Pasurappadi Ramayanam
(Ramayanam according to Pasuram)
By Periyavachan Pillai
Translated by P.R.Ramachander*
(The outpourings in the Tamil poetic form of the ultimate devotion of the 12 Azhwars (Vaishnavite saints) is known as Pasuram. They all deal with various experiences of Azhwars on the Supreme Being Sriman Narayana who possesses infinite attributes.. Periyavachan pillai has composed a Ramayanam, using words from the different Pasurams. Except for a few words joining phrases, all the words in this treatise are from Pasurams. It is believed that reciting of this Ramayana gives the devotee, the effect of reading Ramayana in full as well as reading all Pasurams.
This work is written by one of the greatest Tamil scholars that Vaishnavism has ever produced. The author is the only one who has written the commentary on each and every verse of the 4000 verses of Nalayira Divya Prabhandam. Besides this he has also written commentary on the Gadya Thrayam of Ramanujacharya.)
BALA KANDAM
Thiru madanthai , man madanthai yiru paalum thigazha,
Nalamandha millathor naattil,
Andhamil perinbathu adiyarodu,
Ezhulagum thanikkol chella veetrirukkum,
Ayarvarum amarargal adhipadhiyaana,
Aniyaar pozzhil choozh aranga nagarappan,
Alai neerkadalul azhundum naavaai pol,
Aavaaraar thunai yendru thulangum,
Nall amarar thuyar theera,
Vallarakkar vaazh ilangai pazh padukka yeNNi,
MaNNulagatthor uyya,
Ayothi yennum aNi nagarathu,
Vengathiron kulathukkor vilakkaay,
Kausalai than kula madhalaiyaai,
Dayarathan than maganay thondri,
GuNam thigazh kondalaay,
Mandhiram kol marai munivan vElvi kakka nadanthu vanthu,
Thanai yedirtha thaadagai than uram keeNdu, Vallarakkar uyiruNdu kallai peNNakki,
Karrar thiN chilai iruthu,
Maithiliyai maNam puNarnthu,
Yirupathu oru kaal arasu kalai katta,
Mazhuvaali vevvari nar chilai vaangi vendri koNdu,
Avan thavathai mutrum chetru,
Am pon nedu maNi maada Ayothi yeythi,
Ari aNai mEl mannan aavaan nirka,
SECTION ON CHILDHOOD
With Goddess Lakshmi and mother earth on both sides,
In the land of people where virtues are endless
With people with endless great pleasure,
Ruling over the seven worlds in a strict manner,
And being the chief of Devas who never get tired,
And surrounded by crowds of people, The Lord of Sri Ranga,
Becoming similar to the boat helping one to cross the deep sea,
Providing great support to all,
For removing the sorrow of devas,
For subduing the
And for providing salvation to the people of earth,
In the very great city of
Rama was born as the son of Kausalya ,
And the son of the king Dasaratha,
And scion of the clan of the Sun god,
With all great qualities in him,
And he walked with the great sage to protect his Yaga,
Killed the ogress Thadaga who came and opposed him,
And also took the life of many Rakshasas who attacked him,
And made a stone in to a damsel,
And broke the bow given by Lord Shiva,
Then married princess Mythili,
Took the bow of Parasurama , who killed twenty one generation of kings,
And also took off the effect of all austerities done by him,
And reached the town of
AYODHYA KANDAM
Kongaival Kooni chor konda,
Kodiya Kaikeyi varam venda,
Akkadiya chorkkettu ,
Malakkiya maa manaththananaay mannavanum maraathozhiya,
“Kula kumaraa, Kaduraiya po”, yendru vidai koduppa,
Irunilathai vendaathu, eendreduttha thayaraiyum irachiyamum aangozhindu,
Maivaaya kalir ozhindu maavaozhindu therozhindu, Kalan aniyaathe kaamar yezhil vizhal uduthu,
Angangal azhagu maari,
Maanamarum mennokki vaidevi in thunayaa,
Yilangovum vaalum villum kondu pin chellak,
Kalaiyum kariyum parimaavum ,
Thiriyum kaanam kadanthu poy,
Bhakthiyudai Guhan kadatha Gangai thannai kadanthu,
Vanam poy pukku kaayodu needu kaniyundu,
Viyam kaana maratthin neezhal,
Kallanai mel kan thuyindru,
Chithira koodathiruppa, dayarathan taan,
“nin magan mel pazhivilaithittu,
Yennaiyum neel vaanil pokka,
Yen pettraay Kaikesi,
Naanum vaanagame miga virumbhi pogindren,”
Yendru vaanera,
Thenamarum pozhil chaaral chithira koodathu.
aanai puravi therodu kaalaal,
Ani konda senai Sumandhiran,
Vasittarudan Bharatha Nambi paniyath,
Thambikku maravadiyai vaan panayam vaithu,
KuvalayathThunga kariyum pariyum, rachiyamum,
Yengum bhratharkku aruli vidai koduthu,
seruvudaya disai karumam thiruttha poi,
Dandakaaranyam pugundu,
SECTION ON AYODHYA
When it was decided that he (Rama) would become a king,
Hearing the servant maid Kooni’s words,
Kaikeyi asked for very cruel boons,
And hearing those harsh words,
With a very depressed and confused mind the king (Dasaratha) said,
“Oh son of the clan, you go and live in the forest”,
And bid him farewell,
And not desiring for the land,
Leaving the mother who gave him birth, and leaving the country,
Leaving elephants, horses and chariots,
Not wearing ornaments and wearing the hides of trees,
With his body parts loosing their beauty,
With the company of very tender hearted Vaidehi,
Followed by the young prince (Lakshmana) armed with sword and bow,
Crossing the forest populated by,
Deer, elephants and tigers,
Crossing the
Entering the forest and eating ripe and raw fruits found there, sleeping on stone benches in the shades of trees,
And when he was living in Chitra koota,
Dasaradha told, “What did you get Kaikesi,
By putting blame on your son,
And I am going to the heaven happily”
And ascended to the heaven,
And then Bharatha along with,
Sage Vasishta, Sumanthra,
Followed by elephants, horses, foot soldiers,
Reached Chitra koota and saluted Lord Rama,
Rama gave his brother Bharatha his wooden sandals,
And requested him to rule over the country,
Along with elephants, horses and army and bid him farewell,
And entered the forest of Dandakaranya (Punishing forest),
For doing the duty that he was born to do.
ARANYA KANDAM
Marai munivarkku,
“Anjenmin!” yendru arul koduthu,
Vengan viral viraadhanuga virkunithu,
Vandamizh mamuni kodutha vari vil vaangi,
Pularthezhunda kaamathaal sethaikku neraavan yenra,
Ponniram konda
Sudu sinatha soorpanaki,
Kodi mookkum kaadirandum,
Kooraarndha vaalal eeraa viduthu,
Karanodu thudanan thann uyirai vanga,
Aval kadari thalayil angai vaithu,
Malai ilangayodi puga,
Kodumayil kadu visai arakkan,
Alai mali ver kannaalai agalvippaan,
Oru uruvaaya maanai amaithu,
Chengal podi koorai chitreyitru,
Mutral moongil moonruthandatthanaai vanjithu,
Yilaikkurambil thani yiruppil,
Kanivay thiruvinai pirithu,
Neel kadal choozh ilangayil,
Arakkar kudikku nanjaaga kodu poy,
Vambulan gadigaavil chirayay vaikka,
Ayothiyar kon maaya maan maayachetru,
Alai maliver kannalai agandru thalarveydhi,
Jadayuvai vaikundathetri,
Kangulum pagalam kan thuyil indri,
Kanagam padi ulaavi,
Kanaiy ondrinal kavandanai madithu, Savari thandha kani yuvandhu,
SECTION ON FOREST
After assuring the Vedic sages, “do not fear”,
And killing Kabanda who had glowing eyes by arrows
And receiving the blessed bow from the great Tamil saint (Agasthya),
And cutting off with a sharp sword,
The thin nose and the two ears,
Of the very angry Soorpanaga,
Who due to her great passion, claimed that she is equal to Sita,
And after taking the life of Kara and Dhooshana,
she keeping her hand on her head ,
Ran to the mountainous
And there the cruel Rakshasa without pity,
Decided that he would take away Sita Devi,
And created a magical deer,
Made her cross the line made of brick powder,
And deceiving her like the grown up Bamboo splitting in to three,
And when she was alone in the hut made of leaf,
Kidnapped the Goddess Lakshmi from there,
Took her to
Not realizing that she is really a poison to the Rakshasas,
And kept her imprisoned in the garden there,
Meanwhile, the king of Ayodhya seeing that magical deer has disappeared,
And becoming extremely sorry to realize that Sita has been abducted,
And after sending Jatayu to Vaikunta by doing his funeral rites,
Without sleeping either in the day or night,
Wandering all over the forest again and again,
And killing Kabanda by just one arrow,
And eating the fruit given by Sabari,
KISHKINTA KANDAM
Vana maruvu kavi arasan thannodu kaadal kondu,
Mara maram ezh eithu
Uruthezhu vaali maarbil ,
Oru kanai uruvavoti,
Karuthudai thambikku,
Inba kadir mudi arasalithu,
Vanara kon udan yirundu vaideki thanai theda,
Vidutha disai karumam thiruthu,
Thiral vilangu maaruthiyum
Maayon dhoothuraithal cheppa,
After making friendship with the monkey king (Sugreeva) hiding in the forest, After piercing the seven Mara mara trees,
After sending an arrow deep inside,
The chest of the of the strong Vali,
After giving the kingship to the younger brother,
And after reminding the need for search of Sita,
To the king of monkeys and correcting him,
And sending the very able Hanuman,
As an emissary to search her,
SUNDARA KANDAM
Seeraarum thiral anuman maakkadalai kadanderi,
Mummadil neel ilangai pukku gadikaavil,
Vaaraaru mulai madaaval Vaidevi thanai kandu,
innadiyen vinnappam kettu arulaay,
“Ayothi thannil orida vagayil,
Yelliyam podhini thiruthal,
Malligai maamaalai kondangaarthathum,
Kalakkiya maamanathanaalaai kaikesi varam venda,
Malakkiya ma manathinanaay Mannavanum maraathozhiya,
“Kula kumaraa, kadu uraaya po”, yendru vidai koduppa,
Ilakkumanan thannodu angu egiyathum,
Gangai thannil
Kooraninda vel valavan guhanodu,
Cheeraninda thozhamai kondathuvum,
Chithira kooda thiruppa, baratha nambi paninthathuvum,
Chiru kakkai mulai theenda moovulagum thirinthodi,
“Vithagane, Raamaavo, ninnabhayam” yenna,
Athirame athan kannai aruthathuvum,
Ponnotha maan ondru pugundithu vilayada.
Ninnan pin vazhi nindruchilai pidithembiran yega,
Pinneyangu ilakkumanan pirindhathuvum,
Ayothiyar kon uraaithadayalaam,
Yeedhavan kai modhirame, “ yendru,
Adayalam therindu uraikka,
Malar kuzhalal seethayum,
Villiruthaan modhiram kandu,
“Anumaan adayalam okkum”, yendru,
Uchimel vaithuthugakka,
Thiral vilangu maruthiyum,
Ilangaikon maakkadikavaai yiruthu,
Kadal makkalum chuthamum kondru,
Kadi ilangai malanga yerithu,
Arakkara kon chinamazhithu meendu, anbinal,
Ayothiyar kon thalir purayum adiyinai paniya,
PRETTY SECTION
The great and efficient Hanuman crossed the great sea,
And went to the garden within three walls of
Saw Vaidehi the pretty damsel with great bosom,
And told her to hear what he has to say,
“In one place in the city of Ayodhya one day,
The very disturbed Kaikeyi who was decorated by jasmine garland,
Asked for a boon and the king who became very sad and told,
“Oh son of the clan, go to the forest” and bid him farewell,
And he along with Lakshmana went there,
Became great friends with the very valorous Guha,
And he sent back Bharatha who came to Chitra koota to salute him,
And at that time a crow touched your bosom and ran all over the three worlds,
And shouted, “Oh great one, Oh Rama, I seek your protection”,
And he pierced one of its eyes with that arrow,
And later a golden deer came to that area and played there,
And as per your dear request Rama went chasing him,
And later Lord Lakshmana also parted from you,
And this finger- ring is the identification given by king Rama,”
And then gave her the ring of identification,
And Sita who decorates her hair with flowers,
Seeing the ring of the one who broke the bow said,
“Hanuman this identification is right”
And kept it on her head and cried,
And the very efficient Hanuman,
Destroyed the garden of the king of the Lanka,
Killed his sons and other relations,
And burnt the entire
Destroyed the anger of the king of Rakshasas,
And later fell at the tender feet of the king of Ayodhya.
YUDHA KANDAM
Kana yengum kurangum musuvum,
Padaya kodiyon ilangai pugal utru,
Alayaar kadar karai veethrirundu,
Chelva vibheedanarkku nallaanaai,
Viri neer ilangai aruli,
Charan pukka kurai kadalai adalambaal maruga yeydhu,
Kollai vilangu pani cheyya,
Malayaalanai katti maru karai yeri,
Ilangai podi podiyaaga,
Chilai mali chencharangal chelauyuthu,
Kumbhanodu nikumbanum pada,
Indira chithu azhiya kumba karnan pada, Arakkar aavi maala Arakkar,
Koothar pola kuzha mani dhooramada,
Ilangai mannan mudiyorupathum,
Tholirupathum poy udhira,
Chilai valaithu chara mazhai pozhindu,
Karam thunindu vetri konda cherukkalathu,
Kadi kkamala nan muganum kan moondrathaanum,
Enmar, pathinoruvar, yeeraruvar, oriruvar,
Matrumulla vaanavar malar mazhai pozhindu,
Mani mudi pani thara adiyinai vananga,
Kola thiru maa magalodu,
Chelva veedanan vanara konudan,
Ilagu mani nedum ther yeri,
Cheeranintha guhanodu koodi.
Anganedu madir pudai choozh ayothi yeythi,
Nanneraadi,
Pongilavaadai arayil charthi,
Thiru cheyya mudiyum aarmum kuzhayum,
Mudhala medhagu pala kalan aninthu,
Chootu nan malaigalanindhu,
Barathanum thambi sathurukkananum,
Ilakkumananum iravum nan pagalum aat cheyya,
Vadivini illa sangu thangu mun kai nangai,
Malar kuzhalal seethayum thanum,
Koppudaya seeriya singaasanathil irundu ezhulagam,
Thani kkol chella vaazhvithu arulinar.
SECTION ON WARFRONT
The forest bears and monkeys reached as an army,
To the
And sat on the shores of the sea,
And the good Vibheeshana was promised the kingship of Lanka,
And the sea did not bother to help them,
And the arrow meant to punish the sea killed the fighting animals,
And by the dam that was built till the other shore by use of mountain like stones,
They reached the other shore and pulverized Sri Lanka,
By sending very sharp and powerful arrows,
Killed Kumbha and Nikumbha,
Killed Indrajit and Kumbhakarna,
Killed all rakshasas,
Who danced like mad with sorrow,
And then the ten heads of Ravana,
The twenty shoulders of Ravana fell,
By the rain of arrows from the bent bow,
And in the very victorious battle field, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva,
The Ashta dik balakas, Ekadasa rudhras,
Dwadasa Adithyas, and others,
Caused rain of flowers,
Saluted him with bent heads,
And along with the great lady,
With dear Vibheeshana, with king of monkeys,
And with Lakshmana got in to the great chariot,
Along with the very good Guha,
Reached the walled city of
Took ceremonial bath,
Wore all ornaments in the waist,
Wore the crown, garland and ear globes,
Wore proper dresses,
Wore several flower garlands,
And was guarded day and night by,
Bharatha, Shatrugna and Lakshmana,
And along with the extremely pretty Sita,
Who decorated her hair with flowers,
Sat in the great throne decorated with lion heads,
And ruled all the seven worlds.
Periyavachan thiruvadigale Saranam
I surrender to the feet of Periya Vachan Pillai
*My heart felt gratitude to Mrs.Subashini, a young house wife in USA, who painstakingly checked and corrected (almost rewritten) my transliteration and suggested many an error in my translation. Without her contribution, this indeed would have been a poor effort. May Sriman Narayana bless her. My grateful thanks are also due to Sri K.Sridharan, a great scholar and author of many books, who went through the draft of the book and suggested many valuable changes.
May Lord Rama bless Sri.K.Sridharan