Sloka #231
231. thulyEpi dhEvi! raGhuvIrapadhAshrayathvE
pUrvABhiShEkamaDhigamya garIyasI thvam
thenaIva KhalvaBhajathAm maNipAdharakshE!
raksha:plavangamapathI BhavatIm savmUrDhnA
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Manipaaduka Devi! That all three of You enjoyed an equality in the manner of clinging to Rama’s Feet (and thereby acquiring a crown and a throne too!) is there. However, You enjoy a seniority and a real supremacy. That is why the kings of Rakshasas and Vanaras (namely, Vibhishana abd Sugriva respectively) prostrated to You!
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Oh MaNi PaadhukE! Both SugrIvA , the king of monkeys and VibhIshaNA , the king of LankA both came forward and showed their respect to You by carrying You on their heads. Although PaadhuukAs , SugrIvA and VibhIshaNA were elevated by RaamA to become rulers, the PaadhukAs were the first to have received the coronation bath.Further , the PaadhukAs have connection to the sacred feet of the Lord. Therefore , SugrIvA and VibhIshaNA offered their worship to the Lord’s PaadhukAs.
2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Even though Yourself, SugrIvA and VibhIshaNa had taken refuge at the holy feet of the Lord , You are superior among Your peer group, since You were the One to receive the first PattAbhishEkam . Therefore , the other two saluted You by carrying You on their heads .
3)In ” Raghuveera PadhAsrayam “( seeking refuge at the feet of the Lord ) , the PaadhukAs, SugrIvA and VibhishaNA were equal ( thulyam). Inspite of that “equality” in status, SugrIvA and VibhIshaNA recognized that PaadhukA is superior to them. Why ? The PaadhukAs attained that exalted status due to the fact that they were coronated first ( Thvam poorvAbhishEkam adhigamya garIyasi). In recognition of that superior status of the Paadhukais , SugrIvA and VibhishaNA carried them on their heads and presented them to RaamA (Raksha: plavangama pathI bhavathIm svamUrhdnA abhajathAm )….V.S
துல்யே அபி தேவி ரகுவீர பத ஆச்ரயத்வே
பூர்வ அபிஷேகம் அதிகம்ய கரீயஸீ த்வம்
தேநைவ கல்வபஜதாம் மணிபாதரக்ஷே
ரக்ஷ: ப்லவங்கம் அபதீ பவதீம் ஸ்வமூர்த்நா
பொருள் – இரத்தினக்கற்கள் கொண்டு பதிக்கப்பட்ட ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! இராமனின் திருவடிகளை மட்டுமே அண்டி உள்ளவள் நீ ஆவாய். ஆனாலும் இராமனுக்கு முன்பாகவே பட்டாபிஷேகம் செய்விக்கப்பட்டு, அவன் ஸிம்ஹாஸனத்தில் நீ அமர்ந்தாய். இதனால் நீ பெரிதும் உயர்ந்தவள் ஆனாய். அதனால்தான் உன்னை விபீஷணன் போன்றவர்கள் போற்றி நின்றனர், தங்கள் தலைகளில் உன்னை ஏற்றனர்.
Sloka #232
232. nirvruttharAkshasachamUmrugayAvihArO
rangEshvara: sa Khalu rAGhavavamshagOpthA
vamshakramaAdhupanatham padhamAdhaDhAnO
mAnyam punasthvayi padham nidhaDhE svakIyam
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Rama placed His feet on You again. It was an acquisition by Him, of a post, that He had inherited from His forefathers as a matter of right. It could be said that the protector of Raghu race, namely, Sri Rama, who was actually only Lord Ranganatha, having completed His sport of hunting out the Rakshasas, now took over again (the emperorship)-meanwhile He gave You a place, a respectable status, which can never belong to anyone else! (The unique honourable place the Paaduka occupies cannot be taken away even if the rulership is taken away!)
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubahavam:Oh PaadhukE! RaamA was the protector of the race of Raghu and the crown of North Kosalam was His property. He wanted to destroy RaavaNA and his entourage. He went on a hunt in the forest and destroyed them effortlessly. He appointed You to rule His kingdom, while He was away on that hunt. After the completion of His mission , He took over the rulership of His kingdom from You and made You happy by returning You to what was always Your property (viz)., His holy feet. Here Swamy Desikan answers the question on the appropriateness or otherwise of the PaadhukAs , the erstwhile ruler of AyOdhyA , to return to the Lord’s sacred feet.
2) Oh PaadhukE ! Sri RanganAthan incarnated as Sri Raamachandran , went to the forest , killed all the RaakshasAs,took over His ancient family title and gave You back again His holy feet and made You haapy..
3)Oh Ranga PaadhukE! The Rangapura VihAran is the ancient protector of the Raagava Vamsam (Raagava Vamsa gopthA).He incarnated as RaamA to have the hearty sport of destroying the armies of RaakshasAs both at DandakAraNyam and LankA (Raakshasa chamU mrugayA vihara:). He concluded that hunt and took over His heriditary title ( Sa: Rangeswara: vamsakramAth upanatham padham aadhadhAna:)back from You .What happened to You next? He gave You back again Your cherished property ( Sa: RangEswara: puna: maanyam svakIyam padham thvayi nidhadhE khalu )…V.S
4) Swamy Desikan plays here with the word padham , which has two meanings. Padham is heriditary title/position . Padham also means paadham or Thiruvadi .RanganathAn took on the padham ( heriditary title)as the protector of Raaghava vamsam and gave You His sacred padham ( feet ) back or placed His sacred Padham on You as before for His Sriranga vihAram. For the Paadhukais the Lord’s Padham is indeed parama padham (supreme abode)…V.S
நிர்வ்ருத்த ராக்ஷஸசமூ ம்ருகயா விஹார:
ரங்கேச்வர: ஸ கலு ராகவ வம்ச கோப்தா
வம்சக்ரமாத் உபநதம் பதம் ஆததாந:
மாந்யம் புநஸ்த்வயி பதம் நிததே ஸ்வகீயம்
பொருள் – அழகியமணவாளனின் பாதுகையே! ரகு வம்சத்தை நிலை நிறுத்தவும், அரக்கர்களின் படையை வேட்டை ஆடுவது போன்று எளிதாக ஒரு விளையாட்டாக அழிப்பதற்காகவும் இராமனாக அவதரித்தவன் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் ஆவான். அவன் உன்னிடம் இருந்து தனது பட்டத்தை திரும்பப் பெற்றுக் கொண்டு, மிகவும் உயர்ந்த தனது திருவடிகளை உன்னிடம் மீண்டும் அளித்தான்.
Sloka #233
233. thatthAdhrushO: charaNayO: praNipathya Bharthu:
poUrAsthvayA viDhruthayO: prathipannasathvA:
prApthABhiShEkaviBhavAmapi pAdhukE! thvAm
AnandhabhAShpasalilaI: punaraBhyaShinchan
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! You were now worn by those worthy Feet of the lovable king, and it added a new charm to those feet the citizens, who saw the coalescence and rejoiced and fell down prostrate in deference, showered tears of joy on You, in a manner of a second abhisheka to one who had already been annointed and crowned.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When You were aabharaNam for the Lord’s Thiruvadi and continued Your traditional service , the citizens of AyOdhyA fell at RaamA’s feet and were overjoyed at seeing You there.They bathed You once again , but this time with their happy tears over Your reunion with Your Lord’s feet.
2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The citizens of AyOdhyA were waiting longingly to have again the darsanam of RaamachandrA in union with You . When the Lord adorned You , they felt like they were born again and attained a high state of happiness. Tears rolled down form their eyes and performed a second pattAbhishEkam for You .
3)”thvAm aanandha bhAshpa salilai: puna:abhyashincchan ” is Swamy Desikan’s description of what happened at AyOdhyA , when the citizens saw their Lord united with His paadhukAs after many years of seperation . The citizens shed copius tears of Joy , which fell over the paadhukAs as they prostrated before their Lord adorned with the PaadhukAs. The Paadhukais had already received the coronation bath from Sage VasishTA with waters collected from holy rivers. Hence ,this was the second coronation bath for the PaadhukAs…V.S
தத்தாத்ருசோ: சரணயோ: ப்ரணிபத்ய பர்த்து:
பௌராஸ்த்வயா வித்ருதயோ: ப்ரதிபந்ந ஸத்த்வா:
ப்ராப்த அபிஷேக விபவாம் அபி பாதுகே தவாம்
ஆனந்தபாஷ்ப ஸலிலை: புந: அப்யஷிஞ்சந்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! உன்னைத் தனது திருவடிகளில் மீண்டும் தரிக்கப்பெற்ற இராமன் அழகு பெற்றான். இப்படியாக உள்ள தங்கள் சக்ரவர்த்தியான இராமனின் திருவடிகளில் அந்த நாட்டு மக்கள் விழுந்து வணங்கி, மிக்க மகிழ்ச்சி அடைந்தனர். உனக்கு பட்டாபிஷேகத்தின்போது புண்ணிய நீர் சேர்க்கப்பட்டபோதிலும், இப்போது தங்கள் ஆனந்தக் கண்ணீர் கொண்டு மக்கள் மீண்டும் உனக்கு பட்டாபிஷேகம் செய்து வைத்தனர்.
Sloka #234
234. mAthasthvayaIya samayE viShamEpi samyag
rAjanvathIm vasumathIm avalOkya rAma:
sanjIvanAya Bharathasya samagraBhakthE:
sathyaprathishravathayaIva chakAra rAjyam
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Mother Paaduka! Bharata had indeed well administered the kingdom with You in the throne, that too in a critical period: Nevertheless, Sri Rama accepted the Royal Throne, relieving Bharata from his responsibility, only because He ought to keep His word (that He would return at the end of fourteen years and take over) given to a perfect devotee that Bharata was.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here, Swamy Desikan answers the question as to why the crowned PaadhukAs , which ruled AyOdhyA so effectively ,had to return to RaamA’s feet instead of continuing as the king. He says: ” Oh Mother PaadhukE ! RaamA knew very well how effectively You had ruled the kingdom during His absence. He would rather have You continue to be the king. RaamA however had pledged to BharathA that He will return at the end of fourteen years and take back the reins of the kingdom. He could not break that pledge and hence He took over from You reluctantly.
2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When RaamA started His vana vAsam to fulfil His pledge to His father, it was very troubling times. At that time, there was a search for anyone to assume the responsibilities of ruling the kingdom in place of RaamA . You were selected by RaamA to fill that post because of Your highest qualifications .BharathA however was adamant in his insistence that RaamA return after the fourteen years of exile and declared solemnly that he will immolate himself by entering fire , if RaamA did not fulfil His vow to return and sit on the throne of KosalA kingdom. Therefore , RaamA took back the kingdom from You reluctantly.
3) The time when RaamA had to leave for the forest was the most disturbing times ( Vishama samayam). RaamA selected the Paadhukai as the most qualified to serve as His representative to rule the kingdom in His absence. When he returned, He saw the Kingdom thriving under the rule by His PaadhukAs and would have preferred that PaadhukA continue to be the king. He had however a dharma Sankatam . He could not go back on His pledge given to BharathA that He would return at the end of the fourteen years and sit on the throne of the Raghu vamsam. As a satya- Vrathan , He could not falsify His pledge. Had He refused to fulfill His pledge, BharathA’s life would be in danger. Bharatha Sanjeevanam was very much on His mind. Therefore , He accepted back reluctantly the reins of of the kingdom from the PaadhukAs… V.S
மாத: த்வயைவ ஸமயே விஷமே அபி ஸம்யக்
ராஜந்வதீம் வஸுமதிம் அவலோக்ய ராம:
ஸஞ்ஜீவநாய பரதஸ்ய ஸமக்ர பக்தே:
ஸத்ய ப்ரதிச்ரவதயா ஏவ சகார ராஜ்யம்
பொருள் – இராமனின் திருவடிகளை அவனது தாய் போன்று பாதுகாக்கும் பாதுகையே! இராமன் கானகம் சென்ற காலகட்டமானது மிகவும் இக்கட்டானது ஆகும். அந்த நேரத்தில் நாட்டை ஆள்வதற்கு ஏற்றவள் நீ என்று அறிந்து, உனக்குப் பட்டாபிஷேகம் செய்விக்கப்பட்டது. கானகத்தில் இருந்து மீண்டும் நாடு திரும்பிய இராமன், தன்னை விட நீயே உயர்ந்தவள் என்று அறிந்திருந்தான். ஆயினும், தான் பட்டம் சூட்டிக் கொள்ளவில்லை என்றால், உறுதியான சபதம் கொண்ட பரதன், தன்னை மாய்த்துக் கொள்வான் என்று உணர்ந்து, அவனைப் பிழைக்க வைப்பதற்காக அல்லவோ பட்டம் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டான்?
Sloka #235
235. padhAvani! prathigathasya purImayODhyAm
poUlasthyahanthuraBhiShEkajalArdhramUrthE:
amsE yaThArham aDhivAsya nijaIryashOBhi:
kasthUrikEva nihithA vasuDhA thvayaIva
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! when the slayer of Ravana returned to Ayodhya victoriously and was duly crowned in Patta-abisheka ritual, the burden of the kingdon was placed on His shoulders by You Yourself-the land having acquired a special fragrance from Your Fame as a ruler. The Earth, to Sri Rama, was the fragrant Kasthuri mark (on the forehead) another decoration for the great one. (Or, could it be that ruling over the land was a mere trifle for Sri Rama, a mere affixing of the Kasthuri mark on the forehead?)
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UttaamUr Swamy’s anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! When RaamA had the coronation bath at AyOdhyA , His body was still wet. You placed on the new king’s shoulder the musk deer perfume in the form of a decorative spot. You performed this customary rite in Your role as the predecessor of RaamA as the ruler of North KosalA . You enhanced His glory by adding Your own glory to that of Your Lord and made the musk deer perfume even more fragrant.
2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: At the time of Your Lord’s own pattAbhishEkam , You placed the earth that You had ruled on His shoulders and made that earth fragrant as a result of its assoication with Your fame .
3) The description of a sacred rite during the Raama- PattaabhishEkam by Swamy Desikan is moving. When Sage VasishTA poured the consecrated waters , Raama”s body was wet with those waters .RaamA shined radiant with those wet waters clinging to His body and gave His darsanam as ” AbhishEka Jala aardhra Moorthi “. The PaadhukA took the next ritualistic step (viz)., the transfer of power by placing the Earth(VasundharA) on RaamA’s wet shoulders. It was like the placement of fragrant KasthUri (deer musk perfume ) on His wet shoulders . This Kasthuri ( the earth)however had enhanced fragrance as a result of assoication with Your Keerthi (fame) as a just and effective ruler…V.S
பாதாவநி ப்ரதிகதஸ்ய புரீம் அயோத்யாம்
பௌலஸ்த்யஹந்து: அபிஷேக ஜல அர்த்ர மூர்த்தே:
அம்ஸே யதார்ஹம் அதிவாஸ்ய நிஜை: யசோபி:
கஸ்தூரிகேவ நிஹிதா வஸுதா த்வயைவ
பொருள் – பெரியபெருமாளின் திருவடிகளைக் காப்பாற்றும் பாதுகையே! அயோத்தியை மீண்டும் அடைந்த இராமனின் திருமேனி, உனது பட்டாபிஷேக நீரால் நனைக்கப்பட்டது. இராவணனை வதம் செய்து முடித்த இராமனின் தோள்கள் மீது, நீ இத்தனை நாட்கள் உனது பெருமை விளங்கத் தாங்கி நின்ற பூமியை, எளிதான கஸ்தூரி போன்று இறக்கி வைத்தாய் (பூமியை ஆள்வது என்பது இராமனுக்கும் பாதுகைக்கும் ஓர் அலங்காரம் போன்று அழகுக்கு மட்டுமே ஆகும், பாரம் ஆகாது. இதனால்தான் கஸ்தூரி என்றார்).
Sloka #236
236. yAsoU chathurdasha samA: pathiviprayukthA
vishvamBharA BhagavathI viDhruthA BhavathyA
vinyasya thAm raGhupathErBhujashaIlashrungE
BhUyOpi thEna sahithAm BhavathI baBhAra
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! You bore the burden of the kingdom-the land, the Bhoomi Devi, the goddess who literally bears all the universe (Vishwambara),-for fourteen years when in separation from the rightful Lord of the land-and, now on His return, placed the whole burden on His mountain-like shoulders, (which can bear anything) True, so far. But, then, You bear the whole burden (of the kingdom) with the addition of the Bearer (Rama) also, on Yourself! (The present Ruler Rama received the responsibility of ruling from You, but still He stands on You. You, therefore, bear the old burden with Rama added!)
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here , Swamy Desikan desribes the majestic gait of RaamA , while He nmoved about wearing the PaadhukAs. He says: ” Oh PaadhukE ! Mother Earth (VisvambharA) was seperated from Her Lord for fourteen long years. She was full of sorrow from that seperation . You consoled Her and carried Her on Your shoulder as the designated representative of Your Lord. Now that You (Paadhukais) are united with Him , You are now carrying RaamA along with BhUmi dEvi resting on His shoulder and perform a new kaimkaryam to Your Lord. 2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! For fourteen years, You carried BhUmi dEvi alone on Your shoulder. After Your Lord’s return to AyOdhyA , You have placed BhUmi dEvi on Your Lord’s shoulder and carrying Him along with BhUmi dEvi. 3) Swamy Desikan salutes Mother Earth here as “BhagavathI VisvambharA “. She was reverentially caaried on the shoulders of the Paadhukais for fourteen years ( BhavathyA VisvambharA chathurdasa samA: vidhruthA ). That VisvambharA is now placed by You on the mountain like shoulders of Your Lord and reunited .You are now carrying once again that mighty RaamA along with VisvambharA ( thEna sahithAmthAm BhabhAra)…V.S
யா அளௌ சதுர் தச ஸமா: பதிவிப்ரயுக்தா
விச்வம்பரா பகவதீ வித்ருதா பவத்யா
விந்யஸ்ய தாம் ரகுபதே: புஜசைல ச்ருங்கே
பூய: அபி தேந ஸஹிதாம் பவதீ பபார
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! அயோத்தியானது தனது கணவனான இராமனை பதினான்கு ஆண்டுகள் பிரிந்து இருந்தது. அப்போது நீ அந்த நாட்டை ஆறுதலாகத் தாங்கி நின்றாய். இராமன் அயோத்தி திரும்பியதும் அவனது மலைகள் போன்ற தோள்களில் அந்த நாட்டை மீண்டும் ஏற்றினாய். அதன் பின்னர் அவனுடன் சேர்ந்து நின்று காணப்பட்ட பூமியைத் தாங்கி நின்றாய்.
Sloka #237
237. nisthIrNadhuKhajalaDhEranaGhasya dhEvi!
thvathsamprayuktharaGhnAThapadhAnvayEna
sadhya: sanandanamuKhaIrapi dhurnirIkshA
sAmrAjyasampadh aparA Bharathasya jagnyE
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Goddess Paaduka! The sinless Bharata crossed the ocean of grief on joining You with Rama’s Feet. (He who was, till then, a servant of Paaduka, now became the servant of the Lord’s feet as well as the Paaduka). He has now reached the status of another kind of great ruler-that is not possible even for great Yogis like Sanandana. (He has now attained the kingdom of Kaimkarya which is equivalent to Moksha. It is just like the bonded souls crossing the samsara-ocean and reaching the Bhagavat-pada-seva in Paramapada, which is the supreme kingdom).
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam : Here Swamy Desikan describes the elevation of BharathA as heir-apparent (Yuva RaajA ) to RaamA. He says: ” Oh PaadhukE! BharathA was immersed in the ocean of sorrow during the fourteen years of seperation from RaamA . He served You , when You ruled the kingdom as his brother’s representative. Earlier, he had refused the kingdom offered by his parents and was thus totally guiltless. BharathA gianed his own kingdom by serving You dutifully. That kingdom was known as ” PaadhukA- SaamrAjyam “. After RaamA was reunited with You by BharathA at the end of the fourteen years, his sorrows were over and he gained an illustrious lustre that is not within the reach of even Yogis like SanakA and others.
2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! When BharathA reunited You with his brother’s thiruvadi ,he jumped over the great ocean of sorrow ( the sorrow of seperation from his brother for fourteen long years).An incomparable radiance –not possessed even by the likes of Sages Sanakar , Sananthanar, SanathkumArar and SanathsujAthar– was gined by Bharathan . The inner meaning is that there is no one among the BhakthAs of PerumAL , who match the vaibhavam of Bharathan.
3) Bharathan attained the status of “Bhaktha chakravarthi” as a result of uniting the Paadhukais with the sacred feet of his brother after fourteen years of seperation. That was a different kind of wealth/isvaryam ( aparA saamrAjya sampath). That sampath attained by the blemishles BharathA was beyond the reach of even great BhakthAs of the Lord such as SanakA et al ( anagasya Bharathasya Sanandhamukhairapi durnirIkshaa aparA saamrAjya sampath sadhya: jagnE)…V.S
நிஸ்தீர்ண துங்க ஜலதே: அநகஸ்ய தேவி
த்வத் ஸம்ப்ரயுக்த ரகுநாத பதாந்வயேந
ஸத்ய ஸநந்தன முகை: அபி துர்நிரீக்ஷா
ஸாம்ராஜ்ய ஸம்பத் அபரா பரதஸ்ய ஜஜ்ஞே
பொருள் – பாதுகாதேவியே! உன்னுடன் தொடர்பு கொண்டதால் உயர்ந்த இராமனின் திருவடிகள் மூலமாகப் பரதன் தனது துக்கம் என்ற பெரிய கடலை எளிதாகக் கடந்தான். இதன் மூலம் தூய்மை அடைந்த பரதன், ஸநந்தர் போன்றவர்கள் கூடக் காண இயலாத தேஜஸ் அடைந்தான். இதனால் பக்தர்களுக்குச் சக்ரவர்த்தி போன்றவன் என்ற பட்டம் பெற்றான்.
Sloka #238
238. nirgathya dhevi! BharathAnjalipadhmamaDhyAth
BhUya: samAgathavathI puruShotthamEna
padhmEva BhadramaKhilam maNipAdharakshE
prAdhuschakAra BhavathI jagathAm thrayANAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! You are verily Mahalakshmi, emanating from the lotus that was formed by the hand-folding in supplication by Bharata. Having joined the Best Person, the Lord, You generate all auspices for the three worlds.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1)Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here Swami Desikan describes the PaadhukAs united with its Lord as MahA Lakshmi, who is united with VishNu. He says: ” Oh PaadhukE ! You left the hands of BharathA , which were folded in anjali mudhrA like a closed lotus flower. You joined then Your Lord’s feet and supported them . Your union with RaamA resulted in all kinds of auspiciousness to the entire world.
2) Oh PaadhukE ! The PurANams state that MahA Lakshmi left the Lord’s side as a result of Sage DhurvAsA’s curse for IndrA and entered the milky ocean. When Her Lord churned that ocean , She rose out of a divine lotus flower and joined the chest of Her Lord and showered the world with all auspiciousness .Similar to that, BharathA’s uniting You with Your Lord’s feet led to sakala soubhAgyams to the whole world .
3) The imagery presented by Swamy Desikan here is beautiful .Just as MahA Lakshmi stepped down from the beautiful lotus flower in the middle of the milky ocean during amrutha madhanam , Paadhukai left the “anjali padhmam” formed by BahrathA’s joined palms. Then it got reunited with the Lord ( BhUya: PurushOtthamEna samAgathavathy).Just like MahA Lakshmi after reunion with her Lord, they showered on all ther three worlds sakala KshEmams ( BhavathI PadhmEva thrayANAm JagathAm Akhilam Bhadram prAdhuscchakAra)…V.S
நிகர்த்ய தேவி பரத அஞ்ஜலி பத்ம மத்யாத்
பூய: ஸமாகதவதீ புருஷோத்தமேந
பத்மேவ பத்ரம் அகிலம் மணிபாதரக்ஷே
ப்ராதுச்சகார பவதீ ஜகதாம் த்ரயாணாம்
பொருள் – இரத்தினக்கற்கள் கொண்டு இழைக்கப்பட்ட பெரியபெருமாளின் பாதுகா தேவியே! பரதனின் கைகள் தாமரை மலர் போன்று குவித்து இருந்தன. அதன் நடுவில் இருந்து நீ வெளிக் கிளம்பி இராமனின் திருவடிகளை அடைந்தாய். இப்படியாக தாமரையில் இருந்து வெளிப்பட்ட மஹாலக்ஷ்மி போன்று மூன்று உலகங்களுக்கும் ஏற்ற நன்மைகளைச் செய்தாய்.
Sloka #239
239. raGhupathimaDhirOpya svOchithE rathnapITE
praguNam aBhajaThAsthvam pAdhukE! pAdhapITam
thadhapi bahumathisthE thAdrushI nithyamAsIth
kva nu Khalu mahithAnAm kalpyathE thArathamyam
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! You placed Sri Rama, rich in qualities, on the throne made of gemstones; You in turn became the seat for His Feet. So, what? Your respectability remained unaffected even now, for, in the case of the highest, ups and downs of position would not cause any change in respectability.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here Swami Desikan states that the PaadhukAs established themselves in its customary place at the foot of the throne of RaamA after reunion with His feet and were revered as before. He says: ” Oh PaadhukE ! You seated RaamA on the throne that was appropriate for Him and positioned Yourself at the foot of that throne , where the foot rest stays. Even if Your position was at the lower level of the throne , reverence for You persisted as before, when You were seated for fourteen years as the king of Kosala desam as RaamA’s representative.It is well known that those, who are worthy of worship are respected at the same level , whether they sit low or high due to changing circumstances. They receive the same intensity of respect due to their intrinsic worth.
2) The inner meaning is that the great ones are revered with same adulation , whether at a lower or higher level.
3) Swamy asks a profound question here: ” MahIthAnAm kkvanu khalu taaratamyam kalpyathE ?” ( for the great Ones , how could there be any differntiation in reverence, whether they are at a lower or exalted position ?). Swamy Desikan answers his own question with a resounding “never “…V.S
ரகுபதிம் அதிரோப்ய ஸ்வோசிதே ரத்நபீடே
ப்ரகுணம் அபஜதாஸ்த்வம் பாதுகே பாதபீடம்
ததபி பஹுமதி: தே தாத்ருசீ நித்யம் ஆஸீத்
க்வ நு கலு மஹிதாநாம் கல்ப்யதே தாரதம்யம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! இராமன் அயோத்தி திரும்பியவுடன் அவனுக்கு ஏற்ற இடமாகிய இரத்தினக்கற்களால் இழைக்கப்பட்ட ஸிம்ஹாஸனத்தை அவனுக்கு அளித்தாய். ஆயினும் உனக்கு முன்பிருந்த மரியாதைகளும் கொண்டாட்டங்களும் எப்படி மாறுபடும். உன்னை அண்டியவர்களுக்கு ஏற்றத்தாழ்வு எவ்விதம் உண்டாகும்?
Sloka #240
240. anuvruttharAmaBhAva: shankE nirviShtachakravarthipadhAm
aDhunApi ranganAtha: sachamathkAram padhEna Bhajathi thvAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! Lord Ranganatha, quite well recalling that He was once Rama in Vibhava-Avatara, also noting that the past continues in the present, carefully inserted His Feet into You. (You who were the ruler of Ayodhya).
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here, Swami Desikan points out that the very same PaadhukAs that adorned RaamA’s feet are serving Lord RanganAthA’s holy feetnow . He says: Oh PaadhukE! You ruled the kingdom of Raghus for fourteen years on behalf of Your Lord. When He ascended the throne , He was somewhat hesitant to set His foot on You during Your reunion. It appeared as though His feet bent slightly out of rspect for Your stature. Even today , RanganAthA remembers His incarnation as RaamA and whenever He joins You to go on His round of duties , He bends His feet somewhat out of reverence for You and Your yeoman service for fourteen years, when You ruled as His representative. Such is Your noble stature ! 2)Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: When RanganAthA enters into His paadhukais, He is very careful so that His fingers do not crash into the inner side of His Paadhukais. Paadhukai was the MahA RaaNi and He shows respect to her stature by placing Hisfeet inside with respect. 3) Swamy Desikan states here that RanganAthA unites His feet with the Paadhukais ever so carefully because of His respect for them , which possessed emperorship once before.Lord RanganAtha shows great dexterity and care in uniting His feet with those of the paadhukais because of Her stature…V.S
அநுவ்ருத்த ராமபாவ: சங்கே நிர்விஷ்ட சக்ரவர்த்தி பதாம்
அதுநா அபி ரங்கநாத: ஸ சமத்காரம் பதேந பஜதி த்வாம்
பொருள் – பெரியபெருமாளின் பாதுகையே! நீ உயர்ந்த சக்ரவர்த்திப் பதவியை வகித்தவள் ஆவாய். அதனால்தான் இராமனாகப் பிறந்த ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் மிகவும் புத்திகூர்மையுடன் உன்னை எப்போதும் தனது திருவடிகளில் வைத்துள்ளான் என்று எண்ணுகிறேன் (அர்ச்சையில் உள்ள விக்ரஹங்களில் திருவடிகளில் பாதுகை இருப்பதில்லை. ஆயினும் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் மட்டுமே தனது திருவடிகளில் பாதுகையுடன் உள்ளதைக் காணலாம். இதனை முதல் பக்கத்தில் உள்ள படத்தில் தெளிவாகக் காணலாம்).
NiryAthanA Paddhathi SampUrnam
நிர்யாதனா பத்ததி ஸம்பூர்ணம்
English Source Text: sundarasimham.com
Tamil Source Text: namperumal.com
