திருப்பாவை - 13 (புள்ளின்வாய் கீண்டானை)

புள்ளின்வாய் கீண்டானை, பொல்லா அரக்கனைக்
கிள்ளிக் களைந்தானைக் கீர்த்திமை பாடிப்போய்,
பிள்ளைகள் எல்லாரும் பாவைக் களம்புக்கார்;
வெள்ளி எழுந்து, வியாழம் உறங்கிற்று;
புள்ளும் சிலம்பினகாண்; போதரிக் கண்ணினாய்!
குள்ளக் குளிரக் குடைந்து நீராடாதே,
பள்ளிக் கிடத்தியோ? பாவாய்! நீ நன்னாளால்
கள்ளம் தவிர்ந்து கலந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.


Explanation
All (ellaam) the girls (piLLai) have reached (pukkaar) the place (kaLam) for 'paavai nOnbu', singing (paadi) the praise (keerththi) of the Lord, while going (pOy). The Lord, who split (keendaan) the mouth (vaay) of the bird (puL) shaped asura; who sniped (kiLLu) and disposed off (kaLaindhu) the heads of the naughty (polla) rakshasa (arakkan). Venus (veLLi) has risen (ezhundhu). Jupiter (viyaazhan) has gone to sleep (uRangu). Birds (puL) are chirping (silambina), See (kaaN)!. You have eyes (kaNNinaay) like the honey bee (ari) on a flower (pOdhu)! You (nee) are lying (kidaththiyO) in bed and sleeping (paLLi), without dipping in (kudaindhu) and bathing (neeraadaadhE) in the harsh (kuLLa) cold (kuLira) water. Oh girl (paavaay)! On this good (nan) day (naaL), leave (thavirndhu) your tricks (kaLLam) behind and join us (kalandhu).

Purport
You, dainty girl with that red lotus-like eyes! Don't you see? All the girls have arrived at the river bed for the worship (Paavai Nonbu), singing the glory of our Lord who killed the demon Bakaasura in disguise as a bird, by breaking up the mouth (in the incarnation of Krishna) and who just plucked away the ten heads of the wicked Raavana and slew him (in His avatar as Raama). It is time you got up. Venus has risen. Jupiter has gone to sleep. Can't you hear the chirping of the birds in flight? Don't you pretend to be asleep! Come, join us, get to the river for a refreshing bath on this auspicious day.

More Insight
A girl with bewitching eyes (PODARI KKANNINAAY) is woken up in this verse. She is of the view that Krishna will come to her fascinated by the beauty of her eyes. To add to this she is lying, brooding over Krishna's heroic exploits, in the bed formerly shared with Him and which still retains His fragrance.

The statement in the previous verse that Sri Rama scored over Krishna in being "MANATHUKKU INIYAAN" created a sort of mutiny among the girls, some of whom disputed this by saying, "how can Rama be said to be the receptacle of all the virtues? Did He, like Krishna who acted as Pandavaduta, go as messenger for anyone? Didn't Krishna's charms allure even the sages?

Even His mischievous pranks are meant for us only. Moreover Krishna is our husband and irrespective of how he treats us,it is not proper for us to praise another as being greater."

Some mediators intervened and pointed out that both are the same Sriman Narayana, and so where is the cause for dispute. Thus reconciled the girls split into two halves each praising the glory of Krishna and Rama. This is the excellence of this verse.

Click title to hear the song by Sudha Raghunathan (Ragam: Atana, Talam: Rupakam)