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SEPTEMBER, 1926]
TWO TAMIL HYMNS FOR THE MARGAZHI FESTIVAL
To us, the neatherds' maidens, even yesterday
The Great Enchanter of sapphire blue gave us promise of the message.
And so, all pure, have we come to sing the Awakening.
Spoil not all with a word of refusal at the very beginning, dear one. Do thou Draw back the friendly door from the post. El Or, Our Lady.
17. O Thou who dost bestow freely in charity, clothing, water, rice, Our Prince Nandagopalan, rise thou up.
O thou, the loveliest amongst all the lovely ones, lamp of thy caste,
Our Princess Yaśôdây, return to consciousness.
O Thou who, towering aloft, pierced the sky and measured the earth,
King of the gods, slumber not but rise Thou up.
O Blessed One, O Baladeva, with feet encircled with anklets of ruddy gold, Thou and Thy younger brother too, sleep ye not. [El] Or, Our Lady.
18. O Nappinnay, daughter-in-law of Nandagopalan,
The rider of the bull-elephant in full mast, the dauntless, strong-shouldered one;
O Lady of the fragrant-smelling hair; open the portal.
Hark how the assembled cocks are crowing.
Hark, the flocks of cuckoos have more than once, on the bowers of madavi, called.
O Thou with finger-tips deft at holding back, while we chant the name of Thy cousin, Come, and with red-lotus hand, thy golden bracelets all tinkling, Joyfully open. El Or, Our Lady.
19. Upon the bed supported on elephants' tusks and all ablaze with lamps,
Raised aloft on the soft, five-fold couch,
Reclining on the bosom of Nappinnai whose hair is twined with flowers, O Thou broad-chested One, open Thy mouth.
And Thou with the large, black eyes!
Lo, how long hast Thou refused to let Thy husband arise from sleep?
If, even for a moment, Thou art not able to bear separation,
Surely such conduct is not in keeping with your nature or your feelings. El Or, Our Lady.
20. O Strong One! who, standing before the three and thirty Immortals,
Removest their fear," arise from sleep.
Possessed of righteousness, possessed of courage, O Holy One Who visitest Thy foes with affliction, arise from sleep.
And Thou with soft rounded breast, red lips and small waist,
O Lady Nappinnai, O Tiru (Srî), arise from sleep,
And bringing fan and mirror 18, this instant Do Thou send us to bathe with Thy spouse. El Or, Our Lady.
21. O Son of him who is owner of herds of great, generous kine Which pour out milk unceasingly, so that the copious yield Doth make the upheld pots brim over, wake up;
O Thou, the wise One, the great One; MET
O Brilliant One, who standeth conspicuous in the world; arise from sleep. Just as Thy foes, their strength all perished, unable to endure Thy valour,
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17 Kappam is here Sans. kampa shaking through fear, hardened for euphony.
18 These are auspicious articles presented at awakening.
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