________________
SEPTEMBER, 1926)
TWO TAMIL HYMNS FOR THE MARGAZHI FESTIVAL
167
Anklet and many other like jewels; these will we wear ; Clothes we will put on. After that, pouring ghee On outspread rice cooked in milk until it runs over the elbow, We will, with delight, take our food with Thee. El Or, Our Lady.
28. Following the milch cows, we reach the woods and eat our meal.
How great is the blessing we enjoy in owning Thee Thyself As born within our caste of neatherds ignorant of all. O sinless Govindå, bet wixt Thee and us Be kinship, which never here can be cast off. If, as children knowing naught, and in love of Thce, We little folk have called Thee by unworthy names, chide us not. Lord Paramount, grant Thou the Boon (of salvation). El Or, Our Lady.
29. Listen unto the reason why, coming in the very early morning,
We minister unto Thee and worship Thy golden-lotus foot. Born in a caste which liveth by grazing kine, That Thou shouldst accept us in service is not our present prayer. Lo, Govinda, it is to gain this our eager desire (that we come), That for ever, for seven times seven births, shall we be Thy kinsfolk ; To Thee will we render service, to none else but Thee. Our desires, to aught else do Thou not transform. El Ör, Our Lady.
30. How richly bedecked women, fair of face as the moon, went and worshipped
Madhavan-Kesavan who churned the sea, whose surface is covered with ships, And obtained of Him the promise, Kôdai of fair Puduvai, The daughter of the Chief of Brahmans who wear the cool garland of beautiful
lotuses, Set in a garland of verso three times ten [to be sung in choir).19 Those here who sing in faultless form, By Grace of Mal, rich ia love, with broad and shapely shoulders, Red eyes of gracious look and face benign, Everywhere shall enjoy His bounty and live in happiness. Our Lady.
(To be continued).
19 The text has the word dangam used attributively to Tamil, and ordinarily would mean language acoeptable to the “ Tamil Academy." The Commentator takes it in the sense of intended to be sung in chorus,' which seems rather uncommon.-ED,
