1. Original Tamil Verse
மெய்யான வடமொழியைப் பிரித்துப் பார்த்து
மேன்மைபெறப் பாடிவைத்தே னாயிரந்தான்
மையமென்ற சுழினை நந்திக் கறிவித்தேதான்
வகைதோணக் கிரந்தமதைத் தமிழால்தானும்
அய்யமின்றி ஆயிரமாய் முடித்தேனப்பா
ஆதியந்த நடுவான அரனே காப்பு
துய்யநிற மணியான புலஸ்தியாகேள்
துப்புரவாய் பூரண காவியங் காப்பாமே.
2. IAST Transliteration (ISO 15919)
meyyāṉa vaṭa-moḻiyai-p pirittup pārttu
mēṉmaipeṟap pāṭi-vaittēṉ āyirantāṉ
maiyameṉṟa cuḻiṉai nantik kaṟivittē-tāṉ
vakaitōṇa-k kirantamatait tamilāl-tāṉum
ayyamiṉṟi āyiramāy muṭittēṉ-appā
ādiyanta naṭuvāṉa araṇē kāppu
tuyya-niṟa maṇiyāṉa pulastiyā-kēḷ
tuppuravāy pūraṇa kāviyaṅ kāppāmē.
3. Word-by-Word Meaning with Etymology Table
| Tamil Word | IAST | Lexical Meaning | Etymology / Sanskrit Root | Siddha / Tantric Connotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| மெய்யான | meyyāṉa | True, real | mey = truth | Ultimate truth, sat |
| வடமொழி | vaṭa-moḻi | Northern language (Sanskrit) | vaṭa = north, moḻi = language | Sanskrit, the language of siddha-vidyā and mantra śāstra |
| பிரித்து | pirittu | Separated, analyzed | Tamil root: pirittal (to split) | Dissection of words, grammatical analysis |
| சுழி | cuḻi | Spiral, circle, vortex | Tamil: cuḻi = spiral | Cakra, especially ājñā or sahasrāra |
| நந்தி | nandi | Nandi (Śiva’s vāhana) | Sanskrit: Nandin = joyful | Guardian of mantra, first recipient of Śiva’s inner teachings |
| கிரந்தம் | kirantam | Grantha, scriptural text | Skt: grantha | Agama, mantra-śāstra, or Vedic texts |
| தமிழால் | tamilāl | Through Tamil | Tamil + āl (instrumental case) | Siddha’s way of vernacular transmission of śāstra |
| அரன் | araṇ | Śiva, the Supreme | Sanskrit: Hara | Paramaśiva, the one beyond dualities |
| புலஸ்தியன் | pulastiyan | Sage Pulastya | Sanskrit: Pulastya (a Prajāpati) | Embodiment of jñāna and poetic vision |
| துப்புரவு | tuppuravu | Clarity, evidence, transparency | Tamil root: tuppu = precise, uravu = flow | Enlightened commentary, experiential guidance |
| பூரண காவியம் | pūraṇa kāviyam | Poem of fullness | Skt: pūrṇa + kāvya | The Siddha’s song of total yogic realization |
4. Line-by-Line Literal Translation
1.
மெய்யான வடமொழியைப் பிரித்துப் பார்த்து
meyyāṉa vaṭa-moḻiyai-p pirittup pārttu
I analyzed and studied the true northern tongue (Sanskrit),
2.
மேன்மைபெறப் பாடிவைத்தே னாயிரந்தான்
mēṉmaipeṟap pāṭi-vaittēṉ āyirantāṉ
And composed it in verses to attain excellence—these thousand.
3.
மையமென்ற சுழினை நந்திக் கறிவித்தேதான்
maiyameṉṟa cuḻiṉai nantik kaṟivittē-tāṉ
The central spiral (cakra) called “maiyam” I revealed to Nandi.
4.
வகைதோணக் கிரந்தமதைத் தமிழால்தானும்
vakaitōṇa-k kirantamatait tamilāl-tāṉum
And rendered the inaccessible Grantha in Tamil by suitable mode.
5.
அய்யமின்றி ஆயிரமாய் முடித்தேனப்பா
ayyam-iṉṟi āyiramāy muṭittēṉ-appā
Without doubt, I completed the thousand (verses), O Father!
6.
ஆதியந்த நடுவான அரனே காப்பு
ādi-yanta naṭuvāṉa araṇē kāppu
May Śiva—who is beginning, end, and center—protect!
7.
துய்யநிற மணியான புலஸ்தியாகேள்
tuyya-niṟa maṇiyāṉa pulastiyā-kēḷ
O Pulastya, pure-hued gem of wisdom, listen!
8.
துப்புரவாய் பூரண காவியங் காப்பாமே.
tuppuravāy pūraṇa kāviyaṅ kāppāmē.
Let this Kāvyam of fullness protect, with clarity as its guide!
5. Metaphoric or Hidden Meaning (Paripāṣai / குறிக்கோள்)
This is a Siddha’s declaration of authorship, but encoded with profound mystical and epistemological layers:
- “Analyzing Sanskrit” = not mere grammar, but extracting mantra-śakti and tattva from the root-language.
- “Nandi” = stands for first transmission of inner truth, in a Guru-Śiṣya lineage from Śiva.
- “Central spiral (சுழி)” = refers to the suṣumnā-nāḍī or ājñā cakra, source of mystical vision.
- “Tamilizing the inaccessible grantha” = Siddha Agastya’s famous act of bringing Veda/Agama into Tamil poetic embodiment.
- Pulastya = not just historical sage but the poetic soul within every aspirant, being called to attention.
6. Philosophical, Yogic, or Alchemical Significance
| Concept | Verse Element / Mapping |
|---|---|
| Kuṇḍalinī | “Central spiral” and “tuppuravu” imply awakened inner current and pure channel |
| Nāḍī | Suṣumnā = “maiyam” or central axis taught to Nandi |
| Cakra | Implied activation of ājñā or sahasrāra for poetic divine transmission |
| Pañcakōśa | Tamil expression of Sanskrit truth = movement from jñānamaya to ānandamaya |
| Tapas | Writing and completing 1000 verses without doubt is spiritual tapas |
| Jñāna | Pulastya = jñāna-bhāskara; Grantha analysis = essence of jñāna-yoga |
| Siddhi | Transforming inaccessible grantha into accessible Tamil kāvya = language siddhi |
| Rasavāda | True tuppuravu = rasa of truth from poetic realization |
7. Literary Features and Poetic Devices
- Self-referentiality: The poet references his own tapas and act of divine composition.
- Dialogue: Ends in invocation to Pulastya—turning verse into living, eternal śiṣya-vāc.
- Number symbolism: “1000” = totality (like Tiruvāymoḻi, Tirumantiram); full cycle of jñāna.
- Chaste Tamil: Yet blends vādamozhi (Sanskrit) and Siddha-specific imagery.
- Use of “kāppu” repeatedly: Functions as mantric invocation, invoking divine safeguarding.
8. Overall Summary and Core Teaching of the Verse
This verse stands as Agastya’s proclamation: that the knowledge of Veda, Grantha, Cakra, and Yoga—once hidden in Sanskrit—has been analyzed, internalized, and re-offered to the world through the 1000 verses of fullness (Pūrṇa Kāvyam), in Tamil, for all beings. It affirms that clarity (tuppuravu), not obscurity, is the Siddha’s goal. And it invokes not only Śiva but also Pulastya—symbol of poetic wisdom—to protect and preserve this tradition.
The verse is a spiritual vow (mahat sankalpa) to preserve and transmit true knowledge, free of doubt, distortion, or concealment.
