Padhuka Sahasram-251

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

 

251. shoUrE: shrungArachEShtAnAm prasUthim pAdhukAm BhajE

yAmESha BhunkthE shuDdhAnthAth pUrvam paschAdhapi praBhu:

 

Oh Paaduka Devi! My humble prostrations to You, who create for the

great creator, Lord Ranganatha, a variety of amorous activities;

indeed the Lord enjoys You passionately, before and after in between

his love-plays in the harem!

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

Special Notes by V. Sadagopan (V.S):

 

SrungAra Paddhathi : Tenth Paddhathi

 

SlOkam : 251 - Introduction: In the previous Paddhathi , Swami

Desikan

described Sri RanganathAn's travel to His inner apartments

To join His consorts to have union with them. In this section , Swami

refers to the union of the Lord with Devi PaadhukA before and after

His visits to the quarters of His consorts. Through Her union with

the Lord , Devi PaadhukA confers on the Lord His beautiful gait

and beats time with Her musical sounds. This way , Devi Padhuk

enhances His SringAram ( passion , emotional attachment ) towards

His consorts . There are ten verses in SringAra Paddhathi . It is not

easy to translate this section , where Swami Desikan's poetic skills

blossom forth brilliantly…(V.S)

 

(1) Sri UtthamUr Sawmi's anubhavam: We meditate upon the PaadhukA

Devi , whom RanganAthA enjoys through union before and after His

visits to the inner apartments of His consorts. The same PaadhukA

Devi is the root cause of the Lord's love plays with His consorts .

Swami Desikan suggests that RanganAthA as the Master takes the roles

of DakshiNan , anukUlan et al to enjoy Devi PaadhukA , which in turn

assumes the role of VallabhA , VaasakA , SajjikA et al to enhance His

SrungAram . In love play , the Master and the Mistress take different

roles to enhance the enjoyment of their union. Swami Desikan states

here that the inspiration for the Lord's various amorous activities

with His consorts originate from His playful involvement with Devi

PaadhukA .

 

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: PerumAl enjoys the Nayaka-Nayaki

sukham through the service of the Padhukais. He adorns the Paadhukais

before the travel to His antha: puram and after His visit with His

Naayakis there. The inner meaning is that Swamy NammAzhwAr

identifies

himself as a lady enjoying the Lord as her purushan .

 

(3) The SrungAra chEshtAs of the Lord are described here . Swamy

points out the origin (prasUthI) of those leelAs are the Paadhukais

themselves. Swamy points out further that the Lord enjoys the union

with Devi Paadhukai before and after His visits to the inner chambers

of His beloved consorts…(V.S)