40. Vedas... spittle?

Verse 40

வாயிலே குடித்தநீரை எச்சில் என்று சொல்லுறீர்

வாயிலே குதப்புவேத மெனப்படக் கடவதோ

வாயில் எச்சில் போகஎன்று நீர்தனைக் குடிப்பீர்காள்

வாயில் எச்சில் போனவண்ணம் வந்திருந்து சொல்லுமே

Translation:

You call the water drank as tainted water,

Is it then fair to call that which is chewed in the mouth as sacred Veda?

Those who drink water for removal of spittle!

Come and explain this with drool flowing in your mouth.

Commentary:

This verse shows the extreme sarcasm of Civavākkiyar.  Anything that has come into contact with the saliva in the mouth is called ‘ecchil’ or that which is contaminated with saliva.  Civavākkiyar naughtily questions how it is fair to call something that is being chanted by mouth as the sacred Veda while the water that has come into contact with the mouth is belittled as spittle, unclean water. 

He wants people to explain this to him with drool flowing from their mouths.  Siddhas completely dismiss any pretenses or false show of respect.