Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #37 - Oh Mind! Please cut the root of the ego! (girivai vidu vikrama)

கிரிவாய் விடு விக்ரம வேல் இறையோன் 

பரிவாரம் எனும் பதம் மேவலையே 

புரிவாய் மனனே பொறையாம் அறிவால் 

அரிவாய் அடியோடும் அகந்தையையே (37)

girivaai vidu vikrama vel iraiyon

parivaaram enum padam mevalaiye

purivaai manane poraiyam arivaal

arivaai adiyodum agamnthaiyaye (37)

கிரிவாய் விடு - To make a hole (and split) in the (krauncha) 

விக்ரம வேல் - Strong Spear

இறையோன்  - Lord

பரிவாரம் எனும் - Group of Devotees

பதம் மேவலையே புரிவாய் - Desire to reach that state

மனனே - O Mind

பொறையாம் - By acquiring equanimity (and)

அறிவால் - By Knowledge 

அரிவாய் - Cut

அடியோடும் - From its roots 

அகந்தையையே - Egoistic identity

Short Meaning

Oh Mind, please aspire to be part of devotees of Lord Murugan, one who wields a strong spear that pierced and split the Asura who stood as Krauncha Mountain. Using patience, acquire the Knowledge of the Self which will cut the false identification of the ego from its roots.

Gloss

During the great battle, Lord Subramanya (இறையோன்) threw his magnificent spear (விக்ரம வேல்) at the Asura who stood as  Krauncha Hill (கிரிவாய் விடு ) blocking the Lord and His army and pierced through it, thus defeating the Asura. This Lord has greatest saints and devotees worshipping him (பரிவாரம்). In this verse, Sri Arunagirinathar requests his mind to reach the state of being such Devotees of the Lord (பதம் மேவலையே புரிவாய்)

Then Sri Arunagiri requests for 'Equanimity of Mind' (பொறையாம்)- This is explained in detail by Bhagawan Sri Krishna Paramatma in Bhagawat Geetha in Chapter 2 as 'Sthithaprajnathwam' - It is a state of equanimity where a person never delights in victory or sulks in defeat, with an ego that doesn't bloat with praise or shrink with insult. It is easy to call such state as 'dead' or 'boring' - But is such a precious state of clear perception where highest action can be performed. Sri Arunagiri wishes to reach this state. 

Once that is achieved, Sri Arunagiri requests the supreme knowledge of Self (அறிவால்) using which the bonds of ego (அகந்தையையே) that ties us down can be cut (அரிவாய்) completely from the roots (அடியோடும்)

Vedanta says there are two things needed for self realization:

1. Chitta Shuddhi (பொறை)

2. Knowledge from Guru (அறிவு)

Chitta Shuddhi is about cleansing of the consciousness. Over millions of births of self identification with various things, and countless desires, our identity has literally become dirty. This needs to be scrubbed - The ONLY way to do this is by Karma Yoga (which also includes Bhakti / Japam etc.) - By performing worship without desiring any results, Chitta Shuddi is achieved. This will take time and effort based on the each soul's travel so far.

No one can put it more precisely as Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi in Upadesa Saram, Verse #3 [1]

In this verse, Bhagawan says, Karma done without desiring selfish results, and offering such work and its result to God, leads to cleansing of consciousness which makes one ready for Mukti (liberation)

A keen eye will note that Ramanar doesn't say that doing Karma liberates - He says Niskamya Karma (Action done without desiring results) only cleanses consciousness and makes one 'ready for liberation'  (mukti sadhakam)

Once Chitta Shuddhi is achieved, when a self-realized Guru, imports the knowledge of maha-vaakyas (tat-twam-asi or aham-brahmasmi or prajnanam brahma or ayam atma brahma or the like), a student instantly realizes self. 

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri Nathar requests Lord Subrahmanya to graciously give both of these.

[1] https://archive.arunachala.org/docs/collected-worm/upadesa-saram/
[2] Pic Credit - https://hinducosmos.tumblr.com/image/627989410924888064