Padhuka Sahasram-46

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>Sri:

>SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

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

>

>46. PadasarasijamEtath PAdhukE rangaBharthu:

> PratiniDhipadhavIm tE gAhathE svEna BhUmnA

> TadhidhamaparaThA chEth thiShTathasya nithyam

> kaThamiva vidhithArthA: tvAm BhajantE MahAntha:

>

>Oh Paaduka of Lord Ranganatha! These two lotus feet have acquired by their

>own greatness, the honour of being Your deputy. If this were not so, how

>will knowledgable persons always worship You when the feet are there?

>(The chief official will have a deputy only in the former's absence.

>The chief official and the deputy will be similar. But when the chief is

>available, the deputy will be disregarded.)

>

>Namo Narayana,

>Adiyen,SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN (V.S)

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

 

(1)Uttamur Swamy's Anubhavam :Oh Paadhukhais of Lord RanganAthA !

The lotus feet of the Lord have earned the status of becoming

Your representative. If it is not so, how can one explain

the learned seers offering their worship to the Lord's feet

and yet wear You on their heads to acquire all blesings

including Moksham ? Lord's holy feet are in front of these

seers , but they elect to wear You on their heads . This can

only imply that You are the primary One and the Lord's sacred

feet embodying His glory are Your representative .Such is

Your superior status !

 

(2) Sri Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukhE ! Why do the most

learned seers place You on their head in Bhagavadh sannidhAnam ?

Why do not they opt for the Lord's sacred feet for their heads?

The reason is that You are the primary One. The lord's feet

as Your prathinidhi is second in rank.The inner meaning is

that the AchAryAs are superior to BhagavAn .

 

(3) Swami Desikan points out the clear path followed by the great

seers (mahAnthA: ), who are well versed in the inner meanings

of the SaasthrAs (VidhithArthA:).They have two choices for

the objects to adorn their heads . One is the Lotus feet of

the Lord of Srirangam ( Rangabharthu: Padha sarasijam ).

The other is the Paadhukhai of the Lord.They choose deliberately

the Paadhukhais to adorn their heads. Why so ? Swami Desikan

reveals that the Lord's sacred feet has conceded supermacy

to the Paadhukhais ( NammAzhwAr)and has become its deputy .

The Sri Sookthi of Madhura Kavi AzhwAr's KaNNInuNN SiRutthAmpu

is the pramANam that Swami Desikan seems to have in mind

for this anumAnam ... V.S

 

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan .