could be oceans of Wealth and Pleasure. (ii) “Only by clinging to the feet of the Lord of the wheel of virtue, that one can swim the ocean of this life” * - (G. Siromoney, S. Govindaraju & M. Chandrasekaran).

8. aṟa āḻi antaṇaṉ tāḷ cērntārkku allāl,
piṟa āḻi nīntal aritu.

8. Only those who have clung to the feet of the Lord who is the sea of righteousness, will be able to sail the other seas. Others cannot.

8. அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால்
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது
Who swims the sea of vice is he
Who clasps the feet of Virtue’s sea. 8

8 धर्म-सिन्धु करुणेश के, शरणागत है धन्य ।
उसे छोड दुख-सिन्धु को, पार‍ न पाये अन्य ॥

8. सच्चारित्र्यद कडलाद भगवन्तन अडिगळन्नु सेरिदवरिगल्लदॆ (मिक्कवरिगॆ) संसार सागरगळन्नु ईसि दाटलु सुलभवल्ल.

अऱवाऴि अन्दणऩ् ताळ्सेर्न्दार्क् कल्लाल्
पिऱवाऴि नीन्दल् अरिदु। ८

कोळ्+++(=विषय)+++-इल्-पॊऱियिऩ्+++(=इन्द्रियस्य)+++ गुणम्+++(→प्रयोजनम्)+++ इलवे - ऎण्+++(ट्)+++-गुणत्ताऩ्
ताळै वणङ्गात् तलै। ९

गुणाष्टक-युतेशस्य
पदे येन न वन्दिते ।
दृष्ट्या विरहितं चक्षुर्
इव तस्य शिरो वृथा ॥ ९॥

०००९
Depraved, senseless and worthless is the head
Unbowed at the feet of Him with eight qualities.
(P.S. Sundaram), (N.V.K. Ashraf)

९. This couplet could refer to one of the five Parméstins, the Siddhās (liberated souls) of Jainism, because they only are designated with ८ guñas (qualities) (Malaiya, १९९८). The other four Arhats, Āchāryās, Upādhyāyās and Sādhus (Ashta Pahuda VI:१०४) are identified as Jinas with १२, ३६, २५ and २७ guñas respectively (Malaiya, १९९८). What are the eight qualities or guñas of Siddhās? Ananta jnāna, Ananta darshana, Ananta labdhi, Ananta sukha, Akshaya sthiti, Being vitāraga, Being arupa and Aguruladhutaa. Ancient commentator Parithiyar lists these eight qualities (अनन्त ज्ञानम्, अनन्त वीरियम्, कोत्तिरमिन्मै, अनन्त तरिसनम्, अनन्त कुणम्, अऴिया इयल्बु, नाममिन्मै, अवाविन्मै) as qualities of Lord Shiva!

9. kōḷ il poṟiyil kuṇam ilavē-eṇkuṇattāṉ
tāḷai vaṇaṅkāt talai.

9. The head that does not bow down before and worship the feet of the Lord of the eight attributes, will be as like the palsied senses.

9. கோளில் பொறியில் குணமிலவே எண்குணத்தான்
தாளை வணங்காத் தலை.
Like senses stale that head is vain
Which bows not to Eight-Virtued Divine. 9

9 निष्क्रिय इन्द्रिय सदृश ही, ‘सिर’ है केवल नाम ।
अष्टगुणी के चरण पर, यदि नहिं किया प्रणाम ॥

9. ऎण्टु गुणवुळ्ळवन (भगवन्तन) पादगळिगॆ ऎरगद तलॆयु, ग्रहण शक्तियन्नु कळॆदुकॊण्ड इन्द्रियगळन्तॆ निष्पलवागुत्तदॆ.

कोळिल् पॊऱियिऩ् कुणमिलवे ऎण्गुणत्ताऩ्
ताळै वणङ्गात् तलै। ९

पिऱविप्+++(=जन्म)+++ पॆरुङ्-कडल् नीन्दुवर्+++(=तरन्ति)+++, नीन्दार्
इऱैवऩ्+++(=नियमनवान्)+++-अडि सेरादार्। १०

नावं भगवतः पाद-
रूपिणीं प्राप्नुवन्ति ये ।
ते तरन्ति भवाम्भो-धिम्
इतरैस् तर्तुम् अक्षमम् ॥ १०॥

००१०
The ocean of births can be crossed by none other than
Those who reach the feet of the Lord. *
(P.S. Sundaram)

10. piṟavip peruṅ kaṭal nīntuvar; nīntār,
iṟaivaṉ aṭi cērātār.

10. Those who gain the feet of the Lord cross the great ocean of births; others cannot.

10. பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார்
இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்
The sea of births they alone swim
Who clench His feet and cleave to Him. 10

10 भव-सागर विस्तार से, पाते हैं निस्तार ।
ईश-शरण बिन जीव तो, कर नहीं पाये पार ॥

10. ऎरॆयुनडि (देवरपाद) सेरिदवरु हुट्टॆम्ब हॆग्गडलन्नु दाटुवरु ; ऎरॆयनडि सेरदवरु अदन्नु दाटलाररु.

पिऱविप् पॆरुङ्गडल् नीन्दुवर् नीन्दार्
इऱैवऩ् अडिसेरा तार्। १०