Padhuka Sahasram-71

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Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

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

Swamin:

 

71. MakuTeShu nivishya dikpathInAm

PadhamEva prathipadhya daItyahanthu:

parirakshasi pAdhukE! Padham thvam

ka nu BhidhyEtha garIyasAm praBhAva:

 

Oh Paaduka! You perform the protection duty, whether You remain on

the heads of Indra and other guardians of the eight directions or You

are below the feet of the Lord. Great individuals do not change their

nature, wherever they may be.

 

Namo Narayana,

Adiyen, SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN (V.S):

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

 

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Here, Swami Desikan

answers the doubters , who question him equating

the PaadhukhA's powers with that of the Lord's sacred

Feet. He says: " Oh PaadhukhE ! Your vow is to protect

one and all with whom You come into contact .Your Lord

protects from above , when You rest on His devotee's

heads. You protect the Lord's holy feet from below.

This way Your vow is fulfileld always. Your reputation

does not ever diminish as a result of protecting

from above (Deva's heads) and below (the Lord's feet).

You never fail therefore to protect anyone , who comes

in contact with You.

 

2) Srimadh Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukhE ! You protect

the padham (status) of the Digh PaalakAs by adorning their

heads. You stay at the Scared feet of Your Lord and protect

His padham (Lotus Feet).It is said that MahAns will behave

exactly the same way at all levels (sthAnams)regarding their

anugraham and DayA .Swami Desikan hints that Indran and others

wear the SatAri on their heads ,which is worn by PerumAL and

through that act protect their sthAnams and Isvaryams .

 

3) Swami Desikan uses the word " Padham " twice in this slOkam .

In the first instance, the Paadhukhai sits on the heads

of IndrA and Dhig PaalakAs and protects them against

losing their padhavis (padham ).The Paadhukhai also

reaches the Lord's feet and protects them ( padham prathipadhya

PadhamEva parirakshasi ). In this matter, Swami Points out

that The Paadhukai behaves like the great souls and its

glories are like that of the great Ones , who have

Sama BhAvam (equanimity)in their dealings with every one

independent of their status . Swami Desikan ends up

with a rhetorical Question : GarIyasAm PrabhAva:

kvanu bhidhyEtha ? ( Where would the glories of

MahAnubhAvAs become different ?).......V.S