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Varadaraja Panchasat, v. 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • July 28, 1994 


Here is the 3rd Sloka from Desikar's VaradarAja PancASat, with
meaning and commentary by D. Ramaswamy Ayyangar. We left off
in the previous Sloka with Desikar's declaration of his utter
incapability and even rudeness of attempting to praise the Lord.

Note the usage of the epithet ``avyaajavatsala.'' A striking 
contrast, perhaps, to his doctrinal explanation in his other
works of prapatti / self-surrender being a ``vyaaja'' or 
pretext for the Lord's grace?

--

	jaanan anaadivihitaan aparaadhavargaan
	   svaamin ! bhayaat kimapi vaktum aham na Saktha.h |
	avyaajavatsala ! tathaapi nirankuSam maam
	   vaatsalyam eva bhavato mukharIkaroti || 3 ||

	My Lord! Knowing the multitude of offenses committed
	by me from time immemorial, I am unable and unfit to
	say anything (about You) out of fear. Nevertheless,
	O You of Innate Love! Your love alone compels me to
	break into words.

``avyaaja-vatsala'', You who possess spontaneous and unconditioned
love such as a cow towards its calf.  ``Svaamin!'' My Lord whose
property I am.

In this sloka, Desika says because of his sins he is afraid even
to talk of the Lord.  But the Lord's unconditioned, unlimited, and
illimitable love urges him to speak, that is, sing (a stotra) in
His praise.

Comparative merit or demerit apart, thinking of himself the poet
feels utterly unequal to being a stotra in praise of the Lord. But
when he thinks of that great quality of Mercy in Him, he feels
emboldened.  ``My sins make me desist from praising you; but your
love does not permit me to be quiet. It makes me sing your praises.''
In the Goda Stuti we see Desika voicing a similar sentiment --
``... mukharayanti guNaas tvadIya.h ...'' Addressing Goda, he says,
``Your great qualities dispel my vow to keep mum and make me speak
out.'' The same word is used here -- ``mukhara'' (= talk).

The words ``anaadivihitaan aparaadhavargaan'' remind us of the 
words of SaraNaagati Gadya of Sri Ramanuja beginning with 
``anaadikaalapravRtta.''  ``The sense of fear at the thought of
such sins renders me incapable of uttering even a single word.''

The word ``nirankuSam'' occurring in the sloka can be taken as
an adjective to ``vaatsalya'' or as an adverb modifying the verb
``makharIkaroti''.  The vaatsalyam or love of the Lord is unfettered,
unobstructed and unconditioned.  That vaatsalyam makes the poet burst 
into a torrent of praise.  ``nirankuSam maam'', taken together, may 
give the meaning,  ``Even such an uncontrollable and unruly person 
like myself feels compelled to obey the behests of your love and 
begin to sing in praise of you.''

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