வளர்பிறைபோலவெயிறுமுரோம,
முஞ்சடையுஞ் சிறுகுஞ்யும்விஞ்ச,
மனதுமிருண்டவடிவுமிலங்க,
மாமலைபோல் யமதூதர்கள்வந்து.
And lo, behold,
the Messenger of Death,
like a huge mountain,
shining and black shape,
all hairy, terrible,
teeth like the crescent moon(19)-
வலைகொடுவீசியுயிர்கொடுபோக,
மைந்தரும்வந்துகுனிந்தழநொந்து
மடியில்விழுந்துமனைவிபுலம்ப,
மாழ்கினரெயிவர்காலமறிந்து.
He throws his net
and takes the life
and goes.
the others come with bowed heads,
and weep,
the wife falls in his lap and weeps,(20)
பஞ்சுபறந்திடநின்றவர்பந்த
ரிடுமெனவந்துபறையிடமுந்த,
வேபிணம்வேகவிசாரியுமென்று.
The neighbors stand around and speak:
‘Well, he was very old.’
and then they, too, disperse
like cotton in the wind;
And a few stay,
propose to build a shed.(21)
பலரையுமேவிமுதியவர்தாமி,
ருந்தசவங்கழுவுஞ்சிலரென்று
பணிதுகில்தொங்கல்களபபணிந்து,
பாவகமேசெய்துநாறுமுடம்பை.
Then comes the Paraiyar
bringing his drum.
They wash the corpse,
dress it and anoint,
and decorate with sandal and with wreaths.(22)
வரிசைகெடாமலெடுமெனவோடி,
வந்திளமைந்தர்குனிந்துசுமந்து
கடுகிநடந்துசுடலையடைந்து,
மாநுடவாழ்வெனவாழ்வெனநொந்து.
The youngsters come and bend and take the corpse.
and they walk swiftly till they reach
what is this human life?(23)
விறகிடைமூடியழல்கொடுபோட,
வெந்துவிழுந்துமுறிந்துநிணங்க
ளுருகியெலும்புகருகியடங்கி,
யோர்பிடிநீறுமிலாதவுடம்பை,
நம்புமடியேனையினியாளுமே.
They place the body on the pyre
and cover it with fuel, bathed in oil,
and then kindle the fire.
It burns and the fat melts,
and the limbs fall apart;
The bones, cracking and scorched,
sink down, deep down
and now the body
that was man
is hardly a handful
of ash.
Be gracious to me,
who am your slave,
o Lord, to me who trusted
this body of mine! (24)
Poet: Patinathar
Translated by Kamil Zvelebil
part 1: Birth
Part 2: Youth
Part 3: Old age
————————————————————————————–
Other Patinathar poems in my blog:
- Lines of a misogynist – Pattinathar Poem
- How many father,mother,wife,children I had – Pattinathar poem
- Save me from the Lust for women -Patinathar poem
- Patinathar Poem
Please post your comments.
Link to my orkut community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=49797549
கற்க... நிற்க ... 
One thing to be noted from “Pattinathar” songs is that, he seem to advise only men ( May be I am wrong if he had written songs for women to stay away from such pleasures ).
Did he consider only men to do sin or dwelling a life dedicated to bodily pleasures ?
And in almost all the songs it seems to be accusing women as they pull men towards them with their false body attractions.
Is there anything that “Pattinathar” has written to Women telling pleasure from (men) body is mortal or something like
that ?
please clarify.
One of the most important things you should understand here is…Patinathar wasnt the common poet you would immagine..
He was a beggar and all these sings were uttered by him while he was beggar…
Though he choose begging not because of poverty but for reasons u can understand form his poem, a person who has hated all worldly things….
He wonders why his heart all ways thing of worldly things and he wants the lord to make him think only of the lord…
He is not person trying to give advise to others rather he was ruing his mistakes….
He is NOT advising any one here…. it more of personal tone being reflected here….
That is a good clarification.
Thank you !
Hi Vairam,
Try posting songs from “Abhirami Andhadhi”, a classical Tamil work on goddess “Abhirami” of Thirukkadaiyur.
The use of the poetic structure “Andhadi” by “Abhirmai bhattar” is exquisite. The way he prays to mother Abhirami to help him relieve from the worldly routines is a feast of nectar in Tamil.
Also, Dr.Sirkazhi Govindarajan has sung with his majestic tone,syllable by syllable pronounciation of the text, which will help you to relish the grandeur of the work done my Abhirami Bhattar.
Regards,
Thiru.