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Pleadings-Posting - 2 (2.5 to 2.7)

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanbil • October 2, 1999 


SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam" and "SAtvika ThyAgam "
(As gleaned from his StOtras.) - Part 2- Swami pleads
Pleadings-Posting - 2 (2.5 to 2.7)
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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[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] 
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2.5. " YOUR BABY IS DROWNING!"
 
Achyutha! vishayAkrAntham bhavArNavAvartha brami nimajjantham /
jananee sthanandayamiva mAm udhrhuthya sEvasva swayam pathyam //
(Achyuta Sathakam SlOkam 93)

Meaning
Oh! Adiyavarkku meyyanE!
A mother takes her suckling baby to the seashore. Unexpectedly, the infant 
slips from her hands and falls into the raging sea. The waves toss it hither 
and thither; Fishes and other sea creatures torment it. What will the mother 
do? Will she not rush to jump into the waters, lift the child up and take it 
safety, unmindful of any risk to herself? Will she not ingest appropriate 
medicines so that the breasted baby gets over the ailments contracted? I am 
your child. I have fallen into the vortex of rough seas of ''SamsAra''.  
Cruel creatures of worldly pleasures drag me on all sides and torment me. 
Only you, as my loving mother, should relieve me of this trauma, breaking the 
chain of SamsAra"

Comment:
The words 'Swayam pathyam sEvaswa' indicate how the mother takes medicines 
for the benefit of the suckling baby because the baby does not know what to 
do. 

In JitanthE StOtra, a similar sentiment is expressed 
kvAham athyantha dhurbuddhi: Kva cha aathma hitha veekshaNam/ 
yath hitammama dEvEsa tath aagnApaya mAdhava//
Meaning 
"I do not know what is good and what is bad for me. Oh! MAdhava! You decide 
what is good for my welfare and grant it"

MaNavALa  MAmunigal in his Aarthi Prabandham (9) echoes the same sentiments 
thus:
"koopathil vizhum kuzhaviyuDan gudhithu avvAbhathai neekkum annai pOl"

2.6. "LET MY BABY-TALK DELIGHT YOU!"
 
 nityam hithAhitha viparyaya bhaddha bhAvE
 tvad veekshaNaika vinivarthyabahu vyapAyE /
 mugdAksharai:akhila dhAriNi mOdhamAnA
 mAtha: sthanandhaya dhiyam mayi varthayEthAh //
 (Bhoosthuthi SlOkam 3)

 Meaning
"Oh! Mother of the whole Universe!
 I do not have the capacity to differentiate between good and bad. I always 
mistake one for the other. So, there is no limit to my transgressions. With 
such a background, I know that I cannot sing your praise properly. I am 
prattling like the blabbering of an infant. In this world, a mother who 
breastfeeds her baby is delighted to hear the incoherent baby-talk of the 
child. Similarly, since I am your child, You should accept my blabbering 
baby-talk!

Comment:
We know that every single syllable of Swami's compositions contain gems of 
wisdom and maturity. Did not Pillai LokAchArya say -

"Seeronru Thooppul TirunvankaTamudaiyan 
PaAronra Chonna PazhmozhiyuL 
OronruthAnE amaiyAdho dhAraniyil VazhvArkku 
VanErap pOmaLavum vAzhvu". 

But, Swami extrapolates our incapacity on himself and on our behalf.
 
2.7. "YOU ARE MY ATTORNEY!"
 
 phalavitharaNadhksham pakshapAthAnabahigjnam
 praguNam anuvidhEyam prApya padmA sahAyam /
 mahathi guNa samAjE mAnapoorvam dayE tvam
 prathi vadhasi yathArham pApmanAm mAmakAnAm //
 (Daya Sathakam SlOkam 33)

Meaning
"Oh ! DayA DEvi!
In the case brought against me, TiruvEnkaTamuDaiyAn presides over the court. 
The bench includes Periya PirAtti. My sins are the prosecutors, who demand 
severe punishment for me. The other qualities of the Lord like GnAna, Sakti, 
Veerya, Tejas etc are the jurors listening intently to the arguments to help 
the judge in meting out justice- which inevitably means sure penalty for me. 

On my side, you appeared as Defense attorney. With your clever arguments, you 
demolished the allegations of the prosecution. Finally, you cited from 
sAstras (the Lord's Law books) that all my sins had been already pardoned and 
wiped out when I did 'SaraNAgathi'. Thus, you secured me freedom. I do not 
know how to admire you!"

Comment:
This court scene was very vividly described in the Tele- Upanyasam of Srimad 
Andavan of Poundarikapuram Ashramam sometime ago.
(To Continue)
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