Effort and fruit (or) cause and effect. Mantra-11

Sri gurubhyo namaha.

The eleventh mantra of the first part of the Thirumandiram.

அயலும் புடையும்எம் ஆதியை நோக்கில்

இயலும் பெருந்தெய்வம் யாதுமொன் றில்லை

முயலும் முயலில் முடிவும் மற் றாங்கே

பெயலும் மழைமுகிற் பேர்நந்தி தானே. 11.

11: Effort And Fruit

Near and far I look; but around the Being First,

No other God, I see, mightier than He;

Himself the effort, and Himself, too, effort's end;

Himself the rains, Himself the clouds rain-laden,

The Nandi named.

Com - Near and far I look; but around the Being First From close by and from afar, when one thinks of the greatness of the First Being (Siva), No other God, I see, mightier than He it can be understood that there is no other God superior in nature to Him (Siva). Himself the effort, and Himself, too, effort's end He is Himself the effort (sadhana) and again, He is Himself the fruit (siddhi) of the effort. Himself the rains, Himself the clouds rain-laden He is Himself the rains (the shower of Grace) and again, He is Himself the rain bearing clouds (the meditation, worship etc of Siva). The Nandi named His name in Nandi.

*It is clear from this mantra that Siva rewards (the fruit, called Grace – compared here to rains) as a result of the effort (namely, the tapas and sadhana of Siva – compared here to the rain bearing clouds). The principle of cause and effect. This mantra can be seen to be a continuation of the principle of cause and effect that has also been discussed in the eighth mantra. As He is all, it is mentioned here that Siva is the effort as He is himself the fruit of the effort. This can again be compared to that supreme and transcendental state where the triad of knower, known and the knowledge merge into the one (gnayana,gnayatru,gneya).