Sri Pillai Lokacharya's Mumukshuppadi - 007

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Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

 

Original Sutra:

7. Sakala sAsthrankaLAlum piRakkum SvayamArjitham pOlE;

thirumanthraththAl piRakkum gnyAnam paithrukathanam

pOlE.

 

Meaning:

The knowledge gained by a person through Sastras such as

Srutis and Smritis are like the wealth gained by him after

much effort, whereas the knowledge gained by a person

through the Thirumanthra upadesam by an acharya is easily

obtained like wealth inherited from his forefathers.

 

Sri PBA Swami's Sarartha Deepikai:

Are there not several Sastras that He Himself has provided to

this world? Why should a person not study these works and

gather the knowledge held within? Are they not a way to reach

Him? Why would one have to try to reach Him through the

recitation of the Thirumanthra?

 

The fact that the knowledge gained from Thirumanthra is better

than that gained from Sastras is shown here through the use of

an example. A person works hard and gathers wealth; another

gains wealth without any effort by inheriting it from his

forefathers. While both enjoy the wealth, since one person

struggled to obtain his wealth it is tinged with some pain;

whereas the other person got his wealth easily and therefore

enjoys it more. Similarly the wealth of knowledge obtained

through Thirumanthra by the grace of an acharya will be most

pleasing.

 

I seek refuge at the lotus feet of Pillai Lokacharya,

Nammazhvar, Ramanuja and Jeeyar

adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan

TCA Venkatesan