Question on charam slokam

[Guest guest]

Please accept adiyens pranamams.

Adiyen has a question in relation to Charama slokam. Everytime adiyen recites it

(irrespective of the time or place), adiyen feels uncomfortable. This is

because, the slokam was given in "First Person" by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. (The

meaning of this slokam has been well discussed in this and other forums. So,

adiyen will not discuss the details). Hence, when adiyen recites it, this

thought runs through in the mind, as if adiyen is suggesting the concept of

surrender to Perumal. Adiyen has considered adding a "Sri Bhagavan Uvacha"

before reciting this sacred slokam, to appreciate and experience this slokam

instead of constantly debating the right and wrong of the "First Person" theory.

Adiyen is fully aware of the consequences of breaching the general guidelines

for this slokam, but being uncomfortable with this present predicament, and

unable to change one's mind (now that this has ingrained itself well, and is not

looking to leave), hence this attempt.

Adiyen was wondering if other bhagavathas have felt this, or is adiyen alone in

this? Also, if there is someone who has felt this way, adiyen would like to know

as to how to get over it.

 

Sriman Narayana Thiruvadigale saranam

adiyen, Ramanuja dasan

(srinivasan)

[Guest guest]

At 08:41 PM 2/1/99 -0700, vasan (AT) lexmark (DOT) com wrote:

>Please accept adiyens pranamams.

>Adiyen has a question in relation to Charama slokam. Everytime adiyen

recites it

>(irrespective of the time or place), adiyen feels uncomfortable. This

is

>because, the slokam was given in "First Person" by Lord

Krishna to Arjuna. (The

>meaning of this slokam has been well discussed in this and other

forums. So,

>adiyen will not discuss the details).

Asmad gurubhyo namah

srimathe srivan shatagopa sri vedanta desika yatindra mahadesikaya

namaha

srimathe sri lakshmi nrisimha divya paduka sevaka srivan shatagopa sri

narayana yatindra mahadesikaya namaha.

With the blessings of elders and acharyas, let me express what little

adiyen knows :

All one needs to do is that when reciting this shloka, one has to

understand that this wonderful charamashloka is the pinnacle or the main

jewel among the rest of slokas of bhagavadgita which are themselves

pearls of wisdom taught by our dear lord Sri Krishna. This is the

culmination of the idea which was hidden in the other yogas such as

karmayoga, jnanayoga and bhaktiyoga, that we cannot cross this samsara by

ourselves - (mura amura na vayam chikitvah - rig veda). In fact

everything depends on God. With this idea, it has to be understood

that " This shloka was told by Lord Sri Krishna" and that

one should offer himself / herself surrendering to that divine power

behind this universe ( Note : for those who have had their prapatti -

this shloka is a reminder that he/she has surrendered and it is the form

of anubhava, since prapatti cannot be done more than once. For

those who have not had prapatti this shloka should act as a reminder that

" what else can help us" and then seek an acharya to do the

needful). With this meaning in mind, one has to " do

anusandhanam" or remember and visualize that divine power behind

everything that moves or is stationary, manifest or unmanifest, who

took pity on all of us (degraded souls) and descended from that

"parama vyoma" or vaikunta and taking the enchanting form of a

cowherd's boy, as Sri Krishna, he himself promised to us using

Arjuna as a vyaja or pretext that " I will release you from all

sins, surrender un to me". This is not just a meaning obtained

from an assessment of shastras but the very own words of Lord Sri

Krishna.

this is in fact the meaning of the dhyana shloka usually uttered before

japa - ( in brief )

yat prapattim vina sarvaih yasya maya duratyaya

dhananjaya rathastham tat prapadye paramam mahah

meaning - " without surrendering to that lord, no one can cross this

divine maya of that lord, hence I surrender to that divine Lord, the

ultimate power (behind this universe) who sat on the chariot of

Arjuna."

Hope this helps,

note : adiyen does not want to take a position of an acharya and

explain the meaning of charama shloka. However, adiyen has

just simplified what a general book on Sri Ramanuja Bhasya on Gita would

state. One greatness of charamashloka is that it is in Mahabharata

which can be studied by all folks without need of any

qualification. Unlike the other rahasyas, this sloka is in

the "smritis". The other rahasyas are vedic

statements.

adiyen Krishna