நஞ்சுமிழ் பகுவாய் வெஞ்சின மாசுணம்தன்முதல் முருக்க நெல்முதற் சூழ்ந்தநீர்ச்சிறு பாம்புதன் வாய்க்கெதிர் வந்ததேரையை வவ்வி யாங்கி யான்முன்கருவிடை வந்த ஒருநாள் தொடங்கிமறவா மறலி முறைபிறழ் பேழ்வாய்அயில்தலை அன்ன எயிற்றிடைக் கிடந்தாங்கருள்நனி இன்றி ஒருவயி றோம்பற்குப்பல்லுயிர் செகுத்து வல்லிதின் அருந்திஅயர்த்தனன் இருந்தும் போலும் பெயர்த்துநின்றுஎண்டோள் வீசிக் கண்டோர் உருகத்தொல்லெயில் உடுத்த தில்லை மூதூர்ஆடும் அம்பலக் கூத்தனைப்பாடுதல் பரவுதல் பணிதலோ இலமே.
In plain words
A small water snake, coiled round the root of the paddy, snatches the toad that comes before its mouth, even while a fierce python with gaping, venom-spitting jaws crushes it from its base. Just so, from the one day I came into the womb, I have lain between the spear-point teeth in the wide and ragged mouth of Death who never forgets, and with no mercy at all, to feed one belly, I have killed many lives and eaten them with relish. So I have lived, forgetful, it seems. In the old town of Tillai girdled by ancient walls, the Dancer of the Hall dances, lifting his foot and standing, swinging his eight shoulders so that all who see him melt. Singing him, praising him, bowing to him: these we have not done.
Line by line
A fierce-angered python with venom-spitting gaping mouth crushing it from its base, the one coiled round the paddy root, the small water snake, the toad that came before its mouth snatching, like that; I, before, beginning from the one day I came into the womb, of unforgetting Death, the wide mouth with disordered rows, lying between teeth like spear-points, there, with mercy not at all, to nourish one belly, killing many lives, eating with relish, I was forgetful, while being so, it seems. Lifting and standing, swinging his eight shoulders, so those who see melt, in the old town Tillai girdled with ancient walls the Dancer of the Hall who dances, singing, praising, or bowing: these we have not.