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SAtvika AhamkAram 4.05: "WATER THE ROOT. THE STEM WILL FLOURISH!"

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • November 26, 1999 


SwAmi VedAnta Desika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam"
and "SAtvika AhamkAram"
(as gleaned from his StOtras)
Part 4. SAtvika AhamkAram
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Dear Bhagavatas
Your kind attention is invited to the Introduction to this Part posted on 
21st November 99 to appreciate this posting better and in the proper 
perspective.
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
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SAtvika AhamkAram 4.05:  
"WATER THE ROOT. THE STEM WILL FLOURISH!"
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nisseema vaibhava jushAm mishathAm guNAnAm
sthOthur dayE! Vrisha gireesa guNEswareem thvam /
thairEva noonam avasaih abhi nanditham mE
sathayApitham thava bhalAth kuthO bhayatvam //
(DayA Sathakam SlOkam 101)

Meaning
"Oh! DayA Devi!
Though TiruvEnkaTamuDaiyAn has several qualities like GnAna, Bhala, Veerya, 
Sakti etc. which being powerful each in its own way and having a close watch 
over me, I just took bold to ignore them all and preferred to adore you. 

Do you know why?
It is because you are the foremost among them all. 
They are not capable of rendering the kind of help that you can. 

Without you, they are helpless, nay, positively unhelpful for us, great 
sinners.

I should normally be mortally scared at incurring their wrath for so ignoring 
them. But, the truth is that I am not at all scared. 

Do you know why?
It is because, with you on my side, I need not be scared of anyone.

Even so, you will be surprised to know that in reality they are NOT angry at 
all. On the other hand, they are scared of me!

Do you know why?
It is because they know that you are their leader and they are scared of 
going against your Sankalpamto be on my side! 

They also know that for chEtanas, they can be of no help without your 
leadership.

When you are honored, they feel honored too because they derive their 
sustenance from your leadership.

There is nothing surprising about this. 
After all it is just a biological, botanical phenomenon.

When water is poured at the roots, it nourishes the stem, the leaves etc.
In fact, the entire plant flourishes on account of this. 
So also, they take my accolades to you as adulation to them. 
And, they are beaming with satisfaction!

Is it not a fact that when their righteous Queen is praised, the citizens 
feel happy?

Comment:
SwAmi displays his talents in skillfully praising DayA Devi as the 'primus 
inter pares' (i.e. one who is more equal than the rest) without offending the 
others who are just equals!

He draws a botanical parallel to prove how DayA Devi is the root while the 
others secure their succor through her!

He further draws a political comparison in which DayA Devi is pictured as the 
righteous queen to whom others are subordinate citizens who rejoice when 
their queen is honored!
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To follow: SAtvika AhamkAram 4.06:
"I AM TELLING ONLY THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TEUTH AND 
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH"
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