Padhuka Sahasram-288

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

 

 

288. padhAvani! kvachana vikramaNE BhujAnAm

panchAyuDhI kararuhaIrBhajathE vikalpam

nithyam thvamEva niyathA padhayOrmurArE:

thEnAsi nUnamavikalpasamADhiyOgyA

 

Oh Paaduka! For the Lord, the Panchayudhas (Chakra, Sankha etc.)

could

be a weapon or it could be His own nails, it being an alternative (as

in the Nrisimhavatara). But in the matter of operation of His foot,

there is no such alternative-possibility. That is, Paaduka is a must.

It is a Nirvikalpa-samadhi of Paaduka with the Feet. We could even

say

that Paaduka is fit for Nirvikalpa-samadhi or indeterminate

contemplation.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

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Special Notes by V.Satakopan (V.S) :

 

 

 

(1) Sri Abhinava Desika UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Swami Desikan

Composed this verse to indicate the association of the Paadukai with

the Lord during His avathAram as Narasimhan. Even then , the Lord had

to move around to chase HiraNyakasipu to destroy him. Hence , Swami

points out that the Paadukais were united with the Lord's feet

during

that incarnation. He also points out that the inseperable association

of the Paadhukai with the Lord is like the Yogic state known as

Nirvikalpa SamAdhi. Swamy says: " Oh PaadhukE! In the

NrusimhAvathAram

, Your Lord rejected His five weapons and used the strength of His

own

nails to destroy HiraNyan. Although the weapons were abandoned by

Your Lord , he did not part company with You at that time. You are

never abandoned by Him , since He can not move around without You.

In the state of union with Your Lord, You seem to reach the state of

Nirvikalpa SamAdhi described by Yoga SaasthrAs. In that samAdhi

state , the enjoyer, the enjoyed and the power that brings about

the enjoyment merge and become one.

 

2) PerumAl kills His enemies with weapons like His chakram . During

NarasimhAvathAram , He did not use any of His weapons and just used

the power of His nails to destroy HiraNyan. During His sanchAra

kaalams , He does not adorn Himself with anything except the

paadhukais. Therefore ,Swamy Desikan concludes tha tthere si no match

to the glory of the Paadhukais.

 

3) Swamy Desikan uses the double meaning of the word "VikramaNE"

To celebrate the glory of the Paadhukais. The nails of Lord NarasimhA

substituted the PanchAyudhams in Valour (VikramaNE) during the fight

with HiraNyan. In Lord's sanchArams (VikramaNEshu) ,there is no one

else accompanying the Lord except the Paadhukais . Thus there is no

one to match the Paadhukais in rank. Swamy also plays with the

double

meaning of another word ,"Vikalpa " to highlight the glory of the

Paadhukais . The nails were the vikalpam (substitute

or stand-in) for the PanchAyudhams during NrusimhAvathAram . During

the Lord's sanchAram however Padhukai is avikalpam ( no substitue or

stand-in ). Through that avikalpa or nirvikalpa nature , Paadhukai

has

SamAdhi Yogyam ( Fitness for union). The Lord's Paadhukais alone

seem

to enjoy nirvikalpa samAdhi Yogam .