tiruvAcagam or The Sacred Utterances of the Tamil Poet, Saint and ...

See, He extends throughout the wide extended earth !
See Him, more subtile than an atom small ! (45)
See Him, the King incomparably great !
See Him, the Precious One, rarest of all that's rare!
See, mingling with all beings, each one He cherishes !
See Him, the Subtile One, Whom science fails to see !
See Him, above, below, He spreads ! (50)
See the beginning and the ending He transcends !
See, the 'bond' and 'loosing' He ordains !
See, He is That that stands, and That that goes !
See, He discerns the aeon and its end !
See Him, the Lord Whom all may gain ! (55)
See, Civan Whom the gods know not !
See Him. the Male, the Female, and 'neither one'!
See, even I have seen Him with my eyes !
See, the ambrosial Fount, yielding abounding grace!
Lo, I have seen His mercy s might ! (60)
See, His roseate Foot this earth hath trod !
See Him, even I have known, the Blessed One !
See, in grace He made me His !
See, her His Spouse whose eyes are dark-blue lotus flowers !
See, Her and Him together stand ! (65)
The Sea and the Cloud
Lines 66-95 are well nigh untranslateable, for they contain a subtle and intricate allegory, by means of which the grace
of the manifested Civan, who is praised under the title of the 'Cloud' is set forth. The idea is that the Infinite sea of
rapturous supreme felicity is Civan, but - as the Cloud in the monsoon season sucks up water from the sea, and rises in
black masses that cover the sky, while all the phenomena of the wonderful outburst of the beneficient, but also fearful,
monsoon are exhibited - so does the Supreme manifest Himself as the Guru, the Object of Love, and Give of grace to
His worshippers. In the monsoon season, lightnings flash from one end of the sky to the other, crested torrents sweep
down over the hills, bearing with them uprooted plants and trees, and not unseldom huge snakes that have been
disturbed from their rocky mountain hiding places. The various kinds of 'Gloriosa' spread forth their beautiful flowers
like supplicating hands, while every valley and hollow is filled with water. Meanwhile, as the heat is most intense just
before the burst of the monsoon, the poet pictures a troop of thirsty antelopes, deluded by the mirage which seems to
offer them refreshing streams and shade: disappointed they are left to die of thirst in the wilderness. Meanwhile the
pain of the fierce heat has ceased. Down the gorges of the hill the torrent rushes, and is received into tanks prepared for
it by the expectant husbandmen. These lakes are fragrant with beautiful flowers, and on their banks the maidens have
kindled fires with aromatic woods, at which they dry their hair and garments after the refreshing bath. The cultivators
may now sow their seed and expect a rich harvest. All this is the work of the black clouds which drew water from the
sea to fertilise the earth. In these lines every particular of the description has its mystical meaning, which hardly needs
illustration. The student will compare VII, 61-64.
The ancient sea of bliss supreme is THAT indeed !
Appearing like a black vast CLOUD,
Arising in the hill of Petun-turrai blest,
Whilst sacred lightnings flash frorn every point -,
While serpent bright of sensual bondage dies -, (70)
While the sore sorrow of the fervent heat hides itsellf;
While the all-beauteous Hibiscus shines forth,
Swelling in its wrath like our mortal pain,
It sounds forth in mighty grace as a drum.