Mukunda Mala 12/40

12.   Bhava-jaladhi-gathanam dvandva-vata hatanam

       Suta-duhitru-kalatra-thrana-bhararditanam

       Vishama-vishaya-thoye majjatam aplavanam

       Bhavati saranam eko vishnu-poto naranam.

     Humans drowned in         Humans struggling in

      worldly attractions            the ocean of life

Sriman Narayana is the only boat to reach the shores

     1.       Bhava-jaladhi-gathanam – people  who are entrapped in worldly existence

     2.       dvandva-vata ahatanam – people who are hurt by the heavy wind or cyclone

     3.       Suta- children

     4.       duhitru- daughter

     5.       kalatra- wife

     6.       thrana - protecting

     7.       bhara - burden

     8.       arditanam – afflicted

     9.       Vishama – rude, bad, wicked

   10.   Thoya – water

   11.   majjatam  - one who has drowned

   12.   aplavanam – without a boat

   13.   naranam – humans, mankind

   14.   Vishnu – Lord Sriman Narayana

   15.   pota – ship

   16.   eko – only

   17.   charanam – support, protection

   18.   bhavathu – may it be so

 In this verse Kulasekara Azhwar describes the human beings and their nature. He says that people are afflicted in the burden of taking care of their wives, children and daughter and drowned in the bad ocean of deriving the small pleasures of life. For us humans Sriman Narayana is the only boat to reach the shores.  This can be equated to Andal Naachiar’s  saying in Naachiar Thirumozhi as “Thunba kadal puuku vaikunthan enbathor thoni pera thuzhalginren”

Mukunda Mala 11/40

11.      Mabhir manda-mano vichintya bahudha yamis chiram yatana

           Nami na: prabhavanti papa-ripavah svami nanu sridharah

           Alasyam vyapaniya bhakti-sulabham dhyayasva narayanam

           Lokasya vyasanapanodana-karo dasasya kim na kshamah       

Punishment for our sins

Incessant prayer to                Most compassionate to 

  Sriman Narayana                 his bhakthas –
                                           Will remove our sins and
                                            take us into his fold

  1.        manda-mano   - Foolish mind

       2.        vichintya – to be thought of

       3.        Bahudha -     in many ways

       4.       Yami: that which belongs to Yama

       5.       Chiram – For a long time

       6.       Yatana – the punishments

       7.       Naivami

       8.        na: prabhavanti – not presiding

       9.        Papa – ripavan – our sins and enemies

      10.    Na Swami  our master

      11.    Sridhara – Lord Vishnu, Sriman Narayana

      12.    Alasyam – idle, lazy

      13.   vyapaniya  -  having lost

      14.     bhakti-sulabham  - easy prayers

      15.    Dhyayasva – you meditate on

      16.    Narayanam – Lord Narayana

      17.   Lokasya – in this world

      18.    Vyasana  apa nodana – One who removes hardship

      19.   Karo – do

      20.   Dasasya – I am his slave/ servant

      21.   Kim na kshamah – Will he not pardon

In this slokam Kulasekara Azhwar appeals his mind, Oh mind, please do not worry and fear being sent to hell due to our misdeeds on earth. The sins cannot prevent Sriman Narayana our Sridharan reaching us. But we should worship him incessantly without any interruption. Do not worry thinking he is not reachable even to the very learned yogis, “how can I reach him”. Sriman Narayana is very compassionate to his bhakthas. Will he not remove all our sins and take us into his fold if we surrender to him as his servant?

Mukunda Mala 10/40

10.  Sarasija-nayane sa-sankha-chakre

       Mura-bhidi ma viramasva chitta rantum

       Sukha-taram aparam na jathu jane

       Hari-charana-smarana amrithena tulyam

       Lotus feet of the lord is like Amrutham (Nectar)  

            Krishna killing Murasura

Oh Mind always reminisce the lord as Sanka Chakra Gadha Pani 

          1.       Sarasija Nayane –lotus like eyes

          2.       Sa - Sanka – chakre – one who is always with the  sanka – conch and chakra – discuss

          3.       Mura bhidi  – Krishna who killed the demon Murasura

          4.       Ma Virama – do not stop thinking even for a moment

          5.       Sva Chitta – my beautiful mind

          6.       Ranthum – To enjoy

          7.       Sukha -   joy, happiness

          8.       Taram – shining

          9.       Aparam – besides, none other

        10.   Na Jatu Jane – I do not know at all

        11.   Hari- Vishnu

        12.   Charana – feet

        13.   Smarana  -  reminiscence

        14.    Tulyam -    equal to

Kulasekara Azhwar in this  stanza emphasizes that,  thinking of the lotus feet of Sriman Narayana is like the best nectar. He also says he does not know of anything that can equal that joy. Therefore he tells the mind to stop wavering and to reminisce always without interruption even for a moment the roopam of the Sriman Narayana who killed Murasura and always has the Sankam and Chakram in his hands.

Mukunda Mala 9/40

9.  Kara-charana-saroje kantiman-netra-mine

     Srama-mushi bhuja-vichi-vyakule agadha-marge

     Hari-sarasi vigahyapiya tejo-jalaugham

     Bhava-maru-parichinnah klesam adya tyajami    

Sojourn of life is like a desert and Lord Narayana  is like 

a cool pond in the desert

Lord Nayarana with lotus like hands and feet and fish 

like eyes is like a cool pond in the desert 

          1.        Kara – hand

          2.       Charana – feet

          3.       Saroja – Lotus

          4.       Kantiman – full of radiance, effulgence, splendor

          5.       Nethra – eyes

          6.       Srama mushi – that which answers questions

          7.       Bhuja – shoulders

          8.       Vichi – wave

          9.       Vyakula – filled with

        10.   Agadha – deep

        11.   Marge -   wave, pathway

        12.   Hari -  Vishnu. Charming

        13.   Sarasi – pond, pool 

        14.   Vigahya – having a deep bath                

        15.   Tejas – splendor

        16.   Jalougham – pond of water

        17.   Bhava – worldly life

        18.   Maru – desert

        19.   Parikinna – exhausted, tired

        20.   Klesam – hardship, burdensomeness

        21.   Adya – today

        22.   Tyajami – I give up, abandon

In this verse Kulasekara Azhwar compares the difficult path of the worldly life to a sojourn in a vast desert. One is exhausted and tired and is ready to give it up due to the hardship and burdensomeness that one has to face. At this point when we see Hari or Vishnu it is like seeing a vast pond in the middle of the desert. When we enjoy Hari Bhakthi it is like having a deep bath in the coolest pond. The poet compares Lord Narayana to the cool pond and his broad shoulders to the waves and imagines the depth of Bhagavat vishayam. The hands and legs of the charming Lord Vishnu are compared to the lotus in the pond and his effulgent eyes full of splendor that answers all our questions (agnana nashakam mayam Devam) is compared to the fish in the pond.

Mukunda Mala 8/40

8. Chintayami harim eva santatam

    Manda-manda hasitananambujam

    Nanda-gopa-tanayam parat param

    Naradadi-muni-vrinda-vanditham 

      
Manda Manda Hasitham        Naradadi muni vanditam

Nandagopa Tanayam
Paratparam

      1.       Chintayami – think

      2.       Harim – Lord Narayana – destroyer of sins

      3.       Santatam – eternal

      4.       Manda - gentle

      5.       Hasitam – smile

      6.       Anana – face

      7.       Ambujam – lotus

      8.       Nanadagopa tanayam – son of Nanadagopa – Lord Krishna

      9.       Parat param – superior to the best

    10.   Naradadi muni – sage Narada

    11.   Vrinda – many. Numerous

    12.   Vanditham – worshipped

In this verse Kulasekara Azhwar describes his devotion and prayers only to the eternal Lord Narayana referred to as Hari – the destroyer of sins. He who has a gentle smile on his face as a lotus just blooming lotus that will make even the person drowned in sorrow smile. Krishna the son of Nandagopa is the most superior of the superiors and is worshipped by sage Narada and many other sages

Mukunda Mala 7/40

7.  Krishna tvadiya-pada-pankaja-panjarantam

     Adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah

     Prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih

     Kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te    

Prana-prayana-samaye -

Hari smaranam kutas te

      1.  Krishna – Oh Krishna

            2.       Tvadiya – thine

            3.       Pada – feet

            4.       Pankaja – lotus

            5.       Panjaranta – within the cage

            6.       Adyaiva – this very moment

            7.       Me – my

            8.       Visatu – enter

            9.       Manasa Raja Hamsa – mind that is as an elegant 

                    swan

          10.      Praana Prayana samaye – at time of death

          11.       Kapa – phlegm

          12.      Vatha -  wind

          13.       Pitha: - bile

          14.      Kanthavarodhana-vidhau – when the throat – when 

                   the throat is blocked and swallowing is difficult

          15.      Smaranam – thought

          16.      Kuthasthe- from where will it come

Here Kulasekara Azhwar prays to Lord Narayana saying that during my last days when I am in my death bed when phlegm, wind and bile are blocking my throat how will I ever remember you. Hence let my mind that is like an elegant swan enter the cage of your lotus feet right now, please grant me moksham. This sloka explains our helplessness as very ordinary humans. 

The above prayer is very similar to periyazhwar pasuram

'Eippu ennai vandhu naliyum pOdhu 
angu Ethum naan unnai ninaikka mAtten
appodhaikku ippodhe solli vaithen
arangatharavanai palliyAne"

Where in periazhwar prays to Lord Ranganatha, that when old age and poor health takes over me I will not be able to remember you. Therefore I surrender to you right now, please grant me moksha when I am destined have to leave this earth.