Ponthanam's Vasudeva Sthuthi (Tamil)

Vasudeva Sthuthi (Tamil)

By
Poonatham
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Poonthanam was possibly one of the greatest forerunners of Bhakthi cult in Kera
la and his greatest work was Jnana Pana, Loosely it can be translated as Pot of K
nowledge. But pana here is not pot but a style of folk poem. This is written in a c
ommon mans language and in a common mans verse. It preaches the greatness of repet
ition (singing) of the Holy Gods names. In between Poonthanam wrote about the wor
ld he saw and the world he wanted to see. Some people term it as the Bhagavad Gee
tha of Malayalam. I am sure most of you would be surprised to know that Poontha
nam has written four prayers in Tamil. The Tamil used by him is very archaic
and is mixed a lot with Malayalam and Sanskrit words. In this work, he is pra
ying to God Vasudeva of Vamapura, the temple of Guruvayurappan near his house.)
1.Krishna , Rama Narayana ,Vasudeva swami,
Padmanabha , DAmodara , Vasudeva,
Nishkala , niranjana SRiVasudeva Swami,
Pushkara Vilochana, Sri Vasudeva.
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

Krishna , Oh Rama Narayana , Oh God Vasudeva,

Padmanabha , oh Damodara , Oh Vasudeva,
God Vasudeva who is unified and pure ,
Lotus eyed one who is Vasudeva.

2.Dushkrutha vimochana , Sri Vasudeva swami,

Dhikrutha surari jana Vasudeva,
Bhaktha jana vathsala , Sri Vasudeva Swami,
Matha jana vismrutha , SriVasudeva
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God Vasudeva who frees us from bad deeds,

Vasudeva who mocked at enemies of Devas,
God Vasudeva , who is darling of his devotees,
Vasudeva who is forgotten by mad people.

3. Marthya janmam yeduthayo , thalanthene Swami,

Mathsya roopam tharithone , Vasudeva,
Nama roopangalai parthu magizhndhene swami,
Koorma roopam tharithone Vasudeva
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God I have become tired by taking this human form, alas,

Vasudeva who took the form of a fish,
God by seeing your forms and names, I was filed with joy,
Vasudeva , who took the form of a turtle,

4.SAgarathil naduvile marinthene swami,

Sookarmai udithone Swami,
Deha moham athinale izhanthene Swami,
Simha roopam tharithone , Vasudeva.
Oh God, I went in to the middle of the sea of life ,
Oh Vasudeva who took the form of a boar,
Oh God I lost the attachment to this body due to that,

Oh Vasudeva

who took the form of a lion.

5.Kamanyaal athma thattuvam maranthene Swami,

Vamananai piranthone Vasudeva ,
Marga bhedham theriyathe nadanthene Swami,
Bargavanai piranthone , Vasudeva.
Due to attachment , I forgot the principle of this soul, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who was born as Lord Vamana,
Oh God I walked without knowing the difference in paths,
Oh Vasudeva, who was born as Parasurama.
6.Laghavangal athil arinthene Swami,
Raghavanai piranthone, Vasudeva,
Kama rasa valayile chuzhanthene Swami,
Ramanai piranthone . Vasudeva.
I came to know about easy tricks then , oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who was born as Raghava ,
Oh God, I got entangled in the net of tasty passion,
Oh Vasudeva who was born as Rama.
7.Pathu dikkum aasayale paranthene Swami,
Budha Vesham tharithone, Vasudeva,
Dushkrithigal naduvile kalarnthene, Swami,
Kalki veshham tharithone , Vasudeva.
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God, due to desire I flew to all ten directions,,

Vasudeva who was born as Budha,
God I got mixed in doing bad acts,
Vasudeva , who was born as Kalki.

8.SAthirangal palavum naan ariyene Swami,

Serthu kol pathathode , Vasudeva,
Deivamum, naan athum ithum ariyene Swami,
Sarvavum neeye Jagannatha Vasudeva.
Oh God, I do not
Please attach me
Oh God, I do not
Oh Vasudeva., Oh

know many of the shastras,

with those words, Oh Vasudeva,
now about God and this and that,
Lord of Universe , You are everything.

9.Punya papa gathikalum ariyene Swami,

Ninnudaya krupayanye , Vasudeva,
Shudhya, shudhi vidhikalum ariyene Swami ,
Chitha shudhi nalkanam nee, Vasudeva.
Oh God, I do not know the way to sin and do blessed deeds,
Except your kindness to me, Oh Vasudeva,
Oh God I do not know the rules of cleanliness and purity,
Oh Vasudeva, you should give me purity of mind.
10.Bandham yethu, mokham yethu yendru ariyene Swami,
SAnthatrham nee krupa seyyu, Vasudeva,
Karanangal Kariyangal ariyene , Swami,
Karanane nee ozhinju Vasudeva.
Oh God I do not know what is attachment and what is salvation,
Oh Vasudeva , always show kindness to me,
Oh God, I do not know the causes nor their effects,

Except you who is the cause , Oh Vasudeva.

11.Brahmammennum Mayayennum ariyene Swami,
Kalmashangal ver pedukka,Vasudeva,
Dikkukalum disaikalum ariyene , Swami,
Dushkruthangal arukka , nee Vasudeva.
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God I do not know which is Brahmam and which is illusion,

Vasudeva, take out the bad from me
God , I do not know the places nor directions ,
Vasudeva, please cut off my bad acts.

12.Kala pasam , karmapasam mariyene Swami,

Kala megha lobhaneeya , Vasudeva,
THthwam yethu chithamethu ariyene Swami,
Thathwa bodham krupa cheyka , Vasudeva
I do not know about the rope of death nor the rope of attachment, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva, who makes the dark clouds ashamed,
I do not know the mind nor the philosophy oh God,
Oh Vasudeva , please make me understand the philosophy.
13.Swarnam yethu, kundala methu ariyene Swami,
Swarna moham ver peduga , Vasudeva,
Rajjuvethu , pannagam yethu ariyene Swami,
Arjunanodu arul cheytha Vasudeva.
Oh God I do not know which is gold and which is ear stud,
Oh Vasudeva, remove the attament to Gold from me,
Oh God I do not know which is the rope and which is the snake ,
Oh Vasudeva , who taught Arjuna.
14.Deha moham ozhichu nin krupayaale Swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam Vasudeva,
Aatamilla anakkavum illa athu poale Swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva.
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God due to your kindness I left off attachment to this body,

Vasudeva but I have a pride that I am you,
God, like that I do not have movement nor shaking,
Vasudeva, but I have a pride that I am you.

15.Kathalayaa vilakkile naalam poale Swami,

Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Bhakthi yogam , mukthi yogam athinale , Swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God, like the flame of

Vasudeva, but I have a
God because of Bhakthi
Vasudeva, but I have a

lamp not disturbed by wind,

pride that I am you.
yoga and Mukthi yoga,
pride that I am you.

16.Jnanam yennum jneyam yennum ariyathe , Swami,

Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Chutham illa aattmilla athu poathe swami
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Oh God know not knowing what I know and what I should know,
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that I am you.
At that time when ,There is no turning round and there is shake like that ,

Oh God
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that I am you.
17.Chaattamilla, vattamilla athu poale SwamiSoham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Nesamilla , vasiyilla athu poathe , SWami
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
There is no jumping and there is no going round and like that God,
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that I am you.
At that time when there is no love and there is no adamancy, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that I am you.
18.SArala chithanandamayathu pothe Swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Chithamilla , chithiyilla athu pothe swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Oh God when the mind becomes divinely
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that
When there is no will and there is no
Oh Vasudeva, but I have a pride that

happy,
I am you.
occult power, Oh God,
I am you.

19.SAthamilla sakthiyilla , athu pothe , Swami,

Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
THazhchayilla Veezhchayilla athu pothe Swami,
Soham yennoru ahambhavam , Vasudeva,
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh

God when there is no

Vasudeva, but I have
God when there is no
Vasudeva, but I have

sound and no power,

a pride that I am you.
downgrading or fall ,
a pride that I am you.

20.SAthukkalkku thiru ullam theliyenam, Swami,

Vamapuram vilangeedum Vasudeva,
Dushtathakku dushta budhi kalayenam Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
You should give your grace to good people oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura,
You should remove the bad mind of bad people , Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura,
21.THustiyode vethiyarum theliyenam Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
Ishti kondu deva lokam theliyenam Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
With contentment, the mind of Brahmins should become clear,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura,
With yagas the land of devas should become clear, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.
22.Vrushti kondu bhoomilokam theliyenam, Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
Nalu thorum thirumeni theliyenam, Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
With rainfall the earth should become clear, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.

As days go by, you should become more clear, Oh God,

Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.
23.Nalu thorum keerthanangal nadakkenam Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
Papikalkku papam odungenam Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
Daily there should be songs about you, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.
The sin of the sinners should get reduced , Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.
24.Namam thorum prathipathi urakyenam, Swami,
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
SArvavum nin krupayaale vara venam, Swami
Vama puram vilangeedum Vasudeva.
The faith in every gods name should become firm, Oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.
Everything should come due to your mercy oh God,
Oh Vasudeva who shines in Vama pura.