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mukunda mAlA - Part 6

From the Bhakti List Archives

For V. Sadagopan • October 3, 1998 


namo nArAyaNAya,

SrI V. saDagOpan's commentary on the mukunda-mAlA stOtram :

VERSE 17

hE lOkAS-SRNuta prasUti-maraNa-vyAdhES cikitsAm imAm 
 yOga-GYAs samudAharanti munayO yAm yAGYavalkyAdaya: |
antar-jyOtir amEyam Ekam amRtam kRshNAkhyam ApIyatAm
 tat pItam paramaushadam vitanutE nirvANam Atyantikam || 17

  In this verse, SrI kulaSEkharar talks to people of the world at large. 
He asks them to listen to the cure recommended by great yOgi-s and sages like
yAGYavalkya against the cycles of birth and death that cEtana-s are subject to
as samsArin-s. 

AzhvAr points out that the medicine recommended by the revered sages is a 
nectar-like drink known as SrI-kRshNa. That shining nectar which is 
immeasurable in its qualities will cure one's samsAric illnesses permanently.
AzhvAr equates SrI kRshNa to the powerful medicine which will cure the disease
of recurring cycles of birth and death. He says the medicine has been 
time-tested by great sages and it is the panacea for the disease of samsAra.

--

VERSE 18

hE martyA: paramam hitam SRNuta vO vakshyAmi sankshEpata:
 samsArArNavam Apad-Urmi bahuLam samyak praviSya sthitA: |
nAnA-GYAnam apAsya cEtasi namO nArAyaNAyEty amum 
 mantram sa-praNavam praNAma-sahitam prAvartayadhvam muhu: || 18

  In this verse, AzhvAr addresses humanity out of compassion for their 
suffering. He points out to them that chanting of SrIman-nArAyaNa's ashTAkshara
mantram will easily deliver them from their sorrows and worries. He addresses
the samsAri-s who are about to drown in the ocean of samsAra and gives them a
roadmap to overcome their desperate situation.

AzhvAr reveals that recitation of "namO nArAyaNAya" together with praNavam
would remove their ignorance and set them on the right path leading to mOksham.

SrI AzhvAr addresses humans as 
  "Apad Urmi bahuLam samsAra arNavam praviSya sthitA: hE martyA:"
AzhvAr sizes them up as those who are deeply immersed in the ocean of samsAra
with its dangerous waves. 
  "va: param hitam samkshEpata: vakshyAmi"
Let me share with you what is very good for you, in a condensed fashion.
Please hear (SRNuta!) this brief statement. My message to you for your 
deliverance is to recite the ashTAkshara-mantram with rich intonation of 
praNavam, in a clear state of mind free from delusions and with reverence.

--

VERSE 19

pRthvI rENuraNu: payAmsi kaNikA: phalgusphulingOnalas 
 tEjO ni:Svasanam marut tanu-taram randhram su-sUkshmam nabha: |
kshudrA rudra-pitAmaha-prabhRtaya: kITAs samastAs surA: 
 dRshTE yatra sa tAvakO vijayatE bhUmAvadhUtAvadhi: || 19

  In this verse SrI kulaSEkhara talks about the splendor and glory of the God
behind the ashTAkshara-mantram. This verse is the essence of the 
mahA-nArAyaNa upanishad. where SrIman-nArAyaNa is described as the eldest among
Gods (yO dEvAnAm dEvEbhyO jAta:) and as the benevolent leader of the Gods.
`(yO dEvAnAm purOhita:)  The fourth and the fifth verses of mahA-nArAyaNa
upanishad provide the basis of SrI kulaSEkhara's celebration of SrIman-nArAyaNa
as the most Supreme principle and the highest among the Gods. These verses
of the upanishad are as follows:
   
       "yatam prasUtA jagatam prasUtI tOyEna jIvAn vyacasarja bhUmyAm
          yadOshadhIbhi: purushAn paSU{gm}Sca vivESa bhUtAni carAcarANi |
        ata: param nAnyadaNIyasa{gm}hi parAtparam yanmahutO mahAntam
          yadEkam-avyaktam-ananta-rUpam viSvam purANam tamasa: parastAt || "

Along the upanishadic lines, SrI kulaSEkhara's extols the Supreme greatness 
and the masjesty of SrIman-nArAyaNa among all objects in the creation and among
all Gods.  SrI kulaSEkhara compares the "ananta-rUpam purANam mahatO mahAntam
parAtparam" referred to by the upanishad, with the panca-bhUtam-s like fire,
warer, earth, ether and air. He also compares the parAtparam with the other
Gods such as brahma, rudra etc. and concludes that none of them approach the
scale, dimension, majesty, power and greatness of SrIman-nArAyaNa.

The AzhvAr says that, next to Him, the vast Earth resembles a speck of dust,
the oceans resemble a drop of water,  the mighty agni resembles a spark, 
the great winds resemble a feeble breath, and the vast sky resembles a
little hole.  AzhvAr concludes his statement on the greatness and supremacy of 
SrIman-nArAyaNa with awe and abject wonder in the following manner:
        "sa: avadhUta avadhi: tAvaka: bhUmA vijayatE"
Such is SrIman-nArAyaNa's limitless, immeasurable glory that shines forth, 
says SrI kulaSEkhara.


--               *** SrI kRshNArpaNamastu ***