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mukunda-mAlA - Part 11

From the Bhakti List Archives

For V. Sadagopan • October 9, 1998 


>From SrI V. saDagOpan's writings on the mukunda-mAlA stOtram :

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VERSE 32

dArA vAr-Akara-vara-sutA tE tanUjO virinci:
 stOtA vEdas tava sura-gaNO bhRtya-varga: prasAda: |
muktir mAyA jagad avikalam tAvakI dEvakI tE
 mAtA mitram vala-ripu-sutas tvayyatO'nyanna jAnE || 32

   Here SrI kulaSEkharar answers SrIman-nArAyaNa's question as to what he
knows about His glories. The AzhvAr replies, "Your wife is the daughter
of the Milky Ocean.  Your son is catur-mukha-brahma; Your bards are
the vEda-s; Your servants are the dEva-s; Your blessings yield mOksham; 
All the worlds arise from Your prakriti; Your mother is dEvakI; Your friend
is indra's son, arjuna; Thus I do not know anyone other than You. ",
("ata: anyat tvayi na jAnE ")

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VERSE 33

kRshNO rakshatu nO jagatraya-guru: kRshNam namasyAmyaham
 kRshNEna amaraSatravO vinihitA: kRshNAya tubhyam nama: |
kRshNAd Eva samutthitam jagadidam kRshNasya dAsO'smyaham
 kRshNE tishThati sarvamEtadakhilam hE kRshNa rakshasva mAm || 33

  SrI kulaSEkhara offers his salutations to SrI kRshNa using all the eight
noun-cases (vibhakti-s) of the sanskRt language.

  . kRshNa: rakshatu na: jagat-guru:
      Through the Nominative case (subject of a verb, prathamA-vibhakti:), 
      the AzhvAr prays,
      "May SrI kRshNa, the Supreme Lord of the three universes, protect us"

  . aham kRshNam namasyAmi
      Through the Accusative case (dvitIyA-vibhakti:, denotes object of a verb)
      the AzhvAr says,
      "I salute kRshNa".

  . kRshNEna amara-Satrava: vinihitA:
      Using the Instrumental case (tRitIyA-vibhakti:
                                   denotes agent of an action; 'by', 'with'),
      kulaSEkharAzhvAr referes to the dushTa-nigraha quality of SrI kRshNa:
         "_By kRshNa_ enemies were killed."

   . tasmai kRshNAya nama:
      Using the Dative case (caturthI-vibhakti:
                             denotes destination of an action = 'to'.
                             denotes purpose of an action = 'for'), 

      kulaSEkharAzhvAr says, "_For that_ (dushTa-nigraha quality) 
                              I offer my worship in words  _To kRshNa_ ".
      
   . kRshNAt Eva samutthitam idam jagat
       Using the Ablative case (pancamI-vibhakti:; 
                                expresses the relation 'from';)
       the AzhvAr refers to the celebrated fact that the universes originated
       _from kRshNa_ only.


    . aham kRshNasya dasa: asmi
        Using the Possessive/Gentive case ( shashThI-vibhakti:; 
                                             denotes possession - 'of')
        SrI kulaSEkhara says, "I am a servant _of kRshNa_".

    . Etat sarvam akhilam kRshNE tishThati
        Using the Locative case (saptamI-vibhatI; denotes location-'in','at'..)
        SrI kulaSEkhara states that this whole universe is deeply rooted
        _in kRshNa_.

    . hE kRshNa! mAm samraksha 
        Finally overcome by the blissful thoughts on SrI kRshNa, (using the
        Denominative case or sambOdhanam) the AzhvAr begs humbly for the
        protection of the Lord.

This verse is not only a testimony to the poetic skills of SrI kulaSEkharar,
but also an illustrious example of his Supreme kRshNa-bhakti.

--

VERSE 34

sa tvam prasIda bhagavan kuru mayyanAthE 
 vishNO kRpAm parama-kAruNika: kila tvam |
samsAra-sAgara-nimagnam ananta ! dInam
 uddhartum arhasi harE ! purushOttamO'si || 34

   After praying for SrI kRshNa's protection in the previous verse (hE kRshNa
mAm raksha), SrI kulaSEkhara is slightly worried SrI kRshNa may not have 
been listening to him. So he amplifies his appeal for protection in this verse.

The AzhvAr addresses SrI kRshNa with these endearing names,
   "hE bhagavan, hE harE, hE vishNO, hE ananta".

By the name, "ananta" he implies that is is impossible to determine the 
svarUpa-lakshaNam, location and His origin. HE is beyond space and time.

AzhvAr asks the viSva-vyApi (vishNu) to take pity on him and protect him.
He says, "vishNO sa tvam anAthE mayi kRpAm kuru". ie "O sarva-antaryAmi, who
is celebrated in the vEda-s! I am an orphan. Please have mercy on me who has
no other recourse." 

"hE bhagavan mayi prasIda!" is the next appeal by the AzhvAr. "O Lord, Who
is full of kalyANa-guNa-s like balam, vIryam, tEjas etc., Please show me Your
compassionate face and bless me. You are the one Who removes all the sorrows
of Your devotees."

"tvam param kAruNika: kila ?" - "Aren't You the One Who gives all boons, out
of Your Big Heart ? ". 

"dInam mAm uddhartum arhasi, tvam purushOttama: asi, sa tvam prasIda ", prays
the AzhvAr.  "I am a feeble weakling struggling in the sea of samsAra. You are
the Supreme Being. Therefore please ferry me across the fierce ocean of 
samsAra. You have all these attributes (sa: tvam). so please help me without
hesitation.", prays the AzhvAr here.

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                      ** SrI kRshNArpaNamastu **