TIRUPPAVAI--29

TELUGU VYAKHYANAM

sitram siRu kaalae vandhu unnai saeviththu un- 
potraamarai adiyae pOtrum poruL kaeLaay 
petram maeyththu uNNum kulaththil piRandhu nee- 
kutraeval engaLaik koLLaamal pOgaadhu 
itraip paRai koLvaan anRu kaaN gOvindhaa 
etraikkum aezh aezh piRavikkum un thannOdu- 
utrOmae aavOm unakkae naam aatcheyvOm 
matrai nam kaamangaL maatraelOr embaavaay (29) 

This stanza clearly tells us of the highest Purushaartha
        (the end of human life),explaining the meaning of PARAI.
        Asking  for Parai is a pretext; as the cowherds proposed
        this "nonbu' for getting rain and as it came in handy for
        Gopis(Andal) to keep looking at the face of Lord Krishna
        for as long as they liked,they accepted it.Their real
        intention is to get KAINKARYA (eternal service)at the
        lotus-feet of the Lord.The word NARAYANANE used in the
        first stanza was explained in the previous verse;the
        word PARAI is explained here.
 
        Both "Means" and "End" are the same in Sri Vaishnava
        Sampradaaya;it is Sriman Narayana himself.If those who
        take Him as the "Means' have contact with other "Means"
        like Karmayoga etc,it is akin to pollution due to contact
        with a dead body(because Karma Yoga etc are by nature
        inert and need His Presence to give Result).And if they 
        consider their act of Surrender to the Lord
        (Prapatti) itself to be the "Means", it is like accretion
        of sin due to contact with a chandaala(because anything
        which has the taint of the ego pollutes the purity of
        the Prapanna).
 
        Similarly regarding the "End" also there are two mistakes
        which need to to be avoided: 1)Desiring other mundane
        things from Him,which would be like desiring to eat poisoned
        or contaminated food; and 2)serving the Lord for one's own
        enjoyment rather than exclusively for His pleasure(Swaartha
        Kainkarya),which would be like eating food left over from
        another eater (Uchchishtha Bhojana).
 
         Both these types of Purities (UPAAYA SUDDHI and UPEYA
         SUDDHI) need to be strictly ensured by a Prapanna.The
         previous verse (28) speaks of UPAAYA SUDDHI -"UNTANNAI..
         ..PUNNIYAM YAAM UDEYOM"- You ALONE are our Means.The
         present verse enjoins UPEYA SUDDHI - "UNAKKE NAAM AAT_
         SEYVOM" -We serve you for the sake of your happiness
         ALONE,and we derive happiness on seeing your enjoyment.
 
         Even the least trace of selfish enjoyment is to be
         totally erased in the service of God.It is just as in
         the case of sandal paste,cool breeze,flowers,ornaments
         etc which give pleasure to man,without themselves feeling
         any;the only difference being that man not being inert like
         them  feels happy looking at the pleasure of the Lord.
 
         Krishna ordered His servants to bring the huge kettle-
         drum (PARAI).Then Andal says,"O Wonder! you have not 
         understood us.We require only your everlasting,most
         enjoyable service.We wish to be always born alongwith you,
         and  keep company with you always to serve you.(Like
         Lakshmana who served Rama whether He was in Ayodhya
         or in the forest.).Kindly guard us from evincing
         interest in anything except you."
 
         Just as the body serves a man,the Soul,which is the
         body of the Lord (Yasya aatma sareeram),should serve
         Him.This is the natural law.This is the message of
         Andal in this crowning verse.