Padhuka Sahasram-882

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

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

 

882. shruthiviShayaguNA thvam pAdhukE! dhaIthyahanthu:

sathathagathimanOjnyA svEna DhAmnA jvalanthI

janithaBhuvanavruDdhi: dhrushyasE sThaIryayukthA

viDhruthaniKhilaBhUthA vaIjayanthIva mAlA

 

Oh Lord's Paaduka! You resemble the vaijayanthi garland, which is the

Deity of the five elements. You bear all Bhootas (namely beings). You

are the subject of Sruti; You stroll at all times; You shine in Your

own effulgence; Your responsibility is to nourish the worlds; (water

nourishes the worlds). You are firm as Prithvi is.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S)

 

SlOkam 882

 

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam:Swamy Desikan describes the PaadhukAs

as Vaijayanthi, the garland made of wild flowers worn by RanganAtha.

It is known that the never-fading Vyjayanthi maala is the presiding

deity for all the five elements (pancha bhUthAs) such as sky

(aakAsam ), Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. AakAsam or ether is

essential for hearing. Hence , Swamy Desikan describes Vaijayanthi to

have Srushti vishaya guNam or the attributes of principles recited by

the VedAs and heard through the ears. The sounds of PaadhukAs are

heard similarly by the ears.The word " Sathatha gathi " in this slOkam

means Vaayu or wind, which spreads the fragrance of both Vyjayanthi

and PaadhukAs.The word " Dhaamnaa " means the brilliance of Suns and

Stars. Such brilliance is contained by the gems of PaadhukAs and the

flowers of VanamAlaa. Both the PaadukAs and the VanamAlaa are

affiliated with the element of water, since they increase the health

of living beings from crops to human beings. This is indicated

through the choice of the phrase, " Janitha Bhuvana Vrutthi " . Both the

VanamAlA and the PaadhukAs have the quality of permanance and

stability. This is the quality of the final element of the Pancha

BhUthAs (viz)., the Earth (PruTvee). Thus VanamAlA and the Paadhukais

bear the five elements and have much in common. When worn, both

cause great auspiciousness and joy. On this basis, Swamy Desikan

identifies the PaadhukAs as a manifestation of the Lord's Vaijayanthi

Maalaa.

 

Swamy says: " Oh PaadhukAs of the enemy of the asurAs ! Through the

sweet sound You generate during Your movements, You please the hearts

of Your devotees and display the qualities of AakAsa. Through Your

lustre and nourishing attributes, You display the features

of Agni(Tejas) and water ( aapa: ). Through Your firmness and

durability, You demonstrate the qualities of Earth, another pancha

bhUtham. Lord's Vaijayanthi Maalaa has been celebrated for containing

all the attributes of Pancha bhUthAs. Oh PaadhukE! You share that

feature with Vaijayanthi Maalaa and therefore I consider You as an

incarnation of that sacred garland worn by the Lord.

 

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:The inner meaning of this slOkam

linking Swamy NammAzhwAr to Vyjayanthi maalai of Pancha bhUtha form

stresses on these unique features : (1) He has the AchArya lakshaNams

prescribed in the VedAs (2) He generates delectable naadham through

his paasurams (3) He travels around performing mangaLAsAsanams for

the auspiciousness of the world like the ever moving wind (4) He has

the Brahma tEjas like Agni (5) He is like the nourishing water for

the growth of aathma kshEmam and (6) steadiness and firmness in

rescuing samsAris and delivering them to His Lord. Through all these

attributes, Swamy NammAzhwAr has the features of pancha bhUthams (

AakAsam , Vaayu, tEjas, aapam and PruTvee ). Vyjaynthi garland is the

subtle form (Sookshma roopam ) of the pancha bhUthams. Thus Swamy

NammAzhwAr is linkable with Vyjayanthi maala dear to the Lord.

 

3) Oh Paadhukai of the Lord, who destroys asurAs ( Dhaithya-hanthu

PaadhukE )! You appear like the Vyjayanthi Maala, who incorporates

in itself the Pancha bhUthams (PaadhukE ! Thvam nikhila bhUthaa

Vyjayanthee Maala iva dhrusyasE ). The pancha bhUthams are

incorporated in the PaadhukAs this way: (1) AakAsam/Sabdham:

Sruthi vishaya guNA (sabdham travels in ether), (2) Vaayu: moving

always( sathatha gathi), (3) Tejas: beautiful lustre of its own (

ManOj~nA svEna dhAmnA jvalanthee ), (4) Appu : generating the growth

of the world ( janitha bhuvana vruddhi: ) and (5) PruTvee: Firmness

and steadiness ( sTairya-yukthA ). Therefore , Oh PaadhukE !

You appear like Vyjayanthi Maalaa ( Thvam Vyjayanthee maalaa iva

dhrusyathE )...(V.S).