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

[Guest guest]

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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