Padhuka Sahasram-404

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

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

 

404. lakshmIkAntham kamapi tharuNam raThyayA niShpathantham

rAgAdh draShtum thvarithamanasAm rAjaDhAnIvaDhUnAm

prathyAdhEsham Bhajathi maDhuraI: pAdhukE! shinjithaIsthE

chEthOhArI kusumaDhanuSha: shinjinImanjunAdha:

 

Oh Paaduka! The young damsels of the city have lost their hearts for

the Lord of Mahalakshmi, Lord Ranganatha, who is a perenially

youthful lad. They long to see Him as He walks fast through the

streets. Were they won by the tinkling sound from the bow-chord of

God Manmatha? Not so; they have been more successfully seduced by

Your melodious music.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

Special Notes by V.Satakopan (VS): Slokam 404

 

(1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: In the previous verse , Swamy

Desikan explained that PaadhukA naadham is responsible for the

devotion Of the scholars for RanganAthA. Here, he states that the

sweet sound(nadham) emanating from the Lord's PadhukAs is responsible

for the kindling of the affection of women for the Lord. He says: "

Oh PaadhukE!The eternally young Lord of Yours is carried by You

around the strrets of Srirangam . The young girls of Srirangam flock

to see Him during these occasions (festivals). The naadham arising

from You overcomes the sound made by ManmathA's drawing of the chord

of his bow to send the flower arrows to kindle the love of maidens

for mere mortals. Your naadham overpowers the sound of the drawing

of ManmathA's bow and makes them fall in love with Your Lord . At

the same time , RanganAthA , who is beyond the influence of

ManmathA's arrows falls in love with the maidens of Srirangam due to

the amorous powers of Your naadham.

 

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Sri RanganAthan has unparalleled

beauty . When He has sanchaaram on the streets of Srirangam on His

Paadhukais , the naadham generated during these travels enchant

the minds of the young girls . They do not want to return to their

homes.

 

(3) Swamy Desikan describes here the hurry with which the young

girls of Srirangam throng to have the darsanam of the eternal youth ,

Lord RanganAthan ( TaruNam rAgAth dhrashtum thvaritha manasAm

RaajadhAni VadhUm ). The arrows of Manmathan attempt to steal

their minds. Swami Desikan suggests tha the sunAdham of the Paadhukais

pushes away the power of the Manmatha `s pushpa bhANams and takes

over…V.S