7. Thiruvempaavai In stanza 19 the maidens seek a boon from the Lord. “Oh our Lord! We say afresh in our fear the well-known words “that the child in Your hands is Your own protege”. Please listen! We shall tell You something. Let not our breasts join in embrace with the shoulders of anyone but Your devotees! Let not our hands do any work except for You! Let not our eyes see night and day but You! If You would grant us here and now this boon what does it mattter to us where the sun rises? Oh our Paavaai!” (7:19) In stanza 20 all the maidens pray praising the Feet of the Lord “Obeisance to You! Graciously bestow on us Your Feet-blossom, the beginning of all things! Obeisance to You! Graciously bestow on us Your Feet-the rosy tender shoots-the end of all things! Obeisance to the golden Feet-the source of manifestions to all beings! Obeisance to the flowery Feet-the Bliss of life to all beings! Obeisance to the twin Feet, the end of all beings! Obeisance to the lotus Feet-not seen by Maal and the four-faced! Obeisance to the golden Flowers which make us His own that we may be redeemed! Obeisance to You! Praising thus let us have our Marghazhi-month bath! Oh our Paavaai!” (7:20) 363
