(munaiyatuvAr nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am a servitor of Munaiatuvaan 
        The wielder of a sharp spear." 
                 
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai. 
 
1.     In the Cauvery realm of the Cholas who conquering 
    Enmity fostered the world, is opulent Needoor; 
    There the honey pouring from the budding blooms 
    In the fragrant gardens courses its way 
    To the flooding river, and irrigates miry 
    And fragrant fields tilled by the farmers.            (4089) 
 
2.     He was the head of the Velaala clan of resplendent 
    Munificence; with intense love for the ankleted feet 
    Of the blue-throated and triple-eyed Lord, 
    He established himself with all his heart 
    In the Lord’s servitorship; he vanquished 
    The unfriendly ones in war and the wealth 
    He derived thus, he, the servitor true, gave 
    Freely and dutifully to the Lord’s devotees.            (4090) 
 
3.     When princes and chiefs vanquished by foes 
    Sought his help and promised to pay him lavishy, 
    He would weigh their offer impartially 
    And accept it, if proper; then he would accept 
    The payment, and so fight the battle 
    That even Death, fear-stricken, would sulk away; 
    Thus he would win the battle; with the gold 
    Received by him as payment for his glorious victory 
    He flourished well.                        (4091) 
 
4.     All the wealth that he thus came by, he gave away 
    Lavishly to the servitors of the Lord in unison 
    With their articulated needs; he treated them 
    To flawless feasts of nectarean food, dishes 
    Of curry with fragrant ghee, sugar, milk, fruits 
    And the like; thus he flourished, poised 
    Unswervingly in the loving way of servitorship.            (4092) 
 

                                                   
 
 
5.     He continued in this servitorship for many many days 
    Making the way of the traditional servitorship to glow 
    In splendour; by his righteous way of living, he who  
    Was known as Munaiyatuvaar, by reason of his vocation 
    As a warrior-hero, came to abide at Siva loka of Uma’s 
    Consort, for ever linked with the beatitude of bliss.        (4093) 
 
6.     Whoever they be, he could vanquish them in battle; 
    Adoring the fragrant lotus-feet of such Munaiyatuvaar 
    Who gave away in joy his wealth to the Lord’s devotees, 
    We proceed to narrate the servitorship of Kazhal Singkar 
    Who wielded a righteous sceptre and fostered the world 
    In such a way that the Saivite way of the Lord of gods 
    Shone in splendour.                        (4094) 
 
7.    In mercy, full and perfect, he stood robbed 
    By the bowmen on the way to Tirumurukanpoondi 
    Girt with melliferous gardens; we are sure, 
    He will pluck out, root and all, our hoary karma; 
    We are blessed with a divine aim that will establish us 
    Firmly in servitorship; so we thrive, lacking nothing.        (4095) 
 
---------------- 
 
NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
 
   3.    This Naayanaar was a mercenary.  However he was poised in impartiality.  He would  
    help the prince whose cause was just. 
 
   5.    Munaiyatuvaar: Munai means front / war - front and Atuvaar means fighter. 
 
   6.    he could. . . battle: This is proof positive of the dictum which says: “Aram vellum;  
    paavam thorkum” (Dharma will triumph and sin will be vanquished. 
 
 
            Here ends the Puranam of Munaiyatuvaar Naayanaar 

Sincere thanks to Sri. T N Ramachandran of thanjavur, for permitting his English rendering of the holy text periyapurANam be published here.

See Also: 
1. munaiyaduvAr nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. முனையடுவார் நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais