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Challenge 3.08. "YOU CAN ACCEPT EVEN AN ENEMY - BUT NOT ME?"

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Ramanbil • October 18, 1999 


SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam" and 
"SAtvika AhamkAram "
(As gleaned from his StOtras.) - 
Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES!
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Dear Bhagavatas
Kindly refer to "Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES! An Introductory Note" - posted on 
10th October 99. I am leaving out this to avoid repetition You may read that 
to appreciate this posting in the proper perspective. 
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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Challenge 3.08. "YOU CAN ACCEPT EVEN AN ENEMY -BUT NOT ME?"
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saraNAgatha rakshaNa vratthee mAm
na vihAthum raNapungava arhasi tvam /
vidhitham bhuvanE vibheeshaNO vA
yadhi vA rAvaNa ithyudheeritham thE //
(Sri ParamArtha Sthuthi SlOkam 8)

Meaning
"Oh! Tirupputkuzhi EmperumAnE!
You have taken a vow to protect any one who surrenders to you, even if he 
were your *worst enemy*. 

Did you not declare to Sugriva at the time of Vibheeshana saraNAgathi ? - 
"I have pledged protection to anyone surrendering to me whether it is 
vibheeshaNa or even if it were my arch enemy, RAvaNa. Go, fetch him"

This being your mental make up, how can you desert me alone on the ground of 
my being a sinner. It is not proper to forsake me who has surrendered"

Comment

Paramartha Sthuthi is known as "Desika RamAyaNam" and this is the central 
scene that SwAmi cites for our sake. 

SwAmi addresses the Lord as "RaNapungava" for a specific reason. He seems to 
remind the Lord of the circumstances in which he gave out the pledge - that 
is even when the heat of the war (with his worst enemy) was at its peak. Such 
was the compassion of the Lord. SwAmy seems to imply that he himself was no 
enemy but in fact, a SaraNAgatha, accepting whom should not present any 
difficulty to the Lord.

Also, It is addressed to the victorious (Vijaya) RAghavan at Tirupputkuzhi. 
Hence, "RaNapungava"

Like Krishna CharamaslOka "SarvadharmAn parityjya" in Bhagavad Gita, this 
RAma Charama slOka is important for us.

The one who does not have to offer a pledge or vow comes forward to offer 
such a pledge and commits himself unequivocally out of His concern to save 
us. This He does on his own and openly for the entire world to know 
(vidhitham bhuvanE).  

Sri RAma made a similar statement to Sri Sita when she mildly objected to 
RAma's rushing to help the sages against the Rakshasas who tormented them. He 
replies to Sri Sita that it was his vow to offer protection to those who seek 
it at his hands.

"tad avasyam mayA kAryam risheeNAm paripAlanam" (VAlmiki RAmAyanam 3.10).  

He even went to the extent of saying that if it comes to that, he would 
rather give up even Sita and Lakshmana than give up his promise of protection 
given to the Rishis.
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(To Continue) Challenge 3.09. "FROM TREPIDATION TO INTREPIDITY!"
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