Padhuka Sahasram-923

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

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

 

923. sArAGhavA shruthoU dhruShtA pAdhukA sanrupAsanA

salAGhavA gathoU sliShtA svAdhurmE sadhupAsanA

 

The Paaduka is an excellent dish, delectable for me, to contemplate

on-the Paaduka, that shines at the Sruti's head (It is the subject of

the Vedas), the one that was inseparable from Rama, the one that

ascended the throne, when Rama went to the forest; the one that stuck

to the Lord's Feet and achieved many things in an easy, listlessly

sportive manner. I enjoy relishing that Paaduka!

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

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

 

SlOkam 923: The sabdha chithram used here has the architecture of

a flying arrow. Hence , it is called Sara Bhandham . It has a sharp

front

and a distinct tail ; the five of its intermediate parts are linked

by four

individual aksharAs to form the full body of the arrow a seen below:

 

I---------------

---- I

I sru dhra paa kaa nru I

I---------------

-----I

sa raa gha vaa tau shtaa dhu sa I paa sa

naa------->

I----------------

-----I

I ga sli svaa mE dhu I

I----------------

------ I

 

One can see the symmetry from the slOkam construction:

 

sarAghavA sruthou dhrashta paadhukA sanrupAsanA

salAghavA gathou yaa gEyA svAdhurmE sadhupAsanA

 

After reading the first four aksharams (Sa, raa, gha, vaa ) , one

has to go upwards to the next aksharam on the upper line ( sru)

and return to the aksharam " tau " found in the middle line and repeat

this exercise to get the first line of slOkam.

 

Next , one has to use the rule that the aksharam " ra " and " la "

have no abEdham/difference ( similar to Va-bhayOr abedha: ) .Then

the first four aksharams of the first line ( Saraaghavaa )will

become " salaaghavaa " as the starting four aksharams of the second

line . After this transformation exercise, we have to go past

the " salAghavaa " to the next aksharams through an exercise similar

to the above : That will give " salaaghavaa gathou slishtaa svAdhurmE

sadhupAsanA " .

 

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Swamy Desikan says that the supremely

noble Paadhukais conferred great blessings on him , who was least

fit to recieve them. The Paadhukais made it possible for him to

perform AarAdhanam for Them . Swamy Desikan prays for the

development of Parama Bhakthi for Them in this slOkam : " Oh

PaadhukE ! It is not enough that You have become the easily

accessible (param sulabham) object of worship ( aarAdhya vasthu)

for me but You should reveal to me your many glories and generate

Parama bhakthi in me for You. "

 

3) The Paadhukai is with its Lord in all states ( SarAghavA ) . It is

recognized as the inner content of the vedAs( Sruthou dhrushtA). It

sat on throne of the lineage of Raghus ( SanrupAsanA). During

sanchAra kaalam with its Lord , it has the skills to carry the Lord

elegantly and quickly (salAghavA). As a pair, the Paadhukais are

never seperated from each other (SlishtA). The Paadhukais are the

object of worship by the righteous ( sadhupAsanA). Swamy Desikan's

prayer is : May the Paadhukais become the enjoyable

object of my Parama Bhakthi ( SadhupAsanA PaadhukA mE SvAdhu: ) !

 

The auspicious qualities of the Paadhukais of BhagavAn are :

Bhagavath Parathva Saamyam ( Superiority like the Lord

through eternal association with Him ), Sruthi PrathipAdhyathvam

( being an object of celebration by the VedAs), Bhagavath kaarya

nirvAha SaamarTyathvam ( skills in leading the duties assigned by

their Lord), LokAnugrahaaarTa sanchAra seelathvam ( Travels

for blessing the world), asooyAdhi dhOsha rahithathvam

( state of freedom from malice and other dhurguNams) ,

Parama Maithrathvam ( Extreme friendliness and approachability),

SadhupAsyathvam ( fit object for worship by the Righteous).

All these noble guNams are also shared by SadAchAryAs.