SrI UpakAra Sangraham Part - 17

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srI: SrI upakAra sangraham – 17 --- adikAram – 1 poorva upakAra paramparai (The Foremost Series of Favours) --- SECTION – 2 (The Four basic favours provided by the Lord to the JivAthmA since time immemorial ---- 3) --- SwAmi Desikan continues: The jIvA, having immersed in the deep waters of inappropriate enjoyments, further commits wrong actions:- “aaj~nA-atilanghana-ruciyaai asamanjasan-padiyE anartha-hEtukkaLai anushtittu,” } -- The foremost of his wrong actions is the violating the rules – “aaj~nA-atilanghanam” – “aaj~nA” – means ‘commands’. Of whom? In our sanAthana

dharmam, there are certain rules which have to be observed by every one. These are laid down in smirtis, like Manusmriti etc. These are to ensure smooth life in a society that has been in existence from time immemorial. Every human being who belongs to any division of the society has to observe these rules. These are considered as ordained by the Lord Himself. “atilanghanam” -- means ‘violation’. Violating these rules or divine commands will lead to disorder and confusion and finally the society would go to pieces. It would then be very difficult for the people to lead a normal live. This

is known to the elders of the society and they are supposed to ensure order. However, individual jIvA-s, who go astray and get into wrong ways of life, which may appear to them pleasing as sensual enjoyments, and continue to indulge in them excessively, because of un-resisting desires. This is referred to by SwAmi Desikan in the following words:- “aaj~nA-atilanghana-ruciyaai” – The violation of rules itself becomes their enjoyment. SwAmi Desikan next refers to a similar character from Ramayana and SrImad Bhagavatha Purana:- “asamanjasan-padiyE” – like Asamanjasan. To know who this Asamanjasan was, we have to refer to Srimad Valmiki RAmAyana, BAlakAnda, Canto 38. The story goes as

follows:- There was a king, Sagara by name, who ruled over AyodhyA, and who was pious. He had two wives, KesinI and Sumathi. For long time, Sagara had no son. As he was worried, Sagara, along with his wives, practised asceticism at a place called Bhrugu-prasravaNa, in the HimAlayas, for begetting a son. Pleased with his tapas, the sage Brugu, conferred a boon on Sagara. He said, “One of your wives will bear you a son who will perpetuate your race, while the other will give birth to sixty-thousand sons.” KesinI preferred a son that would perpetuate the line. Sumati

sought sixty thousand renowned sons. Accordingly, in due course, KesinI gave birth to a son, known as Asamanjasa. Sumati brought forth a globular shaped lump, from which emerged sixty-thousand male issues. Royal nurses nurtured them placing them in jars full of ghee. After a long time, all of them attained maturity. The sixty thousand sons were endowed with youthful vigour and they stood by the side of Sagara. On the other hand, Asamanjasa, the eldest son of Sagara, however, used to catching hold of infants from the city everyday, throwing them into the Sarayoo river and heartily enjoyed seeing them drowning. As a result of Asamanjasa’s of sinful act, harming the citizens, King Sagara exiled him from the capital. The same story is also narrated in Srimad BhAgavata, in the 8th Chapter of the Ninth Skanda. About Asamanjasa, it gives this version:- Asamanjasa, who was given to contemplation in his previous birth, stayed away from the path of yoga through evil association and showed himself as a wicked fellow. He did what was reproachful and unpalatable. He hurled forth playing children into the Sarayoo river, frightening the people. He was exiled by his father, King Sagara, from his kingdom. Like this Asamanjasa, those jIvA-s, who indulge in dangerous acts, violate the established laws. (to continue) dAsan Anbil SrInivAsan ---

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