80. All that are perceived are maya

Verse 80

மிக்கசெல்வம் நீர்படைத்த விறகுமேவிப் பாவிகாள்

விறகுடன் கொளுத்திமேனி வெந்துபோவது அறிகிலீர்

மக்கள் பெண்டிர் சுற்றம் என்று மாயைகாணும் இவையெலாம்

மறலி வந்து அழைத்தபோது வந்துகூடலாகுமே

Translation:

The sinners who have vast wealth, spreading over the firewood,

The body along with the firewood is burned- you do not know this,

Offspring, wife, relatives, all these perceived are only maya,

When the Lord of death comes calling, is it possible to be with them?

Commentary:

            In this verse, Civavākkiyar says that the body is ephemeral.  No relationship that exists in this world, wife, children, relatives etc will come with one at the time of death.  Sri Sankaracharya in his song “Baja Govindam” says the same. The wife will get scared of the body that she lived with so far, the sons will be fighting for the wealth and the relatives will not care when one loses status in this world, which is as good as dying. He says that, hence, one should sing the praise of the Lord.  Here Civavākkiyar says the same.  He says that everything perceived in this world as one’s possession is only a delusion.  They are short-lived associations that do not last forever.  The only relationship that lasts is that with the Divine.  Hence, one should practice living with detachment.