Śrī Āṇḍāḷ Tiruppāvai
Pasuram 01
Mārgaḷi tiṅgaḷ · madi niṟainda nannāḷāl ||
Nīrāḍa ppōduvīr · pōduminō · nēriḻaiyīr ||
Sīr malgum āyppāḍi · selva ciṟumīrgaḷ ||
Kūr vēlkoḍuntoḻilan · nandagōpan kumaran ||
Ērāranda kanni · yaśōdai iḷaṃ siṅgam ||
Kār mēni · seṅgaṇ · kadir matiyampōl mugattān ||
Nārāyaṇanē | namakkē | paṟai taruvān ||
Pārōr pugaḻappaḍindu || ēlōr empāvāy ||
Symbolic Meaning Explanation
· = Word pause (subtle pause) | || = Full line pause
Word - Word Meaning
Mārgaḷi Tiṅgaḷ : The month of Mārgaśīrṣa; Madi Niṟainda Nannāḷāl : On an auspicious day graced by the full moon; Nīrāḍa Ppoduvīr : Addressing those prepared for a sacred bath; Podumino : Come; Nēriḻaiyīr : O beautiful young maidens; Sīr Malgum Āyppāḍi : The prosperous village of Āyppāḍi; Selva Ciṟumīrgaḷ : O fortunate young girls; Kūr Vēlkoḍuntoḻilan : The valiant protector bearing sharp weapons; Nandagōpan Kumaran : The son of Nandagopa; Ērāranda Kanni : A maiden of unparalleled beauty; Yaśōdai Iḷaṃ Siṅgam : The lion-like son of Mother Yaśodā; Kār Mēni : One with a cloud-hued complexion; Seṅgaṇ : One with compassion-filled red eyes; Kadir Madi Ambōl Mugattān : One whose face shines like the sun and the moon; Nārāyaṇanē : Śrīman Nārāyaṇa alone; Namakkē : For us; Paṟai Taruvān : The One who grants the desired fruit; Pārōr Pugaḻappaḍindu : Praised throughout all the worlds; Ēlōr Empāvāy : A call to join the sacred Pāvai vow.
Meaning (Simple English Explanation)
On this auspicious day marked by the full moon of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, Āṇḍāḷ calls upon the virtuous young maidens who are prepared to observe the Pāvai vow. She firmly proclaims that these blessed girls of Āyppāḍi, if they take refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nandagopa, will surely be granted the supreme fruit they seek by Him alone. Through this sacred observance, she teaches, divine grace that is celebrated by the entire world is attained.
Important English Language Notes
Mārgaḷi Tiṅgaḷ : The most spiritually conducive month for inner discipline and devotion; Nīrāḍa Ppoduvīr : Not an outer bath, but an indication of inner purification; Āyppāḍi : A collective life rooted in devotion and shared spiritual practice; Nārāyaṇanē Namakkē Paṟai Taruvān : The doctrine that Śrīman Nārāyaṇa alone is the sole refuge and grantor of grace.
Śrī Vaiṣṇava Traditional Commentary
In this very first pāśuram, Āṇḍāḷ not only extends an invitation to undertake the Pāvai vow but also firmly establishes the doctrine of śaraṇāgati. She makes it clear that the vow does not bear fruit through human effort alone; its fulfillment is possible only through the grace of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa. Collective devotion, humility, and complete reliance on the Divine form the core essence of this pāśuram.
Essence of the Meaning in Prose Form
Āṇḍāḷ presents the month of Mārgaśīrṣa as a gateway to devotional practice. Calling all the gopikās of Āyppāḍi to unite, she proclaims that by taking refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nandagopa, He alone grants the supreme goal of life. This observance is not a matter of individual effort; it is a path of grace grounded in surrender.
Daily Self-Reflection (Optional)
Today, how much trust am I placing not in my own efforts, but in the grace of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa?