Tiruppavai or Srivratam Pasurams

A vrata means a vow, a firm commitment, rules of conduct, worship, reading of scriptures, remaining without food and engaging in charitable activities. A vrata has a plan that has to be followed on taking it up. There is nothing that cannot be achieved if one takes up a discipline with a mind that is full of sincerity and purity.

Elders say that when is followed with single-minded absorption, the desired result is definitely obtained. It was with this view that Goda Devi observed the Dhanurmasa vrata, for no selfish reason but for the sake of others. She showed others the way. She sang thirty verses to make Krishna happy. These are in the Tamil language. They are called Pasurams. They are also called Tiruppavai or Srivratam. It has become famous as Tiruppavai in DivyaPrabandham.

1. Time has come for Margasirsa Vrata, come on! 

mārgaḻi ttijñgal madi nirainda nannāḻāl

nīrāḍa ppōduvīr, pōduminō nērilaiyīr

śīr malguṃ āy ppāḍi śelvachchiru mīr kāḻ

kūrvēl koḍundoḻilan nandagōpan kumaran

ērār nda kaṇṇi yaśōdai yiḻaṃśiṅgam

kārmēnichchajñgaṇ kadirmadiyaṃ bōl mugattān

nārāyaṇanē namakkē paraitaruvān

pārōr pugaḻappaḍindēlō rembāvāy ॥

The first verse speaks of the season. Among months, the Margasirsa month is considered supreme. Goda Devi decided to observe the vrata in that month on a full moon day. With that view, she told the gopikas of the village that we would observe the vrata for a month. Only Narayana can fulfil all our desires. Rising at dawn, all of them would have a head bath. She invited them all to perform the Srivrata and bring joy to all people.

2. Come and get the rules of the vrata. 

vaiyattu vāḻvīrgāḻ nāmuṃ nambāvaikku

chcheyyuṃ kiriśaigaḻ kēḻīrō pārkaḍaluḻ

pai yattu yinra paramanaḍipāḍi

neyyuṇṇōṃ pāluṇṇōṃ nāṭkālē nīrāḍi

maiyiṭṭeḻudōṃ malariṭṭu nāmuḍiyōm

śeyyādana śeyyōṃ tīkkuraḻai chchenrōdōm

aiyyamuṃ pichchaiyuṃ āndanaiyuṃ kaikāṭṭi

uyyu māreṇṇi yugandēlō rembāvāy ॥

She gave details of the vrata to be followed in the second pasuram. We will wake up in the early morning and have our bath. Putting kohl for eyes, decorating our tresses with flowers, we will sing the praises of the feet of the Supreme Lord who rests on the milky ocean. We will not partake of ghee and milk during the days of this vrata. We will not speak words that cause pain to others, nor will we speak untruth. We will give food to guests. Having learnt these rules, come happily to perform the vrata. 

3. Sing the sacred name of Vamana. 

ōṅgi yulagaḻanda uttaman pērpāḍi

nāṅgaḻ nambāvaikku chchāṭri nīrāḍināl

tīṅganri nāḍellāṃ tiṅgaḻ mummāri pey du

ōṅgu peruṃ śennel ūḍu kayalugaḻa

pūṅguvaḻai pōdil porivaṇḍu kaṇpaḍuppa

tēṅgādē pukkirundu śīr ttamulai paṭri

vāṅgakkuḍaṃ niraikkuṃ vaḻḻal perumbaśukkaḻ

nīṅgādaśelvaṃ niraindēlō rembāvāy ॥

The third verse lists the good that comes by observing the vrata. We will sing the glorious names of Vamana who came as a little student and measured the three worlds. If we do so, there will be copious rains and people will live happily, free from all sorrows. The land will be always prosperous with plenty of grain and other riches. 

4. Pour down rains ... O Varunadeva... 

āḻimaḻaikkaṇṇā ! onru nīkai karavēl

āḻiyuḻ pukku mugundu koḍārtēri

ūḻimudalva nuruvampōl meyikaruttu

pāḻiyandōḻuḍai parpanāban kaiyil

āḻipōḻ minni, valamburi pōl ninradirindu

tāḻādē śār jñgamudaitta śaramaḻaipōl

vāḻavulaginil pey diḍāy nāṅgaḻum

mārgaḻi nīrāḍa magiḻindēlō rembāvāy ॥

The fourth pasuram prays to Lord Parjanya (Varunadeva) for copious rains that would assure prosperity to the land. Be shining as the discus in the right hand of Narayana who is the supreme Lord, thunder like the conch in the Lord’s left hand. Pour down rains for the happiness of the people of the world and for us to observe happily the Margasirsa vrata, as if they were the rain of arrows released from the bow Saranga.

5. We will pray with mind, word and body. Come forward! 

māyanai mannu, vaḍamadurai maindanai

ttūya perunīr yamunai tturaivanai

āyar kulattinil tōnruṃ maṇi viḻakkai

ttāyaikkuḍal viḻakkaṃ śeyda dāmōdaranai

tūyōmāy vandunāṃ tūmalar tūvittoḻudu

vāyināl pāḍi, manattinal śindikka

pōyapiḻḻaiyuṃ ppugudaruvā ninranavum

tīyinil tūśāguṃ śeppēlō rembāvāy ॥

The fifth pasuram speaks of the desire of the girls for eternal service to the Lord and being always close to Him.Let us go to Krishna after making ourselves pure and worthy. Let us worship him with flowers Let us salute him with our hands. Let us pray to him with words. Let us meditate upon Him. If we do so, all the sins we committed earlier and may commit in the future will be charred into ashes like cotton that has fallen into the fire.

6. Wake up chanting Hari, Hari! 

puḻḻuṃ śilumbinakāṇ puḻḻarayyan kōyilil

veḻḻai viḻiśaṅgin pēraravaṃ kēṭṭi laiyō

piḻḻā yeḻundi rāy pēy mulai nañjuṇḍu

kaḻḻachchagaḍaṃ kalakkaḻiya kkālōchchi

veḻḻattaravil tuyila mar nda vittinai

uḻḻattu kkoṇḍu munivargaḻuṃ yōgigaḻum

meḻḻa veḻundu āriyanra pēraravam

uḻḻaṃ pugundu kuḻir ndēlō rembāvāy ॥

The sixth pasuram speaks in the voice of a gopika to a gopika in deep sleep about the need to wake up and go for bath. She also speaks of the state of other gopikas. Even the birds have woken up and are flying away making bird sounds in search of the day’s food. From the temple of Sri Mahavishnu sounds of the white conch being blown are heard indicating the coming of dawn and the need to wake up. Are the sages and rishis waking up the Lord in yoganidra by reciting Hari, Hari? Those sounds are waking us up. You too listen to that sound, wake up and come out!

7. Listen to the sounds of the Gopika’s bangles! 

kīśu kīśenrejñgumānai chāttakalandu !

pēśina pēchcharavaṃ kēṭṭilaiyō ! pēy ppeṇṇē !

kāśuṃ pirappuṃ kalagalappakkai pērtu

vāśa narujñguḻa lāyichchiyar mattināl

ōśai paḍutta tayira ravaṃ kēṭṭilaiyō

nāyakappeṇṇiḻḻāy ! nārāyaṇan mūrti

kēśāvanai ppāḍavuṃ nīkēṭṭē kiḍattiyō

tēśa muḍaiyāy ! tira vēlō rembāvāy ॥

The seventh pasuram wakes up another gopi and speaks of the bhakti of listening. As the cowherdesses churn curds in the pots, the sounds of their bangles and the sounds of their necklaces rubbing against one another and the sounds reach sky-high. Aren’t you hearing them, O leader of the gopikas! Aren’t we singing the praise of our Krishna? O mother, do open the door first.

8. Ayyo!... You have yourselves come! 

kīḻ vānaṃ veḻḻenru erumai śiruvīḍu

mēy vān parandanakāṇ mikkuḻḻa piḻḻaigaḻum

pōvān pōginrārai pōgāmal kāttunnai

kūvuvān vandu ninrōṃ kōdukalamuḍaiya

pāvāy ! eḻundirāy pāḍipparaikoṇḍu

māvāy ! piḻandānai mallarai māṭṭiya

dēvādidēvanai chchenrunāṃ śēvittāl

āvāvenrā rāy ndaruḻēlō rembāvāy ॥

The eighth pasuram speaks of ‘manana’, getting by heart the prayers. The East is opening with dawn. All the girls have started for the place where the vrata is to be performed. We have stopped them from proceeding. We have all gathered in front of your house. O happy girl! Let us sing the great qualities of Krishna. We will perform the vrata and get the ‘para’. Let us pay obeisance to the Lord of all gods. Then will Krishna say, O ladies! You have come yourself! And then will he not enquire about our state and look at us with his grace-laden eyes?

9. Krishna! At least you should wake up! 

tūmaṇi māḍattuchchuṭruṃ viḻakkeriya

dhūpaṃ kamaḻa ttuyilaṇai mēl kaṇ vaḻarum

māmān magaḻē ! maṇikkadavaṃ tāḻ tiravāy

māmīr! avaḻai yeḻuppīrō un magaḻ dān

ūmaiyō ? anrichcheviḍō ? anandalō

ē mapperunduyil mandirappaṭṭāḻō ?

māmāyan mādhavan vaikundan enrenru

nāmaṃ palavuṃ navinrēlō rembāvāy ॥

The ninth pasuram explained how to wake up the gopika who was engrossed in meditation. They call out to a gopika sleeping in a house which has been built with nine types of gems. “O, daughter of auntie! Open the door made up of gems! O auntie! At least you wake her up. Has anyone cast a spell on her to remain in deep sleep? O Madhava! At least you wake her up.

10. You are like the crown jewel for gopikas... 

nōṭruchchuvarkaṃ puhiginravammanāy

māṭramuṃ tārārō vāśal tiravādār

nāṭrattuḻāy muḍi nārāyaṇan nammāl

pōṭrapparaittaruṃ puṇṇiyanāl,paṇṇorunāḻ,

kūṭrattin vāy viḻanda kumbakaruṇanum

tōṭru munakkē perunduyil tān tandānō ?

āṭravanandaluḍai yā yaruṅgalamē

tēṭramāy vandu tiravēlō rembāvāy ॥

The tenth pasuram speaks of the gopikas who desire to take along with them the gopikawho is sleeping in a house next to the residence of Krishna. What? Have you completed the vrata even before our arrival? Narayana is one who gives us the purusharthas for poor people like us, if we sing just an auspicious tune? Did Kumbhakarna give you the deep sleep that he had been blessed with? How did you become so sleepy? Aren’t you like a crown-jewel for us? So do wake up and open the door.

11. You are dear to the cowherd clan... 

kaṭrukka Ra vaikkaṇaṅgaḻ palaka Randu

śaṭrār ti Ralaḻiyachchenru śeruchcheyyum

kuṭramonrillāda kōvalartaṃ porkoḍiyē

puṭraraval gul punamayilē pōdarāy

śuṭrattutōḻimā rellāruṃ vandunin

muṭraṃ puhundu mugilvaṇṇan pērpāḍa

śiṭrādē pēśādē śelvappeṇṇāṭṭi ! nī

eṭrukku raṅgaṃ poruḻēlō rembāvāy ॥

The eleventh pasuram teaches of karma yoga. It speaks of a gopika born in the cowherd clan which is famous for following the works of the cowherds. O golden creeper born in the cowherd clan! Do wake up. Relations, friends have all come to your house front. They are all singing the praises of Krishna. Yet you are not moving, nor speaking! O well-endowed lady! What is the significance of your sleep?

12. O sister of the rich cowherd! 

kanaittiḻaṃ kaṭrerumai kanrukkiraṅgi

ninaittumulai vaḻiyē ninrupāl śōra,

nanaittilaṃ śērākkuṃ nar chelvan taṅgāy

panittelai vīḻa nin vāśal kaḍaipaṭri

śinattināl tennilajñgaikkōmānaicheṭra

manattukkiniyānai ppāḍavuṃ nīvāy tiRavāy

initta neḻundirāy īdenna pēruRakkam

anaittillattāru maRindēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twelfth pasuram describes the waking up of the sister of a rich cowherd. O sister of the rich cowherd whose house is full of milk flowing everywhere! Dew is raining upon our heads. Yet we are standing in front of your house. We are holding on to the padlock of the front door. We are singing the praises of Rama. How come you are not speaking even after listening to it? Why don’t you wake up? How come such deep sleep?

13. Today is a very auspicious day 

puḻḻin vāy kīṇḍānai pollāvarakkanai

kkiḻḻi kkaḻaindānai kkīrtimai pāḍippōy

ppiḻḻaigaḻellāruṃ pāvaikkaḻaṃ bukkār

veḻḻi yeḻundu viyāḻa muRajñgittu

ppuḻḻuṃ śilumbinakāṇ , pōdarikkaṇṇināy

kuḻḻakkuḻirakkuḍaindu nīrāḍādē

paḻḻikki ḍattiyōpāvāy ! nī nannāḻāl

kaḻḻaṃ tavir ndu kalandēlō rembāvāy ॥

The thirteenth pasuram is about the gopika who is lying on the bed, sure that Krishna will come to her on his own. Was it not Rama who killed the evil Ravana? Singing his praises and recollecting the heroic saga of Rama, all our girls have reached the place where vrata is performed. O gentle girl! Today is a very auspicious day.Giving up your sulking ways, join us and gain plenty of joy. Do come.

14. You gave your word. Have you forgotten? 

ujñgal puḻaikkaḍai tōṭṭattu vāviyul

śejñgaḻunīr vāy negili ndāmbal vāy kūmbinakāṇ

śejñgalpoḍikkūrai veṇ pal tavattavar

tajñgal tirukkōyil śajñgiḍuvān pōginrār

ejñgalai munna meḻuppuvān vāy pēśum

najñgā yelundirāy nāṇādāy nāvuḍai yāy

śajñgoḍu śakkara mēnduṃ taḍakkaiyan

pajñgayakkaṇṇānai ppāḍēlō rembāvāy ॥

The fourteenth pasuram contains meaningful descriptive epithets describing how to invite a gopika. O girl who is perfect! The sannyasis are going to the temple to perform worship. Wake up. You had given us the word that you would get up first and then wake us up. Have you forgotten it? O clever one with words! Wake up. Let us sing the greatness of Pundarikaksha. Come!

15. The Gopikas converse in humorous terms..

ellē yilaṅgiḻiyē ! yinnamuraṅguḍiyō?

śillenraḻai yēnmin? najñgaimīr, pōdaruginrēn

vallai un kaṭṭuraigaḻ paṇḍēyun vāyaRidum

vallīrgaḻ nījñgaḻē, nānēdā nāyuḍuga

ollainī pōdāy, unakkenna vēṛḍaiyai ?

ellāruṃ phōndārō? phōndār, phōndeṇṇikkoḻ

vallānai konrānai māttārai māttaḻikka

vallānai māyanai ppāḍēlō rembāvāy ॥

The fifteenth pasuram speaks of the humorous conversation between the gopikawithin the house, and the gopikas standing outside. O girl with a sweet voice like that of a young parrot! You are still asleep! Why are you behaving thus? O gopikas who are very capable! I am coming just now. Do not call harshly to me so as to pain my ears. O friend! You are clever with words. You are capable. You are harsh. Doesn’t matter. Alright, I am the harsh one, as you say. Why speak of all that now? Alright, have all the gopikas come? Yes, all have come. Only you are sleeping within. Wake up and join us soon. Let us sing Krishna’s praises. Come!

16. The Lord has given us His word... 

nāyaganāy ninra nandagōpanuḍaiya

kōyil kāppānē ! koḍittōnruṃ tōraṇa

vāśal kāppānē ! maṇikkadavaṃ tāḻ tiravāy

āyar śirumiyarōmukku arai parai

māyan maṇivaṇṇan nennelēvāy nēr ndān

tōyōmāy vandōṃ tuyileḻappāḍuvān

vāyāl munnamunnaṃ māttādē ammā! nī

nēśa nilaikkadavaṃ nīkkēlō rembāvāy ॥

The sixteenth pasuramspeaks of the way the gopikas should conduct themselves for the vrata. With their minds absolutely pure, they must follow the shastraic rules with sincerity to perform the divine vow as they had decided. O guardian of Nandagopa’s palace! Please open the door that is beautifully encrusted with gems. We are little girls born in the cowherd clan. Sri Krishna gave his word yesterday itself that he will give us loud-sounding Parai and other gifts. Without thinking of other things and with a pure heart we have come singing to wake up Sri Krishna Sir, do not say no.Be kind enough to us and open the doors and allow us to go in.

17. All of you wake up to bless us... 

ambaramē, taṇṇīrē śōRē aRaṃ śeyyum

emberumān ! nandagōpālā! eḻundirāy,

kombanārkellāṃ koḻundē ! kulaviḻakkē

emberumāṭṭi! yaśōdāy! aRivurāy!

ambara mūḍaṛtōjñgi yulagalanda

umbar kōmānē ! uRajñgādeḻundirāy

śeṃ porkaḻa laḍichchelvā ! baladēvā !

umbiyuṃ nīyu muRajñgēlō rembāvāy ॥

The seventeenth Pasuram praises the good qualities of Nandagopa and his charitable ways and speaks of waking up his entire family. O Nandagopa who gives away garments to those who want them, pure water to drink for those who are thirsty, food for those who ask for it without expecting any return! Our Lord! Please wake up. Our lady who glows like an auspicious lamp! O Yasoda! Please wake up. O Trivikrama! Please wake up from your sleep. Balarama! Wake up. Both you and your brother do wake up and come hither.

18. O Nila Devi! Open the door! 

undu madakaḻitta! nōḍāda tōḻvaliyan

nanda gōpālan marumagaḻē ! nappinnāy !

kandaṃ kamaḻuṃ kuḻalī ! kaḍai tiravāy

vandejñgaṃ kōḻi aḻaittanakāṇ mādavi

ppandal mēl pal kāl kuyili najñgal kūvinagāṇ

pandār virali ! un maittunan pērpāḍa

chendāmaraikkaiyāl śīrār vaḻai yoḻippa

vandu tiruvāy magiḻindēlo rembāvāy ॥

The eighteenth pasuram speaks of waking up Goddess Nila Devi. O daughter-in-law of Nandagopa! O Nila Devi! See, it has dawned. With bangles sounding ‘gsl, gsl’ in your rose-complexioned hands, do come andopen door.

19. Is this right, O mother! 

kuttu viḻakkeriya kkōṭṭukkāl kaṭṭil mēl

mettenra pañchaśayanattin mēlēri

kottalar pūjñgaḻal nappinnai koṅgaimēl

vaittukkiḍanda malar mārpā ! vāy tiravāy

mettaḍajñkaṇṇināy nī yunmaṇālanai

ettanaipōduṃ tuyileḻa oṭṭāy kāṇ

yettanai yēluṃ pirivāṭra gillāyāl

tattuva manruttagavēlō rembāvāy ॥

The nineteenth pasuram tells us how to pray to one’s divine parents who are always kind. Krishna is beside Nila Devi. The gopikas look at the Lord and say, O Krishna! Please open your lips and speak. O Nila Devi! Though time passes fast, you are not allowing your husband to wake up. Your not being able to bear even this little absence is not right for your nature or for your kindness, O Mother!

20. Allow us to bathe with Krishna, O Mother! 

muppattu mūvar amararku mun śenru

kappaṃ tavirkuṃ kaliyē tuyileḻāy

śeppamuḍaiyāy tiRaluḍaiyāy ! śeṭrārku

veppaṃ koḍukkuṃ vimalā tuyileḻāy

śeppanna menmulaichchevvāy chchiru maruṅgul

nappinnai naṅgāy ! tiruvē ! tuyilelāy

ukkamuṃ taṭṭoḻiyuṃ tandun maṇāḻanai

ippōdē yemmai nīrāṭṭēlē rembāvāy ॥

The twentieth pasuram is about the way in which Sri Krishna and Nila Devi have to be woken up. O hero! Wake up. O Nila Devi! Please wake up. Give us a fan to fan ourselves and a mirror to see our face and help us bathe with Krishna, O Mother!

21. We have come as your servitors... 

ēṭrakalaṅga ḻediripoṅgi mīdaḻippa

māṭrādē pāl śoriyuṃ vaḻlal peruṃ paśukkal

āṭra ppaḍaittān maganē ! yarivurāy

ūṭramuḍai yāy ! periyāy ! ulaginil

tōṭramāy ninra śuḍarē ! tuyileḻāy

māṭrārunakku valitulaindu un vā śarkaṇ

āṭrādu vandu unnaḍi paṇiyu māppōlē

pōṭriyāṃ vandōṃ pugaḻ ndu ēlōrembāvāy ॥

The twenty-first pasuram speaks of the manner in which to worship the Lord so that he becomes happy. Son of Nandagopa! Do wake up. You are the personification of flame. Wake up. All your enemies have been defeated by your valour, and have come to your door and are taking refuge at your feet. In the same way, we too cannot remain apart from you. O Lord, we have come to praise your feet and invoke blessingson them.

22. Lord look at us with your eyes and bless us... 

aṅgaṇ mājñālattaraśar abhimāna

bajñgamāy nandu nin paḻḻikkaṭṭil kīḻē

śajñgamirupār pōl vandutalai ppey dōm

kiṅgiṇivāy chcheyada tāmarappūppōlē

śeñjñgaṇ śirichchiridē yēmmēl viḻiyāvō

tiṅgaḻu mādittiyanu meḻundārpōl

ajñgaṇṇiraṇḍuṃ koṇḍu ejñgaḻ mēl nōkkudiyēl

ejñgaḻ mēl chāba miḻandēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-second pasuram speaks of praying to the Lordand says that with thoughts and words the gopikas feel that the Lord is everything for them. Rich and powerful kings who ruled over vast kingdoms, have given up their ego, that there was none superior to them, and have come to you as the Emperor, and have gathered beneath your throne. In the same way, wehave also given up our feeling of ‘I’ and come in many groups and gathered beneath your throne. Kindly look at us. If your glance falls on us, all our sorrows and karmas will vanish. Isn’t that so, O Lord?

23. Wake up, O Lord of love... 

mārimalai muḻañjil mannikkiḍanduRaṅgam

śīriya śiṅgarivittuttī viḻittu

vērimayir poṅga veppāḍuṃ pēr ndudari

mūri nimir ndu muḻaṅgippurappaṭṭu

pōdarumāpōlē, nī pūvaippūvaṇṇā ! un

kōyil ninriṅganē phōndaruḻi kōppuḍaiya

śīriya śiṅgāpanattirundu yāṃ vanda

kāriyamārāy ndaruḻēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-third pasuram explains how to wake up the Lord and request him to examine their requests. Come out of your palace like the roaring lion! Lord, sit on your beautiful and famous throne, examine our requests and understand them.

24. Salutations to your holy feet... 

anrivvulaga maḻandāy! āḍipōṭri

chchenraṅguttennilaṅgaiśettāy! tiRal pōṭri

ponrachchegaḍa mudaittāy ! pugaḻ pōṭri

kanru kuṇilā veRindāy ! kaḻal pōṭri

kunrukuḍaiyā veḍuttāy ! guṇaṃ pōṭri

venru pagaikkeḍukkuṃ nin kaiyil vēl pōṭri

ēnrenrun śēvagamē yēttippaRai koḻvān

inriyāṃ vandōṃ iraṅgēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-fourth pasuram describes how to sing blessings to the divine feet of the Lord. Blessings to your auspicious feet that measured the three worlds. Blessings to your shoulders that destroyed Ravana. Blessings to your unequalled fame that killed Chakatasura. Blessings to your holy feet that kicked Vatsasura. Blessings to your love that held up the Govardhana Hill as an umbrella to guard the cowherds and the cows. Blessings to your lance that destroyed the roots all enemies. Do bless us that we have come to praise you in this manner and gain from you the Parai drum.

25. Sweet is this Child of Yasoda... 

orutti maganāy piRandu ōriravil

orutti maganāy oḻittu vaḻara,

tarakkilā nāgittān tīṅguninainda

karuttaippiḻḻaikañjan vayiṭril

neruppenna ninra neḍumālē ! yunnai

aruttittu vandōm , paRai tarutiyāgil

tirurrakka śelvamuṃ śēvagamuṃ yāmpāḍi

varuttamuṃ tīr ndu magiḻindu ēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-fifth pasuram recites the great story of Krishna’sbirth. Lord who were born as the son of Devaki Devi! Child of Yasoda! You brought to nought the evil intention of Kamsa to kill you. We have desired only you and have come to your feet as our refuge. If you give the Parai drum, we will spend our time happily singing of your riches and heroic life-story.

26. He rests on the banyan leaf... 

mālē ! maṇivaṇṇā ! mārgaḻi nīrāḍuvān

mēlaiyār śey vanagaḻ vēṇḍuvana kēṭṭiyēl

ñālattai yellāṃ naḍuṅga muralvana

pālanna vaṇṇattu un pāñjaśanniyamē

pōlvana śaṅgaṅgaḻ, pōy ppāḍuḍai yanavē

śāla pperuṃ paRaiyē, pallāṇḍiśaippārē

kōlaviḻakkē, koḍiyē, vidāmē

ālinilaiyāy ! aruḻēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-sixth pasuram details the external things and internal qualities needed for completing the vrata as the gopikas wish to perform it. We have come for the things needed for performing the Margasirsa vrata. We want conches as white as the Panchajanya conch in your hand. We want large and big Parai drums. We want devotees who can sing auspicious songs. We want auspicious lamps. We also need flags and canopy. Be solicitous to us and grant all this, O Krishna!

27. Listen to our small requests, O Krishna! 

kūḍārai velluṃ śīr gōvindā ! undannai

ppāḍippaRai koṇḍuyāṃ peṛśemmānam

nāḍupugaḻuṃ pariśināl nanrāga

chchūḍagamē tōḻ vaḻaiyē,tōḍē śeppūvē,

pāḍagamē,yenranaiya pal kalanuṃ yāmaṇivōm,

āḍai yuḍuppōm, adan pinnē pāl śōṛ

mūḍa ney pey du muḻaṅgaivaḻivāra

kūḍi yirundu kuḻir ndēlōrembāvāy ॥

The twenty seventh pasuram speaks of the gifts that the gopikas want. If we praise you and gain gifts and the Parai drum, they would be gifts that are worthy of praise by the people of the world. These gifts are bangles for hands, ornaments for the shoulders, ear-ornaments, flower-like ornaments for the ears and anklets with which we want to adorn ourselves. We want to wear nice silk sarees. Then we want rice and milk drowned in ghee to make payasam and eat it happily seated along with you, Krishna!

28. We are illiterate cowherds ... 

ka Ravaigaḻ pin śenru kkānaṃ śēr nduṇbōm,

aRivonru millāda vāy kkulattu undannai

ppiRavi pe ṛndanai puṇṇiyaṃ nāmuḍaiyōm

ku Raivonru millāda gōvindā !undannōḍu

uRavēl namakki ṅgoḻikka voḻiyādu

aRiyāda piḻḻaigaḻōm, anbināl undannai

chiṛpēraḻaittanavuṃ śīRi yaruḻādē

iRaivā nī tārāy paRaiyēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty eight pasuram is about the prayer of gopikas to Krishna to grant their wishes. We have no knowledge. We were born in the cowherd clan. Being born in this clan, we have had the good fortune of being one of us. Lord! Govinda! Our relationship with you can never be terminated. Out of love we have called you with abbreviated names. Kindly do not be angry with us for doing so. Fulfil our desires and be kind to us O Lord!

29. For births seven times seven, we will be your servitors... 

śittaṃ śiṛkālē vandunnai chchēvittu, un

ppottāmarai yaḍiyē ppōttuṃ pōruḻ kēḻāy

pettammēy ttuṇṇaṃ kalattil piRandanī

kuttēva leṅgaḻai kkoḻḻamal pōgādu

ittai paRai koḻvā nanrukāṇ gōvindā !

ettaikkumēḻēḻu piRavikkum, undannō

ḍuttōmē yāvōmunakkē nāmāḻ śey vōm

muttina ṅkāmaṅgaḻ māttēlō rembāvāy ॥

The twenty-ninth pasuram requests Krishna to watch all the rites of their vrata. Krishna! Listen to what we gain by getting up early in the morning, coming to your residence, saluting you and praising you. We have not come today to gain only the Parai drum from you. Always, for births seven times seven, we wish to have unbreakable relationship with you and always be your servitors. Please see to it that we never get any other desire.

30. Tiruppavai is the Song of Srivilliputtur garland.... 

vaṅga kkaḍal kaḍainda mādavanai kēśavanai

tiṅgaḻ tirumugattu chchēyiḻai yār śenniraiñji

aṅgapparai koṇḍuvāttai, aṇipuduvai

paiṅgamala ttaṇḍairiyal paṭṭar pirān kōdai śonna

śaṅgattamiḻ mālai muppaduṃ tappāmē

iṅgappariśurai ppārīraraṇḍu mālvaraittōḻ

śe ṅgaṇ tirumugattu chchelvattirumālāl

eṅgaṃ tiruvaruḻ pettinburuva rembāvāy ॥

The thirtieth pasuram says that those who read the thirty pasurams with sincerity will gain the same gifts as Goda Devi did. By singing songs of blessing to Krishna, the gopikas gained the Parai drum for the people of the world and servitor-ship to the Lord for themselves. GodaDevi who was born in Srivilliputtur which is like an ornament of the world, wove into a garland in Tamil language to help the people of the world to observe the vrata. Those who read the pasurams in the same order, will gain the gifts that the gopikas received from Krishna long ago, and also what Goda Devi gained by performing the vrata. If we read her pasurams knowing their meaning and recite them, desiring moksha, we will definitely reach the lotus feet of the Lord.