bhOgyAmrutam - Sharvaha

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Sharvaha (star-aswini) = The One who punishes the misfortune

 

Poem: TiruvAimozhi – 6-1-9 (Of SrI NammALwAr)

Brief Interpretation: There are three kinds of souls in this world.

 

1) Those who always experience the Lord.

2) Those who long for association with that Lord.

3) Those who do not know anything about that Lord.

 

There is no problem for those belonging to the first and the third categories

But those who long for being with that Lord are subjected to enormous pain.

Neither they can get Him nor can they stay without Him. He is “Sharvaha” with

respect to those. He punishes their bane i.e., removes their afflictions and

enables them to see Him.

 

 

Poem in English:

 

1) I prostrate to your feet, O esteemed swans walking over the flowers

2) The Lord who resides in TiruvaN vaNDUr where the conches blazon the day

3) I have seen that cruel and cunning Lord KriShna – the one who is mad about

His AsritAs

4) I am a horrible sinner – Tell my plight to that Lord

 

Detailed interpretation:

 

1) I prostrate to your feet, O esteemed swans walking over the flowers:

Meaning - O venerable AchAryAs who are constantly immersed in the experience of

the Supreme Lord. I prostrate to your lotus feet. And I am expressing my

anguish to you. Kindly listen…

 

2) The Lord (the cruel and cunning one) who resides in TiruvaN vaNDUr where

the conches blazon the day:

 

It appears like only His place sees the sunrise with the conches heralding the

day. All our places are filled only with the darkness of misery and pain. What

should I call that One who had mercilessly abandoned me to suffer in such a

place? I will tease Him by calling Him – “Sharvaha”. O punishing one, O cruel

one

 

3) I have seen that Krishna who is totally mad about His people: He is called

Krishna, as He is black in colour. He is out of the reach of my eyes. Perhaps He

has hidden Himself in the darkness that surrounds me. Being dark, He can easily

mix with darkness. They say that He is crazy about His people. He is madly

attached to them and does anything for them. Yeah, its true. He will have

affection only towards His people. Not towards sinners like me. He is cruel and

cunning towards people like me. So, I call Him as “Sharvaha” – The punishing

one. He has given me a slip and has deserted me to suffer in this darkness.

 

4) I am a thoroughly detestable sinner:

You see, how all these people are sleeping without any worries. I am not having

such a peace of mind. The reason for that is seeing this fellow - “Krishna”.

That’s the biggest mistake I did. And from that time I have been suffering. He

is always out of my sight. I am a sinner right – This suits me well.

 

5) Kindly apprise that Lord of my plight:

O swans! – Kindly go to that Lord when He is alone and apprise Him of my plight.

When He is free from His people and activities, He may probably think about me

and pull me towards Him. Then only can my pain subside. Till then I have to

suffer with all this misfortune of being away from Him. He is called as the

“Sharvaha” – The One who punishes the misfortune of His people and makes them

experience Him. Then why does He leave me to suffer like this? Can’t He rid me

of all my sins and hug me close to His heart?

 

6) Neither can I leave this body, which is His property, nor can I live being

separated from Him. Why can’t He understand my pain? Till He delivers me from

this pain – I will spend my time by teasing Him as “Sharvaha” –

 

O destroyer of my afflictions.

 

JAI SRIMAN NARAYANA