based on the vyakhyanam of Sri Periyavaccan Pillai
by Smt Sumithra Varadarajan

Paasuram-5
penderAl sugangal uippan pEriyathOr edumbaipoondu
vundu erAkidakkum pOdu vudalukkE karaindu naindhu
than thuzhAi mAlai mArban tamarkalAi pAdiAdi
thondu poondu amudhamunnA tozhumbar sOru vugakkumAre

penderAl sugangal uippan pEriyathOr edumbaipoondu: Now alwar talks about a lokayathan who is more involved in kamam. People think that life is only for enjoying the lowkika pleasures. They don't mind being in debt. Even when they are burdened with loans and debts they want to live a lavish life. They never turn towards bhagavan or bhagavat vishayam. They live a selfish life not even caring for their own friends and relatives. For their self joy they even sacrifice their parents and close relatives. They are not grateful and never care for papam or punyam. These people are called lokAyathargal. Alwar says those who enjoy the pleasure with women get themselves into great danger but they never realise it and think it to be the greatest bliss.

vundu erAkidakkum pOdu vudalukkE karaindu naindhu: The next thing those people are concerned is about their physical appearance and strength. They eat fully and various items to build their body. But still they are not satisfied they assume themselves to have lost weight and always worry about their body. Whenever anyone asks them, how they are doing they have something to complain about and never satisfied with what they have. Either they worry about reducing their weight or increasing it. Then they spend time in beautifying their various features to attract others. They always worry about the body and never think that this body is temporary and there is a soul which is permanent and if we tell them there is going to be one day when we all will die they are in no position to listen to us. In the case of bhAgavatAls they don't hesitate to do kainkaryam to bhagavan even at the age of 90. They never worry about their body on the contrary these lokayatha people even at the age of 30 they feel they are very old and have to be extra cautious about their body's welfare. That is why alwar says 'vudalukkE karaindhu naindhu'.

than thuzhAi mAlai mArban tamarkalAi pAdiAdi: In the first two lines alwar spotted how a person should not be, thereby condeming the lOkayatha matham. Now he proceeds to say how a Srivaishnavan should be. He now establishes our philosophy. He says we have to become the servants of the emperuman who is adorned with a thulasi garland in his chest. Considering ourselves belonging to the lord what should be do? We have to sing the praise of the lord and dance with joy.

thondu poondu amudhamunnA tozhumbar sOru vugakkumAre: when we sing and dance the praise of the lord and become his dasas we enjoy the sweetness of bhakthi. Instead, alwar feels sorry for those who enjoy their food roming about lazily without having bhagavat/bhagavata anubhavams. Any food becomes amudam if it is bhagavat prasAdam and any food eaten without bhagavat ArAdanam is equal to poison. For bhAgavatas kainkaryam is like a bhooshanam(jewellery). Sri PVP explains this as follows: "namperumAlukku sEra sundara pAndiyan tampiran padaikkam pOlE" Namperumal wears a padhakkam(one sort of jewel, something like a dollar) which he never removes whether he is in AstAnam(inside the temple/sannadhi) or if he is out on a purappadu, he always wears it. Similarly a bhagavatan's jewel is thondu or kainkaryam. If we take food which is not offered to bhagavan we become a mahA pApi. Atleast we should utter the bhagavan nAma 'govinda' before eating. It is common to see bhagavatas asking 'emperuman nalla amudhu seidhirukkara". This is the mode used to ask if the prasadam was good. They never taste it themselves instead look for the face expression of the bhagavan. This is the characteristics of a bhAgavatan.