mukunda mAlA - Part 7

[Guest guest]

SrI V. saDagOpan's commentary on the mukunda-mAlA stOtram :

 

VERSE 20

 

baddhEnAnjalinA natEna SirasA gAtrais sa-rOmOdgamai:

kaNThEna svara-gadgadEna nayanEnOdgIrNa bAshpAmbunA |

nityam tvac-caraNAravindayugaLa dhyAnAmRtAsvAdinAm

asmAkam sarasIruhAksha satatam sampadyatAm jIvitam || 20

 

 

After meditating on and describing the viSva-rUpam of the Lord in the

previous verse, SrI kulaSEkharar is awe-struck and his voice falters.

Tear swell up in his eyes; he has horripilation. With anjalI hastham and bent

head, the AzvAr begs Lord SrI ranganAtha for His blessings to have continued

memory of His nectar-like Feet.

 

In utter humility, the AzhvAr says, "O Lord, Remembering You is the most

blessed experience, like drinking nectar. Let this bliss continue forever

for us (asmAkam jIvitam satatam sampadyatAm) with Your blessings."

 

--

 

VERSE 21

 

hE gOpAlaka ! hE kRpA-jala-nidhE ! hE sindhu-kanyA-patE !

hE kamsAntaka ! hE gajEndra-karuNA-pArINa ! hE mAdhava ! |

hE rAmAnuja ! hE jagad-traya-gurO ! hE puNDarIkAksha! mAm

hE gOpI-jana-nAtha ! pAlaya param jAnAmi na tvAm vinA || 21

 

After the humble prayer seeking the Lord'd blessings for constant memory

of His nectar-like Feet, SrI kulaSEkharar surrenders to Him in abject humility

and confesses that there is no other saviour for him except the Lord reclining

on Adi-SEshan ar SrI-rangam. He requests the Lord to protect him. He cries out

the many names of the Lord and begs for protection and concedes that he has

no one to turn to. (mAm pAlaya tvam vinA param na jAnAmi)

 

When seeking protection, AzhvAr's first thoughts turn to gOpAlan who protected

the cows and calves on the plains of gOkulam. He thinks of that ocean of mercy

(kRpA-jala-nidhi) Who took care of the cows as a cowherd and seeks the same

type of protection from Him.

While thinking of the Ocean of Mercy, AzhvAr's thoughts focus on the daughter

of the Milky Ocean whom the Lord married. (sindu-kanyA-pati:)

 

The AzhvAr's vast knowledge of purANa-s form the basis of his next nAmArcanam-s

like kamsAntaka and gajEndra-karuNA-pAriNa. He reflects on the celebrated

deeds such as the destruction of kamsa and the rescue of the king of elephants

from the mouth of the crocodile at a lotus pond.

AzhvAr pays his respects to SrI kRshNa avtAram by exclaiming the Lord as

rAmAnuja ( younger Brother of Bala-rAma), as gOpI-jana-nAtha and as the teacher

of the three worlds (jagat-traya-guru) because of His blessings through the

teachings enshrined in the bhagavad-gIta.

 

--

 

VERSE 22

 

bhaktApAya bhujanga-gAruDa-maNis trailOkya-rakshA-maNi:

gOpI-lOcana-cAtakAmbuda-maNis saundarya-mudrA-maNi: |

ya: kAntA-maNi rukmiNI-ghana-kuca-dvandvaika-bhUshA-maNi:

SrEyO dEva-SikhA-maNir diSatu nO gOpAla-cUDA-maNi: || 22

 

The thought of SrI kRshNa in the previous verse stirs the kRshNa-bhakti of

SrI kulaSEkharar and in this verse the AzhvAr further celebrates the descent

of SrI ranganAtha as SrI kRshNa.

 

AzhvAr describes and celebrates the splendid gem of SrI kRshNa bhagavAn.

AzhvAr states that HE is like gAruDa-maNi which removes the dangers arising

from poisonous snakes. He recognizes SrI kRshNa as the supremely brilliant gem

which protects the three universes. (trai-lOkya-rakshA-maNi:)

 

Azhvar also describes HIM as gOpI-lOcana-cAtaka-ambuda ie HE is the gem in the

form of rainy clouds for the cAtaka birds which represent the eyes of the

cowherdesses of gOkulam.

 

SrI kulaSEkharar is overcome by the beauty of SrI kRshNa and describes HIM

as the combined essence of all the beauty in this world, shining as an

invaluable gem. (saundarya-mudrA-maNi:)

 

This beautiful gem of kRshNa is visualized as resting HIS head between the

breasts of SrI rukmiNI dEvI. hence the AzhvAr describes HIM as the blue

sapphire that adorns the chest region of SrI rukmiNI. (kAntA-manIr-rukmiNI-

ghana-kuca-dvandvaika-bhUshA-maNi:)

 

Our AzhvAr also appreciates SrI kRshNa as the crown jewel of gOpas

(gopAla-cUDA-maNi:) and crown jewel of deva-s (dEva-SikhA-maNi:)

 

AzhvAr prays to that illustrious blue gem (sa: na: SrEyO diSatu) and prays for

HIS benevolent blessings.

 

--

 

** SrI kRshNArpaNamastu **