- Tiruppavai -3
Transliteration
Ongiulagalandhautthaman per padi
Naangallnampavaikkusattrineeradinal
Theengindri nadellam thingalmummaripeydhu
Onguperunsennnelloodukayalugala
Poonkuvalai ppodirporivandukannpaduppa
Thangathepukkirindhuseerthamulaipattri
Vaangakudamniraikkumvallallperumpasukkal
Neengadhaselvamniraindhelorempavai
Translation from Tamil
Sing the dwarf who grew to measure the Universe
As holy bath cleanses the heart to intensify the prayer
Three rains a month to raise the wealth of crops
Where fishes flourish with joy in farm-waters, and
Where bees dose within the folds of white lotuses
Grown up and healthy cows in herds are ready and
Kind enough to splash the streams of milk filling the pots
Wealth unlimited greets all of us, come & join my girls.
Also Read : No perfect being on this earth: says Seeta and Goda
Vaamana, another form of Naaraayana, who as a short boy -Vatuvu (one who starts Vedic education) secured gift of three feet of land from the King Bali, and then started growing up and up to measure all the up and down of the Universe. He demands the third foot measure, and Bali bows his head to offer for the third feet. Bali is sent to Paataal, the bottom part of the Earth, as a punishment for his expansionism and eviction of Indra. Praise him, we will not have any problems in our country. Come on my friends, let us do this Vrata. We will have three rains a month, Paddy grows fabulously. The fish jumps with job in the waters of the farm fields. Beautiful white lotuses blossom and attract the bees, who sleep in their petals peacefully. Milking animals are no less in number, and several herds of cows are so kind that they rain the milk unasked and without any extraction. They fill many pots. The vast wealth, unlimited and ever growing will be the result of His kindness.
In first Paashuram, Goda explained that the Bhagavan lives in Narayana Tatwa. In second, the poet has shown Milk of Ocean as His second Sthana and now in third, Goda explains the ‘place’ of God in his various forms -Avatara, which are called Vibhavamulu.
Also Read : Narayana-both the Process and Product
God never hesitates to take any form like fish, tortoise, swine, dwarf etc to help the good and end the bad. He is the best personality. Purushottama, the best of all beings.
In his exile also Rama was wearing his bow and arrows besides Sword etc. Seeta surprised and asks: “Are you really an ascetic who is expected to spend 14 years in forests doing penance?” Rama says “Why do you doubt?”. She answers: “Where is the need for arms for a man who is supposed to silently pray like a Rishi”. Then he smiles and explains: “Dear Seetha, listen to me, I vowed to secure ascetics in forest to free them from miseries caused by Demons. It is my Vratham… ”RaghukulReetiSadaaChaliAyee, PraanJaaye Par VachannaJaaye” (it’s the tradition of Raghukul all along, that let life is lost but not the given word) to fulfil my promise. Come what may, even if I lose, you are my dear Lakshman, I will perform my duty, hence I am ready with arms, anytime”. That is the Greatness of benevolent Rama.
Krishna, the God himself, born to a princely class, prefers to live with cowherds. He never minded about the level or the caste. Krishna was so kind, that he granted number of clothes to Draupadi when she prayed calling him Govinda, at the worst crisis. Chanting the name of Rama made Hanuma to cross the Ocean in one leap. Whereas Rama could not cross it unless the bridge was built by his army. His name is more powerful than he Himself. Let us chant his name and attain all peace and glory.
Naaraayana in His forms as Vaamana, Rama, Krishna is very kind, under whose cover all of us can be fearless and happy.
Also Read : Goda’s Tiruppavai
There are six kinds of sufferings according to tradition and Indian culture. They are 1. floods, 2. drought, 3. Rats, 4. Birds, 5. Locust swarms, and 6. the worst Rulers. They are called in Telugu: EethiBaadhalu for the country. Even individuals have six issues: 1. Considering Body as Soul, 2. Thinking that one is independent, 3. Feeling that he belonged to someone other than Supreme Soul, 4. Presuming that he can protect himself, 5. Considering that relations of Body are his relations, and 6. Wanting to enjoy bodily pleasures.
As Goda referred to three rains in month, she was in fact, symbolically meaning: 1. Believing that he belongs to Paramatma and no one else, 2. Trusting that except Paramata there is no other way, 3 Firm in his view that he does not like anything except the experience of Paramatma.
This poem refers to Rama and Krishna, besides explaining the power of Vaamana. Mantra’s might have stringent restrictions for chanting. But singing the name of God is easy and free from all limitations. Any body and at any time one can spell His name. Gopikas were asked to come and bath in early hours with chanting of NaarayanaNaamam. It will relieve them from pangs of separation from Sri Krishna. Once you get into it there is no dearth for anything, says Goda.