18. Lord, the speechless body

Verse 18

சாமநாலு வேதமும் சகல சாத்திரங்களும்

சேமமாக ஓதிலும் சிவனைநீர் அறிகிலீர்

காமநோயை விட்டுநீர் கருத்துளே உணர்ந்தபின்

ஊமையான காயமாய் இருப்பன் எங்கள் ஈசனே!

 Translation:

Even if you all chant satisfactorily the four Vedas including Sāma

And all the śāstras, you do not know Śiva.

Leaving the disease of desire, after you realize It mentally

Our Lord will remain as the speechless body.

Commentary:

This verse reprimands those who use the Vedas and śāstras for minor benefits. 

Vedas are made up of the two parts, karma kānda and jñāna kānda.  The mantras in the karma kānda confer worldly benefits such as offspring, riches etc.  Civavākkiyar calls those who seek such benefits as those afflicted by the disease of desire.  Instead of seeking such benefits people should focus on the jñāna kānda or Vedanta and realize the Lord, which is a state of supreme silence. Tirumular calls this state, mōna samādhi’ in his Tirumandiram.

Desire is equated to a disease.  Just as how a disease, if left untreated, worsens and ultimately results in the death of a person, desire leads to utter destruction of a person.  He will lose all values progressively and lose himself in the end.  Tirumular in his Tirumandiram says ‘āsai aṛumin’- cut asunder the desire even if it is the desire to achieve Godhead (mandiram 2615).  He also says that there is no point in studying Vedanta. Being free from desire is the way for self-realization (mandiram 229).