Tiruppavai pasuram 30

 Tiruppāvai – Pāsuram 30

(The Completion of the Pāvai Nōṉbu – Grace Speaks)

Preamble (context from Pāsurams 29 → 30)

With Pāsuram 29, the voice of seeking comes to rest.

The sakhīs have said everything that can be said from their  side: service at dawn, exclusive belonging, surrender across births, and the prayer that no other desire should ever arise. Nothing more remains to be offered.

Pāsuram 30 does not continue the plea. It answers it.

Here, Āṇḍāḷ steps out of the circle of the sakhīs and speaks with assurance. The tone shifts from surrender to benediction, from human vow to divine guarantee. Tradition recognizes this moment as Āṇḍāḷ assuming her rightful place as Bhūdevi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, from where alone such certainty can be spoken.

Tamil Text 

வங்கக் கடல் கடைந்த மாதவனை கேசவனை

திங்கள் திருமுகத்துச் சேயிழையார் சென்றிறைஞ்சி

அங்கப் பறை கொண்ட ஆற்றை அணிபுதுவைப்

பைங்கமலத் தண்தெரியல் பட்டர்பிரான் கோதை சொன்ன

சங்கத் தமிழ் மாலை முப்பதும் தப்பாமே

இங்கு இப்பரிசுரைப்பார் ஈரிரண்டு மால்வரை தோள்

செங்கண் திருமுகத்துச் செல்வத்திற் திருமாலால்

எங்கும் திருவருள் பெற்று இன்புறுவர் எம்பாவாய்

Transliteration

Vaṅgak kaḍal kaḍainda Mādhavanai Kēsavanai

Tiṅgaḷ tirumukattuc cēyizhaiyār senṟiṟaiñci

Aṅgap paṟai koṇḍa āṟṟai aṇipuduvai

Paiṅkamalat taṇteriyal paṭṭar pirān Kōthai sonna

Saṅgat tamizh mālai muppadum tappāmē

Iṅgu ipparisuraippār īrirandu mālvarai tōḷ

Ceṅkaṇ tirumukattuc celvattiṟ Tirumālāl

Eṅgum tiruvaruḷ peṟṟu inbuṟuvar empāvāy

English Translation

He who churned the surging ocean — Mādhava, Kēsava —

was worshipped by the maidens with moon-like faces and flowing tresses.

The manner in which they received the pārai

was sung by Kōthai, daughter of the revered Bhattar(Periazhwar).

cool like a lotus pond, in this garland of thirty Tamil verses.

Those who recite these verses here in this manner, without fail,

by the grace of Tirumāl of red eyes and radiant countenance,

will receive divine grace everywhere and live in abiding joy.

Line-by-Line Explanation

Line 1

Vaṅgak kaḍal kaḍainda Mādhavanai Kēsavanai

Āṇḍāḷ begins by invoking Krishna not as the cowherd child, but as the cosmic Lord who churned the ocean. Mādhava and Kēsava signify the Lord of Lakshmi and the slayer of Kēsi — cosmic sovereignty and intimate protection held together.

Line 2

Tiṅgaḷ tirumukattuc cēyizhaiyār senṟiṟaiñci

The sakhīs are recalled with tenderness — moon-faced, delicately adorned — approaching Him in humility. Their beauty is not ornamental; it is the natural radiance of surrendered souls.

Line 3

Aṅgap paṟai koṇḍa āṟṟai aṇipuduvai

The pārai is now spoken of as an accomplished event, not a request. The vow has borne fruit; recognition has been granted.

Line 4

Paiṅkamalat taṇteriyal paṭṭar pirān Kōthai sonna

Āṇḍāḷ now names herself — Kōthai, daughter of Bhattar(Periazhwar) . This is not self-assertion but certification. The voice has authority because the experience is complete.

Line 5

Saṅgat tamizh mālai muppadum tappāmē

The Tiruppāvai is declared as a flawless garland of thirty Tamil verses. The path is whole; nothing is missing.

Line 6

Iṅgu ipparisuraippār īrirandu mālvarai tōḷ

Those who recite these verses properly, here and now, are drawn into the Lord’s embrace — strong, sheltering, and irrevocable.

Line 7

Ceṅkaṇ tirumukattuc celvattiṟ Tirumālāl

Grace flows from Tirumāl Himself — red-eyed, radiant, complete. This is not earned merit but divine initiative.

Line 8

Eṅgum tiruvaruḷ peṟṟu inbuṟuvar empāvāy

Here is the final benediction: wherever they are, they will receive sacred grace and live in joy. No boundaries remain — of place, time, or condition.

When Surrender Falls Silent and Grace Speaks

Pāsuram 30 stands alone in Tiruppāvai.

It is not a continuation of devotion but its divine reply.

Up to Pāsuram 29, Āṇḍāḷ speaks only as one among the sakhīs — pleading, promising, surrendering. In Pāsuram 30, she speaks from beyond the circle, not as a seeker, but as one who can guarantee the fruit of surrender. This is why tradition sees her here as Bhūdevi, consort of Lord Vishnu.

Only Bhūdevi can speak of assurance.

A devotee can surrender; only the Divine can promise grace.

The most radical word in this pāsuram is “eṅgum” — wherever. Grace is no longer tied to Margazhi, to ritual, to temple space, or even to perfection. It follows the devotee into life itself.

This is why Tiruppāvai does not end with effort.

It ends with rest.

Closing Summary

Pāsuram 29 completes surrender.

Pāsuram 30 completes assurance.

Here, Āṇḍāḷ steps into her full stature and seals the journey — declaring that those who walk this path, who sing this garland as it was lived and offered, need ask for nothing more. Grace will find them, wherever they are, and joy will abide.

Nothing further needs to be proven.

Nothing further needs to be asked.

Āṇḍāḷ Tiruvaḍigaḷē Śaraṇam

We take refuge at the sacred feet of Āṇḍāḷ.