Padhuka Sahasram-68

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Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

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

Swamin:

 

68. maDhuvaIriparigrahEShU nithyam kshamayA thvam maNipAdhukE! SamethA

thadhapi kshamasE nakim parEShAm thridhashAdIshvarashEKharE nivEsham

 

Oh Paaduka! Among the attendants of the Lord, You are ever close to

Bhoomi. Evidently, You ought to be forbearing (like Bhoomi Devi). But then how

is it You do not let the other attendants serve on the chiefs of the Devas

(such as Brahma, Siva and Indra) when You adorn their heads? (You alone

adorn their heads; when You do so, they do not get the service of their

umbrella, chamara or other paraphernalia)

 

Namo Narayana,

Adiyen, SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN (V.S)

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

points out that the PaadhukhAs are the best among the Lord's

Isvaryam, His devis, BhUshaNams and Aayudhams .He plays a pun

on the word, " KshamA " , which can mean either BhUmi Devi or

patience/forbearance . When Swami has BhUmi Devi in mind,

the corresponding meaning is as follows: " Oh PaadhukhE !

You have close friendship with BhUmi Devi or Mother Earth (i.e),

You walk on the Earth .In this regard , BhUmi Devi is closer to

You than MahA Lakshmi or NeeLA Devi .

 

The DevAs do not use their umbrellas and fans signifying

their status , when they adorn You on their heads , since

You do not have any patience for such association " . Swami Desikan

suggests that it is only the Paadhukhai of the Lord and not

the umbrella or the fan of the Lord that find their place

on the heads of the DevAs .

 

The second meaning of this verse is as follows: " Lord RanganAthA

has many decorative objects for each of His limbs with one

exception .For instance , He wears a crown or a Turban or other

head gear on His head ; similarly , for His neck, He wears a flower

garland, a necklace and a strand of pearls .For His Lotus feet

however, He only wears the PaadhukhAs , as if the PaadhukhAs

would not tolerate any other competition .

 

2) Srimadh Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukhE !DevAs do not place

any object on their heads other than You. You are known for

your KashamA (forbearnace ).How come you do not bear with

the devAs regarding other objects of Your Lord adorning

their heads ? Kashamaa means Forbearance and BhUmi Devi.

The association of the Paadhukhai with BhUmi Devi is

also referred to here.

 

3) Swami Desikan addresses the Padhukhai of the Lord and

asks a question about some thing that bewilders him :

" Oh Lord's PaadhukhE ! Tvam nithyam KshamayA samEthA ;

(kim thu ) parEshAm (deva) sEkarE nivEsam kim na KsahmasE ? "

( Among all the objects serving the Lord , You have the most

amicable relationships. However,You do not put up with

the other objects of Your Lord being placed on the heads

of DevAs .You prefer to be there exclusively . How Come ?

where is Your proverbial KshamA ?)........V.S