Search:
Bhakti List Archives

Pleadings-Posting - 3 (2.8 to 2.11)

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • October 3, 1999 


SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam" and "SAtvika ThyAgam "
(As gleaned from his StOtras.) - Part 2- Swami pleads
Pleadings-Posting - 3 (2.8 to 2.11)
Anbil Ramaswamy
=============================================================
[As already mentioned in the Introduction, the NaichyAnusanthAnam is 
applicable to us only and NOT to Swami Desika, we have to substitute 
ourselves wherever Swami Desika extrapolates these to himself] 
=============================================================
 2.8. "DAYA DEVI! THY NAME IS COURAGE!"
 
 trivida chitachit saththA sthEma pravritti niyAmikA
 vrishagiri vibhO:ichchA sA tvam parai: aparAhathA /
 krupaNabharabruth kim kurvANa prabhootha guNAntharA
 vahasi karuNEvaichakshaNyammadeekshaNa sAhasE //
 (DayA Sathakam SlOkam 71)

 Meaning
"Oh! Daya Devi!
I am not surprised. What is Daya? Is it not the quality of removing grief of 
others without expecting anything in return? In my case, you have 
accomplished the impossible with exemplary courage. I was scared that my 
depravity might impinge on your very divinity.

Unmindful of this fact, you took bold to defend and save me on the single 
pretext of my having done Prapatti. Who else will be capable of such courage 
(sAhasam) and such capacity? This certainly shows you apart from others.

Comment:
Swami says that that it is not surprising but is only natural for DayA DEvi 
to win the case given her natural disposition coupled with her courage in 
defending and succeeding in a hopeless case.
 
 2.9. " HOW HOPELESS WAS MY CASE!"
 
 vignAtha sAsana gathir vipareetha vrithayA
 vritrAdhibhi: prichithAm padaveem bhajAmi /
 yEvam vidhE vrish gireesa dayE mayi tvam
 dheenE vibhO: samaya daNDa dharatva leelAm//
 (DayA Sathakam SlOka 93) 

 Meaning
"Oh! Daya Devi!
I know full well through the sAstras what is right and what is wrong, what is 
the reward and what is the penalty etc. Yet, I follow the footsteps of the 
enemies of the Lord like Vritra, HiraNya, SisupAla and such evil characters. 
I also know that one who commits such crimes with full knowledge is destined 
to face more severe retribution than one who commit the same out of 
ignorance. Still, I consciously go ahead with my vile course of conduct. I am 
sure that the Lord who dispenses justice on merits is sure to inflict 
severest of punishments. 

You have therefore, taken seriously the pretext of my Prapatti and my 
PrAyaschittha Prapatti and saved me from punishment, since the very sAstras 
(Law books of the Lord) also lay down that all sins get wiped out for those 
doing such Prapatti and no punishment will be due in such cases.

Comment:
Earlier, Swami was saying that he could not distinguish between good and bad 
and solicited conferment of discretion. In this SlOkam, he says he has 
understood the Dos and Don'ts as per the sAstras. 

There is a message in this apparent contradiction. While the former is 
applicable to those of us who make mistakes without knowing, the latter is 
applicable to those of us who deliberately indulge in misdeeds with full 
knowledge.

MaNavALa MAmunigal in his Aarthi Prabandham (16) also refers to this aspect 
when he says-
"AagAthu theethu enru arindhum pirarkku uraithum
AgAthathE seivathanAl
mOgAnthan enru ninaithu ennai igazhEl! EthirAja!
enru unnaDi servam yAm?"

 
2.10. " DROWN ME IN THE FLOOD OF YOUR MERCY!"
 
 naisargikEnNa tharasA karuNE niyukthA
 nimnEtharEpi mayi thE vithathir yadhi syAth /
 vismApayEthvrishagireeswaramapiavAryA
 vELAthilanghana dasEva mahAmbhu rAsE://
 (DayA Sathakam SlOkam 92)

 Meaning
"Oh! Daya Devi!
Your mercy is like the fast flowing floods. But, even high tides cannot reach 
spots in the higher gradients. I am standing on top of my sins where normally 
your flood of mercy cannot reach because even after doing SaraNAgathi, due to 
my  "Sarira Sambandham' I go on defiantly indulging in villainy. I have 
insuperable narcissism. I think too high of myself and imagine your flood 
cannot touch me. 

But, I find that your flood is so forceful that none could check its reaching 
and drowning me. You somehow devise some extenuating circumstance to rid me 
of my malevolence, make me pure and worthy of divine beatitude of 
mOkshanandam.

Comment:
Another way for presenting his own disability and the power of the DayA Devi 
in helping him. How truly it reflects our own plight!
 
2.11. "FELL THE TREE BEFORE IT GROWS OUT OF CONTROL!"
 
 niryantraNam pariNamanthi na yAvadEthE
 neerandhra dushkritha bhavA duritha prarOhA: /
 thAvan na chEth tvam upagachasi sArngadhanvA
 sakhyam tvayApi na hi vArayithum kareesa //
 (VaradarAja PanchAsat SlOkam 38)

 Meaning
"Oh! Athigiri perumAnE!
I have done innumerable forbidden acts and also continue to do so. These acts 
started like seeds ended up in sprouting. These sprouts have since grown into 
huge trees ready to bear fruits. If they start yielding fruits even you 
cannot stop it. So, before they reach that stage, bring your sAranga bow, 
uproot and cut off the trees without a trace (VerOdu piDungi). Only this way 
can you save me."

 Comment:
 Perhaps, we are best qualified to cry out in distress in this fashion!

 (To Continue)
============================================================