Thiruvaimozi-1.2.6

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6.pattRilan eesanum, muttRavum ninRanan

pattRilaiyaai avan muttRil adange

 

eesanum - even the almighty Lord

muttRavum pattRilan- loves all beings including us

therefore,

pattrilai aai- giving up all other attachments

avan muttRil adange- get involved in His service.

 

The Lord who is all-powerful is attached to the devotees though in reality He is impartial towards all beings. So we should also give up all attachments and get ourselves attached to Him only, engaging ourselves only in His service.

 

Azvar has advised in the previous pasuram to give up all other attachments and resort to the Lord. We may feel that He , being always served by the nityasoories and being almighty, may not be interested in us who are lowest of beings, full of faults, revelling in the worldly pursuits and not having enough devotion for Him to take notice. To dispel this doubt azvar gives this pasuram . He is the Lord of all beings, but He has said `samo aham sarvabhootheshu' (BG.9-29)that He is impartial towards all.

 

But impartiality is different from mercy. In the same Bhagvatgita we have the words `priyo hi jnaanainah athayarTham aham sa cha mamapriyaH,'I in which the word jnani denotes the one who resorts tot the Lord for Himself , that is an ardent devotee. "Such a devotee to whom I am the most beloved, is dearest to Me also." This confirms the words of azvar that he is pattRilan, which does not mean that He is without attachment to anyone, of course the word pattRu or attachment in respect of the Lord is different from what we normally understand. It means that He is full of love for His devotees.

 

The exalted position of the Lord is not an obstruction to His showing love to us. In fact the pattRu he has towards us is only adding to His glory. The soulabhya and souhaardha, easy accessibility and affection are praiseworthy only in those who are above us. The souhardha of the Lord is enhanced by His swamithva. Being avapthasamasthakaama, the one to whom no wish remains unfulfilled, the attachment is solely due to kindness. In this respect His pattRu differs from ours.

 

Subaala upanishat says `pithr mathr sutha bhraathr dhaara mithraadhayaH api vaa ekaaikaguNalaabhaaya sarvalaabhaaya kesavaH.' This means, father, mother, son, brother and wife etc are sought after for a particular gain but the Lord Kesava is resorted for attaining all. As Vibheeshan asked the vanarsas to inform Ram that he has come giving up all else `thyakthvaa puthraan cha dhaaraan cha raaghavam saraNa gathaH,' This is the attitude of a devotee. Thirmangaiazvar says,'thaayE thandhaiyE thaaramE suttRam makkaL ennum nOyE pattozindhEn unai kaaNbadhOr aasaiyinaal.' This is exactly what is denoted by the words `pattRilai aai avan muttRil adangu.'