Even if he is a sinner, why won’t he seek the spiritual knowledge and get liberated?

Summary of the Song

In this song, Sri Avudai Akkal questions, why one does not seek and recognize the TRUTH, even if he is a sinner.  She puts forth questions in many different ways so that at least one argument may motivate the person to seek and recognize the TRUTH.

• Even if he is a sinner, why won’t he seek the spiritual knowledge and get liberated? 
• Does anyone stop or are there any obstacles in following the spiritual path?
• Is there any barrier to be THAT (Brahman) once he recognizes the True Self?
• Why won’t he get liberated by the thirst for liberation, absorption through devotion, supreme intellect and discrimination between eternal and temporal?
• Why won’t he realize before the body perishes; why won’t he scrutinize the three states; why won’t he denounce this imagined cause and effect?
• Won’t there be the eternal substratum when he enquires on who is this astonishing “I”?
• I do not know the type of (cause) why he didn’t realize the Truth.  Is it due to the failing to pray to Vedas praising Venkatesvara Lord (her Guru)? Is it a type of obstacle to be born as a sinner in this world? 
• Is this because of the curse of eminent ascetics? Is this the characteristic of illusion (maya)?  Is this the destiny of the helpless people?
• Being the indivisible, complete wholeness, the source behind the sound and light, the wisdom, the cause of world, (why won't he be) the valiant one that enquires about it?

ஒரு பாபியாகிலும் பரமார்த்தந்தன்னைப் பாரானோ

oru paabiyaagilum parmaarthna thannnai paaraano

Even if he is a sinner, why won’t he seek the spiritual knowledge?

முக்தி சேரானோ

mukthi saerano

Why won’t he get liberated?

தேவநரதியர்யகாதிகளுக்குளிந்த தேகத்தில் வேறாகி ஜனித்தவர்களுக்குள்ளே

deva nara thiryagaathi galukkul intha degaththil vaeraagi

Among the celestial and human beings, (Why won’t he see the truth) within those who have born (again) by dis-identifying from this body

பக்தி வைராக்கிய பாதையிலே என்ன பாராக்காரருண்டோ

bakthi vairaakkiya paathaiyilae enna paaraak kaarar undoa

Is there any security guard who stops him while pursuing the path of devotion and dispassion?

முக்தி மார்க்கத்தில் நடக்கிற பேர்களுக்கு முள்ளுகள் போட்டதுண்டோ

mukthi maarkkaththil nadakkira paergalukku mullugal poattadhu undo

Do they put thorns on the path of seekers, who are on the course of pursuing liberation?

சித்த ஜடங்களை சிந்திக்கும் பேர்களுக்கு சிரசிலே கொம்புமுண்டோ

siththa jadangalai sinthikkum paergalukku sirasilae kombum undo  

Is there a horn on the head for those who discriminate between supreme intelligence and the matter? 

தத்வ ஞானத்தால்தன்னை யறிந்தபின் தானவனாக தடையும்முண்டோ

thathva gaanaththal thannai yarintha pin thaan avanaaga thadaiyum undo

Is there any barrier to be THAT (Brahman) once he recognizes the Self by the knowledge of the reality? 

பக்தி என்னும் பரிபாகதினால், ஜீவன் முக்தி வேணும் என்ற தாகத்தினால்

bakthi ennum paribaagathinaal, jeevan mukthi vaenum endra  

(Why won’t he get liberated) by the thirst for liberation and the maturity of the soul for absorption through devotion?

யுக்திகளா மொரு வேகத்தினால் நித்தியாநித்திய விவேகத்தினால்

yukthigala moru vaegaththinaal niththiyaa aniththiya vivaegaththinaal

(Why won’t he get liberated) rapidly through supreme intellect and by the discrimination between the eternal and temporal?

அல்பமாகு முடலழிந்து போகு முன்னே யறிந்தா லாகாதோ

alpamaagum udalazhinthu pogum munnae yarinthaal aagatho

Why won’t he realize before this worthless body perishes?

ச்வப்னஜாக்கிரம் சுழுப்தி மூன்றையும் சோதிதாலாகாதோ

svapna jaakkiram suzhupthi moondraiyum sothithaal aagatho

Why won’t he scrutinize the three states: dream, waking and deep sleep?

கல்பனையாமிந்த காரியகாரணத்தை கண்டிதாலாகாதோ

kalpanaiyam intha kaariya kaaranaththai kandithaal aagatho

Why won’t he denounce this imagined cause and effect?

அத்புதமாம் தன்னையாரென்று பார்த்தா லழியாப்பதமங்கே யாகாதோ

athputhamaam thannai yarendru paarththal azhiyaap pathamangae yagatho

Won’t there be the eternal substratum when he enquires on who is this astonishing “I”?

கல்பனை செய்கிற மோகத்திலே வந்து உத்பன்னமாகும் தேகத்திலே

kalpanai seigra mogaththilae vanthu uthpannamaagum thaegaththilay  

The imagined lust will manifest in the body

விற்பன்னமாம் விவேகத்திலே யிது கல்பனை யாமிந்த லோகத்திலே

virpannamaam vivegaththilae yithu kalpanai yaamintha logaththilay

The discrimination (between real and unreal) is the profound knowledge but the world thinks it is imagination

வேதம்புகழும் வெங்கடேஸ்வர நாதரை வேண்டாத குறைதானோ

vedham puguzhum vengataesvara naatharai vaendatha kurai thaano

Is this shortcoming due to failing to pray the Vedas praising Venkatesvara Lord (Akkal's Guru)? 

பாதகராயிந்த பாரில் பிறப்பதும் பிரதிபந்த வகை தானோ

paathagrai intha paaril pirappathum pirathibandha vagai thaano

Is it a type of obstacle to be born as a sinner in this world? 

மாதவராமிந்த மகத்துக்கள் சாபமோ மாயையின் குணம்தானோ

maathavaraam intha magaththukkul saabamo maayaiyin gunam thano

Is this because of the curse of eminent ascetics? Is this the characteristic of illusion (maya)? 

ஏது வகையோ யிது நானறியேனிந்த ஏழைகள் பாக்கிய மிது தானோ

yethu vagaiyo yithu naanariyen intha yezhaigal baakkiyam ithu thaano

I do not know the type (cause) of this. Is this the destiny of the helpless people?

பேத மில்லா பரி பூரணமாய் பிந்து நாதங்களக்கொரு காரணமாய் சேதனமாய்

betham illa pari pooranamaai bindhu naathangalaku koru kaaranamaai saethanamai

Being the indivisible, complete wholeness, the source behind the sound and light, the wisdom

ஜகத்காரண மாய் அதை சோதனை செய்திடும் சூரனுமாய்

jagath kaaranamai athai sothanai seithidum sooranumaai

Being the cause of world, (why won't he be) the valiant one that enquires about it?

You are THAT Absolute Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Boundless Intelligence, Whole and All-Pervading Self-Consciousness

Summary of the Song

This song declares You are THAT.   

• When the bewilderment born out of ignorance ceases, you are THAT Absolute Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Boundless Intelligence, Whole and All-Pervading Self-Consciousness.
• There is no world besides YOU.  This imaginary world is similar to the mirage mistaken for water.
• Similar to mistaking the rope to be a snake, the Whole is mistaken to be the gross & subtle body. 
• Scrutinize (through self-enquiry) and see that there is only Awareness (seer behind the vision),  is there any quality in THAT that has no attributes and find is there any parts in THAT that is always Whole.
• The false appears to be the Truth only because of the imagination of perception as the Reality.  You are THAT Self beyond this dream of illusion. 
• Oh! What a surprise, in this pure being many adjuncts came forth, like the barren child the ignorance arose and disappeared.
• (You) strived to conceptually derive listless pleasurable joy.  But, when experiencing that joy, recognized that the Joy is within (in the Self)
• You are devoid of desire, lust, anger and greed (it is insentient, but the ego identifies with the body and gets these qualities)
• When those three triads (knower, the act of knowing and the object known) cease to be, (you) will be in Guru’s feet
• Your essence is Imperishable boundless Blissfulness and the embodiment of pure Knowledge, the Guru, His Holiness Venkatesar.

ஸச்சிதானந்த ஸ்வருபம் தானடா நீ தானடா

sachchidhaanandha svarupam thaandaa nee thaandaa

You are THAT absolute existence, consciousness and bliss, You are THAT

ஸம்சயாதி பிரமை போனால் ததாகாரம் நீயடா

samsayaathi brahmai poanaal ththaakaaram neeyadaa

When the bewilderment born out of ignorance ceases, you are THAT

உள்ளும் புறமும் நீயடா ஜகத்தொன்று மில்லை பாரடா

ullum puramum neeyada jagath ondrum illai paardaa

You are within and without, look there is no world besides you

நிகில பேத ஸ்தூல சூக்ஷ்ம தேகம் ரஜ்ஜூ ஸர்ப்பம் போலடா

nikila bedha sthuula sooksma thegam rajjuu sarppam poaladaa

Similar to mistaking the rope to be a snake, the whole is mistaken to be the gross & subtle body.

கல்பித ப்ரபஞ்சமிது கானல் ஜலம் போலடா

kalpitha prabhanjam ithu kaanal jalam poaladaa

This imaginary world is similar to the mirage mistaken for water

காணுமதிஷ்டான மாத்திரம் தானே உற்று பாரடா

kaanum athishtana maaththiram thaanae uttru paaradaa

Scrutinize (through self-enquiry) and see that there is only awareness (seer behind the vision)  

ஸ்வப்னமாம் மாயைகடந்த ஸ்வஸ்வரூபம்  நீயடா

svapnamaam maayai kadantha svasvaroobam neeyadaa

You are THAT Self beyond this dream of illusion

ஜீவபிராந்தி பிரமை போனால் சிதாகாசம் நீயடா

jeeva brandhi brahmai poanaal sithaagaasam neeyadaa

When the bewilderment of individuality (Jiva) born out of ignorance goes away, you are THAT boundless intelligence

பொய்யும் மெய்யாக தோன்றும் புத்தி கல்பிதமே தானடா

poiyum meiyaaga thoandrum buddhi kalpithamae thaanadaa

The false appears to be the truth only because of the imagination of perception as the reality

பூரணமாய் நிறைந்த தத்போதமே நீயடா

pooranmaai niraintha thathboathamay neeyadaa

You are THAT whole, all pervading Self-Consciousness

நிர்குணத்தில் குணமுண்டோ உற்றுணர்ந்து பாரடா

nirgunaththil gunamundoa uttru unanthu paaradaa

Examine closely (self-enquiry), is there any quality in THAT that has no attributes

நிராம்சத்தில் அம்சமுண்டோ நீ தானே உற்று பாரடா

niraamsaththil amsam undoa nee thaanae uttru paaradaa

You scrutinize (self-enquiry) and find is there any parts in THAT that is always whole

மலடி மைந்தன் போல் அவித்யை வந்திருந்து போனதும்

maladi mainthan poal avithyai vanthu irunthu poanathum

Like the barren child the ignorance arose and disappeared

அஹோ விசித்திரம் நிர்மலத்தில னேக உபாதியானதும் 

ahoa visiththiram nirmalathil anega ubathi anathum

Oh! What a surprise, in this pure being, many adjuncts came forth

நிரதி சயானந்த சுகம் பாவனை பண்ண பயின்றதும்

nirathi sayanandha sugam bhavanai panna paiyindrathum

(You) strived to conceptually derive listless pleasurable joy

அதை யனுபவித்து பார்க்கும் போது அகம் பதமென்றறிந்ததும்

athai anubhaviththu paarkkum boadhu agam patham endru arinthathum

But, when experiencing that joy, recognized that the joy is within (in the Self)

அக்ஷய அகண்ட ஸுகானந்த ஸ்வருபமே

akshaya agenda soogaanandha svarubamae

(Your) essence is Imperishable boundless blissfulness

ஆசை காமக்ரோதலோப மற்றதே உன் தேகமே

Aasai kaama kroadha lobham attrathaey un dhaegamae

You are devoid of desire, lust, anger and greed (it is insentient, but the ego identifies with the body and gets these qualities)

திரிபுடி மூன்று மற்று போனால் தேசிகர் தன் பாதமே

thripudi moondrum attru poanaal desigar than paathamae

When those three triads (knower, the act of knowing and the object known) cease to be, (you) will be in Guru’s feet

ஸ்ரீமத்குரு வெங்கடேசர் சின்மய ஸ்வருபமே

sreemathguru venkadaesar sinmaya svarubhamae

(Your) essence is the embodiment of pure knowledge, the Guru, His holiness Venkatesar