Padhuka Sahasram-104

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>Sri:

>SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

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

>Swamin:

>

>104. mathvA thruNAya BharathO maNipAdharakshE!

> rAmENa thAm viraithAm raGhurAjaDhAnIm

> thvAmEva sapraNayamujjayinImavanthIm

> mEnE mahOdhayamayIm maDhurAmayODhyAm

>

>Oh Paaduka! Bharata looked upon the kingdom, that was deprived of

>Rama (and secured for him by his mother) with contempt and indifference

>as if it were a mere leaf of grass. But he accepted You with love-

>greater than for Rama!-as Ujjayini(one of superior lustre), as Avanti

>(one which would save him from stigma), as Madhura (one which is

>pleasing to all), as Ayodhya (an unassailable one)-even as Vaikunta-

>and as auspices-filled; Behold Your greatness! (Ayodhya is also a

>name for Vaikunta)

>

>Namo Narayana,

>Adiyen,SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN (V.S):

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

 

(1) It appears to me that the anvaya kramam (prose order)

of the slOkams will be better than just splititng sandhis .

Hence I will add anvya kramam from now on for following

the meanings of the Sanskrit words used by Swami Desikan

and his flow of thoughts :

 

" hEh MaNi PadharakshE ! Bharatha: , RaamENa VirahithAm thaamm

Raghu RaajadhAnIm thruNAya mathvA , spraNayam thvaam-yEva

UjjayanIm , AvanthIm , MahOdayamayeem , MadhurAm , AyOdhyAm mEnE " .

 

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

slOkam is that One should treat wealth and other crutches of

life as equal in value to the blades of grass and disply

instead sincere devotion to one's AchAryan and be saved.

At the time of departure for the forest , RaamchandrA thought

the value of AyOdhyA ,His kingdom , as worthless compared to

the intrinsic worth of the Paadhukhais , which He considered

as Sakala PurushArtham for the world . Therefore , He blessed

His dearest brother BharathA with His Paadhulkhais

at Chithrakootam . The troubles that BharathA went through

to gain these Paadhukhais were immeasurable .He was duly rewared

however at the end of his sufferings .

 

(3)UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh MaNI PaadhukhE ! BharathA

thought that the city and the wealth represented by AyOdhyA

without His brother RaamA was worthless and equal in value

to a blade of grass.Therefore , BharathA rejected that gift

of rulership of AyOdhyA given to him by his mother , KaikEyi.

The wise Bharathan considered You with an affection greater

than that he had for the famous city of AyOdhyA and considered

You as superior to other well known cities such as Ujjayani,

Avanthi , MahOdayam , MadhurA and Vaikuntam (AyOdhyA).

Therefore , he celebrated you with SapraNayam ( with

great affection and devotion ).

 

(4) The double entendre (slEdai) embedded by Swami Desikan,

while he uses the names of the five cities is marvellous .

Swami Desikan says: Oh Gem-bedecked PaadhukhE ! You are

looking victorious out of the special affection You

have for Your Lord RamachandrA .BharathA recognized

the many auspicious qualities of the resplendent

(Ujjayaneem )Raama Paadhukhais and saluted them as

Avanthi , MahOdayam ,MadhurA and AyOdhyA .He saluted

them as " Avanthi " , since it protected him (Bharathan)

from any blemish of desiring RaamA's Kingdom. He saluted

them as " MahOdhayam " since they have more riches than

the entire city of AyOdhyA and others.He praised them

as " Madhuram " since they are sweet to every one ,

who approaches them. Finally , he saluted them as " AyOdhyA "

or as the one, which could not be conquered by anyone in battle.

Thus few of the limitless aspects of the glories of

Sri Raama PaadhukhAs (Swami NammAzhwAr as the AchAryan)

are being celebrated here...V.S