Kāppu
The opening invocation that guards the work.
அருணாசல வரற்கேற்ற வக்ஷரமணமாலைசாற்றக்,கருணாகரக் கணபதியே கரமருளிக் காப்பாயே.
அருணாசல வரற்கு ஏற்ற அக்ஷர மணமாலை சாற்றக் கருணாகரக் கணபதியே கரம் அருளிக் காப்பாயே
In plain words
Before the garland can be made, one thing has to be asked for. Not success. Not inspiration. A hand — laid on the head, or lent to the writing, the word will carry both. And notice who it is for. The garland is for Arunachala. Gaṇapati is asked only to let it be strung. The invocation already has its eyes past the one it is addressing.
Word for word
So that the Akṣaramaṇamālai befitting the Lord Arunachala may be proclaimed — O Gaṇapati, mine of compassion, granting your hand, protect!