திருப்பாவை - 1 (மார்கழித் திங்கள்)

மார்கழித் திங்கள் மதிநிறைந்த நன்னாளால்;
நீராடப் போதுவீர்! போதுமினோ, நேரிழையீர்!
சீர்மல்கும் ஆய்ப்பாடிச் செல்வச் சிறுமீர்காள்!
கூர்வேல் கொடுந்தொழிலன் நந்தகோபன் குமரன்,
ஏரார்ந்த கண்ணி யசோதை இளஞ்சிங்கம்,
கார்மேனிச் செங்கண் கதிர்மதியம் போல்முகத்தான்
நாராயணனே, நமக்கே பறைதருவான்,
பாரோர் புகழப் படிந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Explanation
Oh bejewelled girls (nEr izhaiyeer)! Prosperous (chelva) young girls (chiRumeer) of the rich city (seer malgum) of Tiruvoypadi (aaypaadi)! This is the month (thingaL) of December/January (margazhi), an auspicious day (nan naaL) filled (niRaindha) with moonlight (madhi). Those of us who want to go (pOdhuveer) to perform the penance of 'paavai nOnbu' (neeraada), let us go (pOdhumeenO). The Lord (naaraayaNan), who was the son (kumaran) of NandagOpan, who could give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp spear (koor vEl); who was the little lion (iLam singam) of the beautiful (Eraarndha) eyed (kaNNi) YasOda; who is dark (kaar) skinned (mEni); who has perfect (sen) eyes (kaN); and who has a face (mugaththaan) like (pOl) the radiance (kadhir) of the moon (madhiyam); will give (tharuvaan) us (namakkE) his blessings (paRai). Hey (El)! Let us immerse in water (padindhu) and do the penance of 'paavai nOnbu' (Or embaavaai), a practice praised (pugazha) by the people of the world (paarOr).

Purport
Now is the month of Maargazhi. It is the auspicious full moon day. Lovely young ornamented maidens of the cowherd colony which is flourishing in wealth! Don't you want to bathe in the Yamunaa? Please come take part in the festival! (Paavai Nombu). Naarayana, the son of Nandagopa who is the terror of his enemies with his sharp spear, Naarayana, the young lion's cub of Yasoda, of charming eyes, Lord Naaraayana with his dark-cloud like complexion and eyes of crimson lotus hue, with his lustrous face shining like the sun and cool like the full moon. He will surely grant us all our desires! Come, let us bathe and celebrate the festival, for which the world will praise us.



More Insight
1. Andal praises the day (NANNAL) that has appeared of its own accord for the observance of the vow. What it means is that for a soul, that day is the Good Day when he understands all about himself and God and their mutual relationship of Lord and Servant which is stated in the Tirumantram.
2. The fruit in getting one's body is for serving the Lord here and hereafter (NEERADA PODUVIR)
3. All those who have a longing for the service of the Lord are qualified to join her. (PODUVIR PODUMINO)
4. She speaks of the radiance that attended on the face of her companions on hearing her requisition. (MADI NIRAINDA; the moon is not in the sky alone!)
5. The prosperity of Gokula consists of Sri Krishna's amiable pranks in stealing butter and girls; i.e., the wealth of a Sri Vaishnava consists of his intoxicating love for and enjoyment of Lord's company.
6. Nandagopa's vigilance in guarding Krishna with his very sharp spear in hand symbolizes the "ASTHANE BHAYA-SANKA" and "MANGALASASANA-PARATA" which characterizes a SriVaishnava.
7. Yasoda's over-indulgence of Krishna is responsible for all his pranks and misbehavior towards the young gopis.
8. SrimanNarayana is the SOLE MEANS of attaining His Feet. This strikes the keynote of the Song Divine-TIRUPPAVAI. NARAYANANE (Upaya Swarupam) NAMAKKE (Adhikari Swarupam) PARAI (Phala Swarupam) TARUVAN.The safest means of securing Him is not Karma yoga etc but His Grace only.
That is the sum and substance of this verse.