SrI UpakAra Sangraham Part -21

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srI: SrI upakAra sangraham – 20 --- 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 ---- 4) --- In the third sub-section, SwAmi Desikan showed us how the Lord is waiting for us who got entangled in petty pleasures as a result of which we fell into the whirlpool of birth-death cycle through various praLaya-s. In spite of it, we remained un-repentant.

Even then, out of natural compassion, without any particular motive, the Lord is looking for a moment to save us. While He is waiting in this manner, in what state are we? SwAmi Desikan deals with it in this fourth-sub section:- (iv) “ippadi ninRaal, aparaadha-pravaahattil vilakkaRRu, vilkkuvaaraiyum vilakkip porukiRa nammai, sarvasamanaay karma-anuroopa-phala-pradanaayk kondu svacchanda-leelaa-pravrutta-naana taane vialkki viLaiyadukaikku agnaata-sukrutaadikaL enRu cila alpa-vyaajangaLai anya-phala-hetu-kkaL allaatapadi amogankaLaaka sankalpitta-tuvum,---- svecchaa-maatra-anubandhi-kaLu-maay anaadikaLumaana upakaarangaL. ivai naalum meluLLa upakAra nilankaLukkellaam adhishthaanankaLaay niRkinRana.” Even as the Lord is waiting for the moment of our return, we, the jIvA-s, remain caught in the deluge of wrong-doings with no stoppage:- “ippadi ninRaal, aparaadha-pravaahattil vilakkaRRu” – While He stands like this in wait, we (the jIvA-s) are caught in the torrent of sinful acts without any escape. A question may arise: Are there not some persons to prevent us from sinful activities? Yes, there are, answers SwAmi Desikan, but he also adds : “vilakkuvaaraiyum vilakkip porukiRa nammai” -- We drive away such persons who try to stop us from indulging in sinful acts. The jIvA-s are so involved in the undesirable actions that they remain adamant and do not accept any good advice. Then, how does the Lord deal with them? SwAmi Desikan answers: “nammai, sarvasamanaay, karma-anuroopa-phala-pradanaayk kondu, svacchanda-leelaa-pravrutta-naana taane vilakki viLaiyadukaikku agnaata-sukrutaadikaL enRu cila alpa-vyaajangaLai anya-phala-hetukkaL allaatapadi amogankaLaaka sankalpitta-tuvum,” --- The Lord sees all jIvA-s as equal. He rewards the jIvA-s according to their karma-s. But, at the same time, as He is playful, He diverts the jIva who is caught in the mire of sins and rewards him, using a small good act done unintentionally by the jIvA. SwAmi Desikan points out that, it is His will to reward the jIvA in a large measure which may not be matching the tiny good act done

by him. jIvA may not even be aware that he was doing something good. That is the will of the Lord, for which no one can find the reason. It reminds us of the story of a cowherd who got special benefits from the Lord just because he ran around a temple, though not as a devotee. The cowherd was actually chasing his cow which ran in that direction.

The Lord confers such favours out of His own desire. SwAmi Desikan concludes this sub-section:- “ivai naalum, meluLLa upakAra nilankaLukkellaam adhishthaanankaLaay

niRkinRana.” These four types of the Lord’s favours form the base for the future divine favours. Here ends the Second Section under the First Chapter of Sri UpakAra Sangraham. SrImathe nigamaantha Desikaaya namah ---- (to continue) dAsan Anbil S. SrInivAsan ----------

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