Context: Andal's thirty songs contain the cardinal principles of Vaishnava dharma during the month of Marghazhi. Vaishnavas sing these songs to bring peace, prosperity and Divine Grace. Andal assumes the guise of a cowherd girl in these 30 verses. Andal appears intent upon performing a particular religious vow to marry the Lord, thereby obtain His everlasting company, and inviting all her girl-friends to join her. Towards the end we learn that she did not actually perform a religious rite; but is simply praying to be granted the service of the Lord for eternity. She yearns for everlasting happiness and service of the Lord.

Translation By Dr. V.K.S.N. Raghavan

Approaching Him --the Lord Kesavan (of lovely curly locks of hairs) , the Lord Maadhavan ( the husband of Goddess Sri) who (enabled the gods) to churn the seas abounding in ships , and praying to Him , the Young charming damsels (of Gokulam ) with exquisite faces of Moon-like beauty and good ornaments , obtained the unparalleled drum.

Describing their observances , prayer and getting the drum (from the Lord) , GodhA , the foster-daughter of Bhattar PirAn adorned with the cool garlands of fresh lotuses , and a resident of beautiful SrivilliputthUr has composed this ThiruppAvai --sangat Tamizh maalai(Garland of Tamizh songs , sung in group by the devotees of the Lord ; or hailed as the lyric poem in Tamizh of the great Sangam poets and poetesses) consisting of thirty paasurams (equal to the number of Vowels and Consonants of the Tamizh alphabet).Whosoever recites this hymn --referring to the award of paRai , faithfully will get the divine bliss here and hereafter , through the benign grace of the Lord ThirumAl ( Sriya: Pathi) endowed with a supreme , divine form , namely four strong mountain-like shoulders, beautiful face with eyes of reddish hue along with other prosperous glory.

Sahityam: vaNGkak katal katain^tha maathavanai kEcavanaith *

Meaning:

vaNGkak katal katain^tha maathavanai kEcavanaith *

Ship filled oceans (He who) churned Lord Madhavan Lord Keshavan

vaNGkak katal - Ship filled oceans

katain^tha - Churned

maathavanai - Lord Madhavan

kEcavanaith * - Lord Kesavan

Sahityam: thiNGkaL thirumukaththuc cEy izhaiyaar cenRi iRaiNYci *

Meaning:

thiNGkaL thirumukaththuc cEy izhaiyaar cenRi iRaiNYci *

(with) moon (like) beautiful faces ornamented maidens (having) reached (and) worshipped (That Lord)

thiNGkaL - moon-like

thirumukaththuc – beautiful faces

cEy izhaiyaar - ornamented maidens

cenRi - having reached

iRaiNYci * - and worshipped (That Lord…)

Sahityam: aNGk ap paRai koNta vaaRRai * aNi puthuvaip

Meaning:

aNGk ap paRai koNta vaaRRai * aNi puthuvaip

there obtained emancipation [drum got] . (that) Story beautiful Sri Villiputur's

aNGk ap - there

paRai koNta - obtained emancipation

vaaRRai * - That Story

aNi puthuvaip – Beautiful Sri Villiputur’s

Sahityam: paiNG kamalath thaN theriyal pattarpiraan kOthai conna *

Meaning:

paiNG kamalath thaN theriyal pattarpiraan kOthai conna *

fresh lotus garland cool (wearing) Brahmin priest Andal said.

paiNG kamalath - fresh lotus

thaN theriyal - garland cool

pattarpiraan - brahmin

kOthai conna * - Andal said

Sahityam: caNGkath thamizh maalai muppathum thappaamE *

Meaning:

caNGkath thamizh maalai muppathum thappaamE *

Beautiful tamil garland (these) thirty (verses) without fail

caNGkath thamizh - beautiful thamizh

maalai - garland

muppathum - (these) thirty (verses)

thappaamE * - without fail

Sahityam: iNGk i paricu raippaar IriraNtu maal varaith thOL *

Meaning:

iNGk i paricu raippaar IriraNtu maal varaith thOL *

here like this (those who) recite , (between) two pairs (of) mountain(s) , stretch shoulders (that)

iNGk i paricu - here like this

raippaar - recite

IriraNtu - two pairs of

maal - mountains

varaith thOL * - stretch shoulders (that)

Sahityam: ceNGkaN thirumukaththuc celvath thirumaal aal *

Meaning:

ceNGkaN thirumukaththuc celvath thirumaal aal *

red eyes beautiful face glorious God because of HIM

ceNGkaN - red eyes

thirumukaththuc – beautiful face

celvath - glorious

thirumaal aal * - God , because of Him

Sahityam: eNGkum thiruvaruL peRRu inpuRuvar empaavaay

Meaning:

eNGkum thiruvaruL peRRu inpuRuvar empaavaay

anywhere grace (they) will get (and) will enjoy bliss . paavai nOmbu

eNGkum - anywhere

thiruvaruL - grace

peRRu - will get

inpuRuvar - will enjoy bliss

empaavaay - paavai nombu (o my girl!)

Paasuram (Stanza)

vaNGkak katal katain^tha maathavanai kEcavanaith *

thiNGkaL thirumukaththuc cEy izhaiyaar cenRi iRaiNYci *

aNGk ap paRai koNta vaaRRai * aNi puthuvaip

paiNG kamalath thaN theriyal pattarpiraan kOthai conna *

caNGkath thamizh maalai muppathum thappaamE *

iNGk i paricu raippaar IriraNtu maal varaith thOL *

ceNGkaN thirumukaththuc celvath thirumaal aal *

eNGkum thiruvaruL peRRu inpuRuvar empaavaay

Sahityam: vaNGkak katal katain^tha maathavanai kEcavanaith *

Meaning:

vaNGkak katal katain^tha maathavanai kEcavanaith *

Ship filled oceans (He who) churned Lord Madhavan Lord Keshavan

vaNGkak katal - Ship filled oceans

katain^tha - Churned

maathavanai - Lord Madhavan

kEcavanaith * - Lord Kesavan

; ; rm | mp ; ; P || P ; P | P ; P ; || ; ; rm | ps nd P ; || M ; M | mgpm R ; ||

vaN Gka ka tal ka tain - tha - - maa tha-va- nai kE - ca va-- - nai *

rmS- rm | mp ; ; P || P ; P | P ; P ; || ; ; rm | ps nd P ; || M ; M | mgpm mgR ||

vaN Gka ka tal ka tain - tha - - maa tha-va- nai kE - ca va-- - nai *

rmS- rm | mnpMP, ; P || P ; pn | Srs nd snNdP, || ; ; rm | pn Sr nS nd P || M ; M | mgpm mgR ||

vaN Gka - - ka tal ka tain - - tha - - - maa tha-va-- nai - kE - ca va-- - nai *

Sahityam: thiNGkaL thirumukaththuc cEy izhaiyaar cenRi iRaiNYci *

Meaning:

thiNGkaL thirumukaththuc cEy izhaiyaar cenRi iRaiNYci *

(with) moon (like) beautiful faces ornamented maidens (having) reached (and) worshipped (That Lord)

thiNGkaL - moon-like

thirumukaththuc – beautiful faces

cEy izhaiyaar - ornamented maidens

cenRi - having reached

iRaiNYci * - and worshipped (That Lord…)

; ; rm | S R S – S || S ; sn | S ; S ; || ; ; M | , m M M ; || M P nd | pmM ; mgR ||

thiN GkaL - thi ru - mu ka - thu - - - cEy I zhai yaar cen- Ri RaiN ci * -

; ; rm | S R S – S || S ; sn | S ; S ; || ; ; M | , m M M ; || Mpd pdnd | pM, M mgR ||

thiN GkaL - thi ru - mu ka - thu - - - cEy I zhai yaar cen- - - Ri RaiN ci * -

Sahityam: aNGk ap paRai koNta vaaRRai * aNi puthuvaip

Meaning:

aNGk ap paRai koNta vaaRRai * aNi puthuvaip

there obtained emancipation [drum got] . (that) Story beautiful Sri Villiputur's

aNGk ap - there

paRai koNta - obtained emancipation

vaaRRai * - That Story

aNi puthuvaip – Beautiful Sri Villiputur’s

; ; ns | ndP ; P || P ; ; | N M P ; || ; ; M | P- S ; sr || nNd – N | S ; S ; ||

aNG ka- - pa Rai- - koN- ta aa - tRRai * a- Ni - pu thu vaip

; ; ns | ndP ; P || P ; ; | pnnm P ; || ; ; M | P- S ; sr || nNd – N | S ; S ; ||

aNG ka- - pa Rai- - koN-- ta aa - tRRai * a- Ni - pu thu vaip

nD, ns nsrSr | snN,Dp ; P || P ; ; | pnnm P ; || ; mpns | rm- rS, ; sr || nNd – N | S ; S ; ||

aNG - - - - ka- - - pa Rai- - koN-- ta aa - - - tRRai * a- Ni - pu thu vaip

nD ns nsr srmr | s-ndp ; P || P ; ; | pnnm P ; || ; mpns | rpM- rS, ; sr || nNd – N | S ; S ; ||

aNG - - - - - ka- - pa Rai- - koN-- ta aa - - - - tRRai * a- Ni - pu thu vaip

Sahityam: paiNG kamalath thaN theriyal pattarpiraan kOthai conna *

Meaning:

paiNG kamalath thaN theriyal pattarpiraan kOthai conna *

fresh lotus garland cool (wearing) Brahmin priest Andal said.

paiNG kamalath - fresh lotus

thaN theriyal - garland cool

pattarpiraan - brahmin

kOthai conna * - Andal said

; ; N | N N N ; || N ; nd | dnS S rm || R S – ns | , n D P ; || M ; M | mgpm mgR ||

paiNG kama la - thaN the ri - - yal -- - - pa- ttar pi raan kO - thai con- - na * -

; ; N | N N N ; || N ; nd | dnS S rm || R S – ns | , n D P ; || pmM ; M | mg Mpm mgR ||

paiNG kama la - thaN the ri - - yal -- - - pa- ttar pi raan kO - - thai con- - - na * -

; ; rmpn | N N N ; || N nd pmM | rmpn sr mg || R S – nrS | , n D P ; || pmM ; M | mgpm mgR ||

paiNG kama la - thaN-the ri - - - - - - - yal - pa- ttar pi raan kO - - thai con- - na * -

; ; rmpn | N N N ; || N nd pmM | rmpn sr mg || R S – nrS | , n D P ; || pmM ; M | mgpm mgrm ||

paiNG kama la - thaN-the ri - - - - - - - yal - pa- ttar pi raan kO - - thai con- - na * -

Sahityam: caNGkath thamizh maalai muppathum thappaamE *

Meaning:

caNGkath thamizh maalai muppathum thappaamE *

Beautiful tamil garland (these) thirty (verses) without fail

caNGkath thamizh - beautiful thamizh

maalai - garland

muppathum - (these) thirty (verses)

thappaamE * - without fail

mg S – rm | MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || ; ; ; | ; ; | ; ; ||

caN Gka tha mizh maa lai

mg S – rm | MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || ; ; ; | ; ; | M , m ||

caN Gka tha mizh maa lai kO thai

, mr s – rm | MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || ; nS-n | , - nd-p , pm- m ||

Con-na caN Gka tha mizh maa lai pa- ttar - pi- raan kO thai

g-mr s – rm | MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || nrs -N n | dP - n d -dp- m ||

Con-na caN Gka tha mizh maa lai pa- ttar pi -raan kO- thai Con

g-mr s – rm | MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || nrs -N n | dP - n d -dp- m ||

Co-na caN Gka tha mizh maa lai pa- ttar pi -raan kO- thai Con

g-rm s – rm | Mnp MP ; P || P ; ; | P ; P ; || rM pN | N – sn , s rm || rs- n rs -n | d- ndp - , pm -m ||

na -- caN Gka - tha mizh maa lai paiNkama la thaN-their- yal pa- ttar - pi-raan kO thai

g-rm s – rm | Mnp MP ; P || P ; ; | Srs nd , snN D || P ; rm | ps nd P - nd || pmM ; ; | mgpm mgR ||

na -- caN Gka - tha mizh maa - - - - lai mu- ppa-thum- tha- ppaa - - - - - mE *

; ; – rm | Mnp MP ; P || P ; ; | Srs nd , snN D || P ; rm | ps nd P - nd || pmM ; ; | mgpm mgR ||

-- caN Gka - tha mizh maa - - - - lai mu- ppa-thum- tha- ppaa - - - - - mE *

Sahityam: iNGk i paricu raippaar IriraNtu maal varaith thOL *

Meaning:

iNGk i paricu raippaar IriraNtu maal varaith thOL *

here like this (those who) recite , (between) two pairs (of) mountain(s) , stretch shoulders (that)

iNGk i paricu - here like this

raippaar - recite

IriraNtu - two pairs of

maal - mountains

varaith thOL * - stretch shoulders (that)

; ; - rm | SR S – S || S ; N | S ; S ; || ; ; M | , m M M ; || M P nd | pmM ; mgR ||

iN- Gki - pa ri - cu rai ppaar - - Ir I raN tu maal-va- rai - - thOL *

; ; rm | S R S – S || S ; sn | S ; S ; || ; ; M | , m M M ; || Mpd pdnd | pM, M mgR ||

iN- Gki - pa ri - cu rai ppaar - - Ir I raN tu maal- - - va- rai thOL *

Sahityam: ceNGkaN thirumukaththuc celvath thirumaal aal *

Meaning:

ceNGkaN thirumukaththuc celvath thirumaal aal *

red eyes beautiful face glorious God because of HIM

ceNGkaN - red eyes

thirumukaththuc – beautiful face

celvath - glorious

thirumaal aal * - God , because of Him

; ; ns | ndP ; P || P ; P | N M P ; || ; ; M | P- S ; sr || nN, D | N S S ; ||

ceN GkaN thi ru mu kath- thu - - cel - va - thi- ru- - - maal - aal *

; ; ns | ndP ; P || P ; P | pnnm P ; || ; ; M | P- S ; sr || nN, D | N S S ; ||

ceN GkaN thi ru mu kath- thu - - cel - va - thi- ru- - - maal aal *

nD, ns nsrSr | snN,Dp ; P || P ; P | pnnm P ; || ; mpns | rm- rS, ; sr || nN, D | N S S ; ||

ceN - - - GkaN - thi ru mu kath- thu - cel - -- va - thi- ru- - - maal aal *

nD ns nsr srmr | s-ndp ; P || P ; P | pnnm P ; || ; mpns | rpM- rS, ; sr || nN, D | N S S ; ||

ceN - - - - GkaN thi ru mu kath- thu - cel - -- va - thi- ru- - - maal aal *

Sahityam: eNGkum thiruvaruL peRRu inpuRuvar empaavaay

Meaning:

eNGkum thiruvaruL peRRu inpuRuvar empaavaay

anywhere grace (they) will get (and) will enjoy bliss . paavai nOmbu

eNGkum - anywhere

thiruvaruL - grace

peRRu - will get

inpuRuvar - will enjoy bliss

empaavaay - paavai nombu (o my girl!)

; ; N | N ; ; N || N ; nd | N S S rm || R S – ns | , n D P ; || M ; ; | mgpm mgR ||

eN Gkum thi ru - va- ruL- pe - - tRRu- in- puRu var em - paa- - vaay

; ; N | N ; ; N || N ; nd | N S S rm || R S – nrS | , n D P ; || M ; ; | mgpm mgR ||

eN Gkum thi ru - va- ruL- pe - - tRRu- in- puRu var em - paa- - vaay

; ; rmpn | ; N ; nd || pmgr ; r m | , p N S rm || R S – nrS | , n D P ; || Mpd P,dnd | pmM ; mgR ||

eN Gkum thi ru - va- ruL- pe - - tRRu- in- pu Ru var em - - - paa- - vaay