Padhuka Sahasram-94

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>Sri:

>SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,>

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

>Swamin:

>

>94. rudhram shrithO dhevagaNa: sa rudhra:

> padmAsanam sOpi cha padhmanAbham

> sa thvAmananthO na punasthvamanyam

> ka yESha padhAvani! thE praBhAva:

>

>Oh Paaduka! Whereas the devas resort to Rudra, Rudra resorts to Brahma

>, and Brahma resorts to the Lord Padmanabha. But the Lord of infinite

>splendour is dependent on Your supporting base. Can the type of

>greatness in Your case be described by any?

>

>Namo Narayana,Adiyen,

>SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN (V.S):

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

 

(1)UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukhE ! Your glory

is unique and limitless. DevAs take their refuge in RudrA;

He in turn depends on BrahmA for his protection ;BrahmA

resting on the navel-lotus of His father PadmanAbhA seeks

latter's rakshaNam .PadmanAbhA , who is limitless in His

valour seeks however Your protection to move around

to protect BhakthAs in distress. In this regard, You outshine

all the other protectors including Your Lord and thus

stand on top of the hierarchy of protectors of this Universe.

 

(2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning of

this slOkam is that our Lord protects all the beings

of the Universe through sadAchAryAs. Those who do not

seek the protection of a sadAchAryan will not gain

any purushArtham .

 

(3) The hierarchy of protection for Deva gaNAs is

Rudhran, PadhmAsanan and ultimately PadhmanAbhan .

That PadhmanAbhan needs His Paadhukai for His protection

as He goes about His duties of protecting His BhakthAs

and punishing the wicked . The Paadhukai of the Lord

however does not seek anyone's protection for performing

its duties . Such is its greatness (PrabhAvam )!

Swami Desikan concludes this slOkam in a state of

wonder and declares: hEy PaadhAvani! yEsha

thE PrabhAva: Ka:?( Oh PaadhukhE ! How can One

comprehend such an extraordinary glory of Yours?).....V.S

 

(4) Swami Desikan says first , " Anantha: Sa: thvAm Sritha: "

( The Lord is present everywhere at all times;He seeks You

for His protection ). " Thvam puna: anyam na srithA "

( As far as You are concerned, You have not sought

anyone else for Your protection ; You are self-sufficient).

What a Wonder? How can we begin to understand the magnitude

of Your unique glory ?....V.S