தொடர நரைத்தங்க முன்புள வாயின தொழில்கள் மறுத்தொன்று மொன்றி யிடாதொருசுளிவு தலைக்கொண்டு புன்புலை வாரிகள் துளையொழு கக்கண்டு சிந்தனை ஓய்வொடுநடைகெட முற்கொண்ட பெண்டிர் பொறாவொரு நடலை நமக்கென்று வந்தன பேசிடநலியிரு மற்கஞ்சி உண்டி வெறாவிழு நரக உடற்கன்பு கொண்டலை வேனினிமிடலொடி யப்பண் டிலங்கையர் கோனொரு விரலின் அமுக்குண்டு பண்பல பாடியவிரகு செவிக்கொண்டு முன்புள தாகிய வெகுளி தவிர்த்தன்று பொன்றி யிடாவகைதிடமருள் வைக்குஞ் செழுஞ்சுடர் ஊறிய தெளியமு தத்தின் கொழுஞ்சுவை நீடியதிலைநக ரிற்செம்பொன் அம்பல மேவிய சிவனை நினைக்குந் தவஞ்சது ராவதே.
In plain words
Grey hair comes on and on. The limbs refuse the work they did before, and not one of them holds together. Seeing mean, foul streams flow from the openings, disgust takes hold, and thought gives out. The gait is ruined. The women once taken cannot bear it and speak whatever comes to them: “A trouble has come upon us.” Fearing the racking cough, yet never refusing food, I go about loving this fallen body of hell. Long ago the king of Laṅkā, his strength breaking, was pressed down by one toe and sang many melodies. The Lord gave ear to his skill, set aside the anger that had been there, and that day firmly bestowed his aruḷ so that he would not perish. He is the rich flame; in him the rich taste of clear welling nectar endures. From now on, to think of Śiva, who dwells in the red-gold Hall in the city of Tillai: that tavam is cleverness indeed.
Line by line
Greying on and on, the limbs refusing the work that was there before, not one at all holding together, a disgust taking hold, seeing the mean foul streams flow from the openings, with thought failing, the gait ruined, the women taken before unable to bear it, saying A trouble has come to us, speaking what comes, fearing the racking cough, not refusing food, loving the fallen body of hell, I wander; henceforth His strength breaking, long ago the king of Laṅkā, pressed by one toe, sang many melodies; heeding the skill, setting aside the anger that was before, that day so that he would not perish, firmly bestowing grace, the rich flame, in whom the rich taste of clear welling nectar endures, in Tillai city in the red-gold Hall abiding, Śiva: to think of him, that tavam is cleverness indeed.