Padhuka Sahasram-43

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>>Sri:

>>SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

>>Translation of Paaduka Sahasram by U.Ve. Sri V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin

>>

>>43. AmbunyambuniDhErananyagathiBhirmInaI: kiyadhgamyathE

>> klEshEnApi kiyadh vyalanGhim raBhasOtthungai: plavangEshvaraI:

>> vijnyAthA kiyatI puna: kshitiBhrutA manThEna gamBhIrathA

>> kim thai: kEshavapAdhukAguNamahAmBhODhE: thatasThA vayam

>>

>>How far can the fish go in the sea, even if they live in it and go

>>about freely, horizontally and vertically, at will? How far can the

>>monkey-chiefs too cross with their exceedingly high speed, with full

>>exertion even? How far could the Manthara mountain fathom the milk-ocean's

>>depth? Of what use were all they, pressed into action? Even about us, the

>>same can be said. What is the use? We merely stand on this side in the

>>shore only-when the greatness of the Paaduka lies ahead as a vast ocean.

>>

>>Namo Narayana,

>>Adiyen,SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN

*********************

 

(1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Swami Desikan develops

further the meaning of " Paramam " , the word that he

used in the previous slOkam starting with " Tadh VishNO:

Paramam Padham padhathra YugaLam -- " .He used the word

" paramam " there to describe the matchless glory of

the PaadhukhAs . Swami also focused on the cool floods

of the scared river GangA arising from the Lord's holy

feet (padha: prasyanthi paaThasvini).Swami now shifts

now from GangA to the ocean into which she flows.

 

Swami Desikan equates the auspicious attributes of

the PaadhukhAs to an ocean and compares that unique

ocean the familiar slaty ocean and the purANic milky

ocean . He describes some of the happenings at these two

oceans to provide a perspective on their dimensions and

goes on to say that the ocean of the kalyANa guNAs of

the Lord's Padhukhais is amny times vaster than the other

two Oceans .He prays for the boon of standing at the shores

of this vast , tractless ocean of PaadhukhA Samudhram .

Regarding the Salty Ocean's dimension , Swami refers to

the interminable distances that the fish swim .Swami also

points out that the monkeys were unable to determine the depth

of the oceans with one exception , when they built

the Raama Sethu .Regardig the dimensions of the milky ocean ,

Swami refers to the time when the MandrA mountain sank and

the Lord had to rescue it from sinking by taking the form

of a giant KoormA . In comparison to these two Oceans ,

which appear to be limitless , Swami Desikan states that

the auspicious qualiites of the PaadhukhAs taking the form

of the unique ocean far exceed the dimensions of the other two

oceans .

 

(2) Andavan Swamy anubhavam : The fish travel only in water

and yet they travel only a limited distance in the salty

ocean.Even the powerful ones like hanumAn jumped only

limited distances. The mandhara parvatham coped only

with the limited depth of the milky ocean . Knowing

the depth and breadth of the MahA samudhram of the Lord's

Paadhukhais as limitless compared to other two Oceans ,

adiyEn has stayed on this side of the PaadhukhA samudhram

( on the banks of this immense , tractless samudhram ).

The inner meaning is that the prabhAvam of the Paadhukhais

(NammAzhwAr ) is limitless and incomparable .

 

(3) Swami Desikan states movingly his position : " Vayam

Kesava PaadhukhA GuNa MahAmbOdhE: taDasthA : " We are

staying on this side of the great ocean of the GuNAs

of the PaadhukhAs of the Lord .Swami seems to suggest

that it will be futile to swim to the other shore of

the MahA Samudhram or to jump over it or plunge deep

to determine its depth . This multidimensional Ocean

of kalyANa GuNAs of NammAzhwAr are not fathomable

in view of its unique immensity . Swami therfore decalres

that he will stand at the shores of this great ocean with

reverence instad of engaging in futile efforts to comprehend

the depth of this ocean and its trackless vastness .

 

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari SadagOpan