Pleadings-Posting - 2 (2.5 to 2.7)

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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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