Thuppul PiLLai- 50- SudharsanAshtakam

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SrI:

SrImathE Nigamantha Mahadesikaya namah:

SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |

vedAntAcArya-varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||

 

May the glorious Venkatanatha, the greatest of teachers of Vedanta, and the

lion among poets and debaters, reside forever in my heart.

 

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

Let us continue to enjoy the sthOthra granthas of Swamy Desikan [in

alphabetical order]

Sudarsana-Ashtatka -The Eight on Sudarsana

 

Sudarsana-ashtaka is a stotra in eight verses on Sudarsana, the Discus

(Cakra-aayuda). He is one of the chief Ever-free Angels who is of great help

to Bhagavan in His fight against the Asuras. His greatness is sung by Vedic

Texts like Satapatha-Braahmana and adored by Brahma, Rudra and Indra (2). He

is endowed with the six qualities (4). He is installed in the idol form in

the mystic symbol of a wheel (cakra) with his six spokes and is meditated

upon by a six-lettered Mantra (7). In the concluding phala-sruti sloka (8).

Sri Desika declares that even if our mind chariot runs on uneven terrain, we

will be protected by this Discus. (Sudarsana)

 

The one extra-ordinary feature of the entire Stotra is that all the eight

slokas are in a very rare meter ‘Dhrithi-e-candas’, by name; there are at

least eight addressed to Sudarsana in every sloka praising his all-round

power and greatness. The last quarter of all the eight slokas has the same

words in the form of a refrain. “Jaya jaya Sri Sudarsana”-Hail, Victory to

Sudarsana.

 

[from the book - Life and works of Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikan- by Prof Sri A

Srinivasaraghavan]

 

Also furnished below is the Translation of Sri SudharsanAshtakam by Sri V

Satakopan Swamin posted few years ago: [Thanks to him for his permission]

Swami Desikan chose the 'dhrithas' chandas as a meter for the 8 verses

praising Sudarsana. He chose the 'aupachandasikam' meter for the phala-Sruti

sloka. Both these meters hint at the the Vedic roigin of Sudarsana as

indicated by Swami Desikan in one or more verses of this Stotram.

 

Verse 1: Pratibhatasreni Bhishana Varagunasthoma Bhushana

Janibhyasthana Taarana Jagadavasthaana Karana |

Nikhiladushkarma Karsana Nigamasaddharma Darsana

Jaya Jaya Sri sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Sri Sudarsana! All the enemies of your Lord's devotees run away fearing

your prowess. All auspicious attributes find their home in you. Those , Who

worship you cross the 'shoreless' ocean of Samsara and free themselves from

their cycles of births and deaths. The entire Universe is stabilized by your

mighty power. You cut asunder all the sins of those who approach you as

their refuge. You bless all of your devotees with the knowledge about the

righteous conduct prescribed by the Vedas. O Lord Sudarsana of these

auspicious attributes! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 2: Subhajagadrupa Mandana Suraganathrasa Khandana

Satamakabrahma vandita Satapatabrahma Nandita |

Pratitavidvat Sapakshita Bhajata Ahirbudhnya Lakshita

Jaya jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Sri Sudarsana! You are resplendent as a precious decoration on the hand of

Sriman Narayana, who has the universes as His body. Through your grace,

Devas are freed from the fear caused by the Asuras. Indra and Brahma always

worship you. The Satapatha Brahmana belonging to Sukla Yajur Veda hails your

glories and pays its tributes to you. The scholars of this universe seek

your help to overcome their contestants . Ahirbudhnya Samhita states that

Ahirbudhnya (Siva) worships you and sought the boon to see your beautiful

form with His own eyes. O Lord Sudarsana of illustrious attributes! Hail To

Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 3: SphutataDijjaala Pinjara Pruthutarajwaala Panjara

Parigata Pratnavigraha PaDutaraprajna Durgraha |

Praharana Grama Manditha Parijana Thraana Panditha

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana! You shine like the resplendent assembly of lightnings. The

bright tongues of flames surrounding you appear like a cage (home) for you.

The forms of Vasudeva, Sankarshana and other vyuha murti-s find their

positions around your geometric form (yantra). Even the scholars with sharp

intellects stumble, when they try to understand the full extent of your

glory. It is a beautiful sight to see the sixteen weapons of yours resting

on your hands to serve you. You are dedicated to come to the rescue of those

,who seek your protection . O Sri Sudarsana of such auspicious attributes!

Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 4: Nijapatapreetha saddgana Nirupathispeetha Shad Guna

Nigama NirvyuDa Vaibhava Nijapara Vyuha Vaibhava |

Hari Haya Dweshi Daarana Hara Pura Plosha Kaarana

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana! The Righteous people have firm attachment to your holy

feet. The Six Kalyana Gunaas --- Knowledge, Power, Strength, Wealth,

Heroism, and effulgence-- find their natural home in You. The Vedas have

firmly established Your glory in their many sections. Like your Lord, You

have the forms of para and vyuha. You cut asunder the fear caused by the

foes of Indra, the foremost among your devotees. You were responsible for

the burning down Kashi, the city of Siva to ashes. You stood at the tip of

Siva's arrow, when He was engaged in the campaign to destroy Tripuraasura. O

Sri Sudarsana Of such Kalyana Gunas! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 5: Dhanuja visthaara Kartana Janitamisraa Vikartana

Dhanujavidya Nikartana Bhajatavidya Nivatana |

Amara drushtasva Vikrama Samara Jushta Bramikrama

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana! You arrest the growth of the evil-minded Asuras and

destroy them down to their roots. You are like the resplendent Sun banishing

the dark night of Samsara, which bedevil your devotees. You Overcome any and

every act of deception practised by the Asuras. You remove every shred of

false knowledge that invade the minds of those ,who seek refuge in you. The

Devas celebrate Your heroic deeds and experience joy in witnessing Your

powerful actions. You revolve and rotate in many ways in your battles

against the enemies of Your devotees. May Thou with such auspicious

attributes prosper further! Hail to Thee! Hail To Thee!

 

Verse 6: Prathimukhaaleeta Bandhura Pruthumahaheti Danthura

Vikatamaaya Bahishkrutha Vividhamaalaa Parishkrutha |

Sthiramahaayantra Tantritha Dhruta Daya Tantra Yantrita

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana! You give darsana to us with Your dynamic gait of One foot

placed forward in movement and the other rapidly following it. Your position

in that gait is beautiful to behold. You are surrounded by Your magnificient

and fearsome weapons. You are the conqueror of Powerful illusions (mAyA)

caused by Asuras. You are not therefore affected by their acts of Mayaa. You

are decorated with many beautiful flower garlands that add to your natural

beauty. You are firmly bound in the warp of your great compassion for your

devotees and bless them , when they worship You through Your Yantra and

Mantra. O Sri Sudarsana of such auspicious qualities! Hail to Thee! Hail to

Thee!

 

Verse 7: Mahita Sampath Sadhakshara Vihitasampath Shatakshara

Shatarachakra Pratisishtita Sakala Tattva Prathishtita |

Vividha Sankalpaka Kalpaka Vibhudhasankalpa Kalpaka

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana of many prime qualities! The wealth of the righteous is

their true knowledge about Your Lord. You Bless them with the unperishable

wealth of Moksham, When they seek refuge at Your holy feet. Those who recite

Your mantra made up of the six letters (aksharas) gain incomparable wealth.

Your devotees (upaasakas) invoke You in Your yantra of six corners formed by

two intersecting triangles and worship You at its epicenter. You pervade and

reside in all the creations of Your Lord. You have the power to complete all

deeds that you decide to undertake. You are thus a satya sankalpa and serve

as the divine Kalpaka tree granting all the boons that your devotees

request. O Sri Sudarsana! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 8: Bhuvana Netra Trayeemaya Savanatejastrayeemaya

Niravadhisvaadhu Chinmaya Nikhila Sakthe Jaganmaya |

Amita Viswakriyaamaya Samitavishvagbhayaamaya

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana ||

 

O Lord Sudarsana, the eye of the Universe! You are of the form of the three

Vedas. You are of the form of the three fires -- gaarhapatyam, Ahvaneeyam

and dakshinAgni -- of the Yagaas. You are of the delectable form of true

knowledge! You have the power to accomplish every deed. You have taken the

form of the Universe and its contents. You are woorshipped thru the

sacrificial rituals of your devotees. In return, You destroy the fears and

diseases of those, who worship You from all directions. O Lord Sudarsana of

auspicious qualities! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

Verse 9: Pala Sruthi

 

Dwichatushkamidam Prabhoothasaaram patathaam Venkatanayaka Praneetham |

Vishamepi Manorata: Pradhaavan na Vihanyeta Rataangadhuryagupta : ||

 

Those, who recite this Stotram consisting of 8 verses in praise of Sudarsana

composed by Venkatanatha known as Vedanta Desikan comprehend the deep

references to the glory of Lord Sudarsana will have the fulfilment of all

their wishes.The Boon-granting powers of Lord Sudarsana will make them

realize all their wishes by overcoming all obstacles that stand in the way.

 

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan

kavi-tArkika-simhAya kalyANa-guNa-SAline |

Srimate venkateSAya vedAntagurave namaH ||

 

Salutations to Sri Venkatesa, in whom all perfections reside, who is the

teacher of Vedanta and the lion among poets and debaters

 

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