திருப்பாவை - 10 (நோற்றுச் சுவர்க்கம்)

நோற்றுச் சுவர்க்கம் புகுகின்ற அம்மனாய்!
மாற்றமும் தாராரோ வாசல் திறவாதார்?
நாற்றத் துழாய்முடி நாரா யணன்நம்மால்
போற்றப் பறைதரும் புண்ணியனால் பண்டொருநாள்
கூற்றத்தின் வாய்வீழ்ந்த கும்ப கரணனும்
தோற்றம் உனக்கே பெருந்துயில்தான் தந்தானோ?
ஆற்ற அனந்தல் உடையாய்! அருங்கலமே!
தேற்றமாய் வந்து திறவேலா ரெம்பாவாய்.



Explanation
Oh lady (amman), who is entering (puguginRa) the heaven (suvarkkam) through penance (nOtru)! those not opening (thiRavaadhaar) the doors (vaasal)! Won't you at least give (thaa) a reply (maatram)? Kumbakarnan (kumba karaNan), who one (oru) day (naaL) long ago (pandu) fell (veezhndha) prey to death (kootraththin vaay) due to benevolent (puNNiyan) Lord Narayanan (naraayaNan), who wears (mudi) the fragrant (naatram) garland of 'thulsi' (thuzhaay), who is praised (pOtra) by us (nammaal), who blesses (paRai tharum) us; Did he (kumbakaraNa) appear (thOtru) in your dreams and give (thandhaan) you (unakku) his grand (perum) sleep (thuyil). You utterly (aatra) lazy (anandhal) girl! yet a rare (arum) jewel (kalam), wake up and come (vandhu) without loosing balance (thEtram), and open (thiRa) the door.

Purport
Oh Dear! You? Striving to enter heaven through practicing austerities? If you can't open the door, can't you at least respond to our call? Have you, by any chance, taken on the habit of Kumbakarna, of virtually interminable slumber, the Rakashasa who was felled by Naarayaaa (in the incarnation of Sri Rama), the protector and the benefactor of all living beings, who is bedecked with fragrant tulasi leaves on His head? Come on, our precious gem! Shake off your inertia and come with a clear head! Do open the door!

More Insight
There are two addresses in the vocative case in this pasuram - NOTRU SUVARGAM PUKUKINRA AMMANOY! and ARUN KALAME! - both bring out the excellences of this gopi and thereby imply the excellent characteristics of good Sri Vaishnavas.

1. SUVARGAM here means only union with God. Sita says, while pressing Rama to take her with Him to the forest," If I am with you that is heaven for me. Separation from you means hell." The girl here has completed all her rites by surrendering to the Lord and hence is enjoying His company. So also for a Sri Vaishnava there remains nothing to be done by way of "Upaaya" after accepting Him as the sole refuge(SARANAGATI).

2. ARUNKALAME! "Kalam" has two meanings (a) vessel and (b) ornament; A Sri Vaishnava is the vessel to contain His Grace.A Sri Vaishnava possesses superior ornaments in the form of virtues;or he himself is the best ornament embellishing the gatherings of other Sri Vaishnavas. SUVARGA can also be broken up into SU+VARGA (SU=good VARGA = gathering).If a man possesses all good qualities he will be taken into the fold of Sri Vaishnavites.

Click title to hear the song by Sudha Raghunathan (Ragam: Thodi Talam: Adi)