Challenge 3.14: NO BIG DEAL!

[Guest guest]

SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's " NaichyAnusanthAnam " and

" SAtvika AhamkAram "

(As gleaned from his StOtras.) -

Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES!

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Dear Bhagavatas

Kindly refer to " Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES! An Introductory Note " - posted on

10th October 99. I am leaving out this to avoid repetition You may read that

o appreciate this posting in the proper perspective.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

Ramaswamy======================================================================\

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Challenge 3.14: " NO BIG DEAL! "

 

DEAL! " =========================================================================\

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PrahlAda gOkula gajEndra pareekshit Adhayah

ThrAthasya tvayA nanu vipathishu thAdriseeshu /

Sarvam tadh Ekam aparam mama rakshaNam thE

SanthOlyathAm tridasanAyaka kim gareeyah://

(Sri DEvanAyaka PanchAsat SlOkam 50)

 

Meaning

 

" Oh! DeivanAyaka!

Let me chronicle some of your so-called accomplishments:

 

1) When prahlAda was tortured by his cruel father, HiraNyakasipu, you

appeared as Nrisimha and protected him to prove his words true (about your

omnipresence).

 

2) When Indra rained storms on the poor cowherds angered by their offering

puja to Govardhana giri (and that at your behest), you lifted the mountain

with your little finger and protected them for a whole week until Indra

surrendered.

 

3) When the crocodile caught the foot of GajEndra, (when it cried out

calling you " AdhimoolamE " ), you saved the pachyderm from the clutches of the

amphibian beast.

 

4) When Statham turned the fetus in the womb of Utharai into a log of

charcoal, (as 'pAnDava pakshapAdhi'), you dispatched your Chakrayudham to

protect the fetus, which subsequently bloomed at birth as Prince Pareekshith.

 

Now, put all these on one side of scale and put the task of saving me (who

always indulges in anti-Sastra-c activities) on the other.

 

You can see for yourself which side is weightier. Surely, you will find

protecting me more insuperable compared to all the accomplishments in these

other instances.

 

Also, it is no big deal, because at some stage or other each one of them

would have adopted some " UpAyam " to deserve your " UpakAram " .

 

But see my case! I have not done anything good at any time whatsoever.

You will be convinced that by saving me, you can derive the satisfaction of

having achieved the greatest of your accomplishments.

 

What are you waiting for? "

 

Comment

 

SwAmi seems to suggest that the Lord has to take extra effort in his case

while it was no big deal for Him, protecting others because in each case

cited, he had some extenuating circumstance for Him to intervene or some

vested interest in saving them.

 

1. In the case of prahlAda, he came out of the pillar to prove His own

omnipresence.

2. In the case of gOkulavAsis, it was because of his direction that they

stopped offering prayers to Indra and therefore He had the need to protect

them

3. In the case of GajEndra, it was because more than its own life, the

elephant was concerned about offering the flower at His feet before it faded

and the Lord had to rush especially when it appealed with a cry of distress.

4. In the case of Utharai, it is well known that He was an avowed " PanDava

PakshapAthi " - eternal, inalienable well-wisher of the PanDavas.

 

SwAmi seems to ask, " So, what is the big deal in saving them " and contrasts

his own pitiable plight, which entitles him to the Lord's protection.

 

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To Continue Challenge 3.15: " MAKE YOUR MERCY MEANINGFUL "

 

MEANINGFUL " ====================================================================\

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