Dakshinamurti stotra- verse 10

[Guest guest]

Dakshinamurti stotra- verse 10

 

 

 

There has been some discussion based on the above verse in the thread

entitled 'brahman and Ishvara'. The question is, what is the meaning and

scope of the term 'Ishvaratva' in the above verse? The verse is reproduced

below:

 

 

 

sarvAtmatvamiti sphuTIkRitamidam yasmAdamushhmin stave

 

tenAsya shravaNAt tadarthamananAt dhyAnAcca san~kIrtanAt |

 

sarvAtmatvamahAvibhUtisahitam syAd Ishvaratvam tataH

 

siddhyet tat punarashhTadhA pariNatam caishvaryamavyAhatam }}

 

This has been translated by Alladi Mahadeva Sastry as below:

 

Because the universality of Atman has thus been explained in this hymn,

therefore, by hearing it, by reflecting and meditating upon its teaching,

and by reciting it, that Divine State which is endued with the mighty

grandeur of being the Universal Self shall, of itself, come into being, as

also that unimpeded Divine Power presenting itself in eight forms.

 

Shri Sureshvaracharya has composed a commentary in verse known as

'mAnasollAsa' on the entire Dakshinamurti stotra. I am giving below the

translation of the commentary relating to the above verse, which helps us to

understand the meaning of this verse and particularly the meaning of the

word 'Ishvaratva'.

 

1. To attain to the (natural) state of the Universal Ego (pUrNa ahambhAva),

by giving up the casual state of the limited Ego, is declared to be the end

of this hymn.

 

2. Sons, grandsons, houses, lands, money, grain, all in plenty – these lower

ends, too, accrue in svarga, in pAtAla, and on the earth.

 

3. As cold is warded off from him who is engaged in cooking, so by this hymn

all gain will accrue to him incidentally.

 

4. Lordliness (Ishvaratvam) is in the very nature of Ishvara, the Divine

Being. It has, indeed, no separate existence from Him. Though man may be

running, yet his shadow accompanies him.

 

5. Infinite Power is in the nature of Ishvara, the Divine Being, and aNimA

and the like are only a few drops that trickle down from it. When the

devotee has himself become Ishvara, they come to him of themselves.

 

6. Atman is none other than SadAshiva, and it is by drops of Atman's power

that BrahmA, VishhNu, and Shiva shine so powerful.

(Note- BrahmA is the four-faced Creator God).

 

7. By him who carries a flower, its fragrance is enjoyed without his seeking

for it. By him who has realized himself as the Universal Ego, the powers (of

BrahmA, etc, ), which are limited, are enjoyed. (The implication of this

verse is that his powers are much greater).

 

8. aNimA (smallness), mahimA (vastness), garimA (heaviness), laghimA

(lightness), prApti (range of vision), prAkAmya (freedom of will), Ishitva

(power to command), vashitva (power to control)--- these are the eight

siddhis.

 

(Now follow some shlokas which explain each of these siddhis, the

translation of which I am not giving).

 

9. Devas are under the control of that brAhmaNa who contemplates as above

(as in verse 10 of Dakshinamurti stotra). What need is there to say that

princes, tigers, snakes, women, men, and the like (are subject to his

control)?

 

10. To those in whose minds the conviction as to their being one with the

Universal Ego holds uninterrupted sway, to those who are perfect in samAdhi,

what is there which cannot be attained?

 

11. The wise man should recite this hymn and contemplate on the idea that he

is the Self in all, abandoning all yearning for the lesser fruits arising

from svarga and so on.

 

12. No wise man, indeed, ever looks upon the kingdom of svarga as a great

empire. That alone is his empire, namely, the identity of his Self with the

Supreme Being (Atmani svArAjyam).

 

13. All siddhis come to him who ever contemplates the Self in all.

Wherefore, with the mind controlled, one should hold his empire in the

Atman.

 

14. Who has highest love for God, and for the guru as for god, to that

mahAtman the truths here taught shine in full.

 

From the above commentary it is seen that according to Sureshvaracharya the

enlightened person automatically acquires all siddhis. Whether he uses or

displays them or not is a different matter.

 

Pranams,

S.N.Sastri

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sastriji.

 

Immense thanks for 40509 and the pains you have taken to unravel the

import of Stanza 10 of Dakshinamurthi Stotra.

 

Appreciate it.

 

Best regards.

 

Madathil Nair