sthOthra rathnam – 51

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Full Series

<< Previous

Introduction

ALavandhAr says “This relationship between one who needs mercy and one who has mercy, was established by the mercy of your highness; that being the case, you should protect me without abandoning me”.

thadhaham thvadhruthE na nAthavAn
madhruthE thvam dhayanIyavAn na cha |
vidhinirmithamEthadhanvayam
bhagavan! pAlaya mA sma jIhapa: ||

Word by word meaning

bhagavan – Oh lord who is filled with knowledge!
thath – thus
aham – I
thvath ruthE – other than you
na nAthavAn – without (any other) lord
thavam cha – you too
math ruthE – (anyone) other than me
na dhayanIyavAn – not having the target of your mercy.
vidhi nirmitham – caused by your mercy
Ethadhanvayam – this relationship
pAlaya – protect
mA sma jIhapa:  – do not abandon

Simple Translation

Oh lord who is filled with knowledge! Thus I am without (any) lord other than you and you too are not having (anyone) other than me as the target of your mercy. This relationship which was caused by your mercy must be protected and do not abandon it.

vyAkyAnam (Commentary)

  • thath – Thus, since it is difficult for you to find a proper recipient of your mercy.
  • aham – Being with defects, and repenting for the same.
  • thvadhruthE na nAthavAn – As said in SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANtam 2.42 “vyasanEshu cha manushyANAm bruSam bhavathi dhu:khitha:” (when his subjects suffered, SrI rAma felt more agony than they), I have no other lord than your highness who cannot bear my sorrow more than I can bear myself. dhayA (mercy) means “para dhu:kha asihishNuthva” (unable to tolerate others’ suffering).
  • madhruthE thvam dhayanIyavAn na cha – If you missed showing mercy towards me who is fully dependent on your mercy for my protection, your mercy will be wasted.
  • Ethadhanvayam vidhi nirmitham – This relationship where each one cannot survive without the other occurred due to your mercy only, as said in thiruvAimozhi 10.6.1 “vidhi vAykkinRu kAppArAr” (If emperumAn‘s mercy takes effect, who can avoid that?). In this view, the “thath” Sabdham (word) in “thadhaham” is applicable before the second part of the SlOkam also. Alternative explanation – vidhi implies dhaivam (bhagavAn). As said in SrIvaikuNta sthavam 36 “ichchAtha Eva thava viSvapadhArthasaththA” (Existence of all entities occurs due to your desire only), this explains the relationship which is the cause for sustenance.
  • bhagavan – Do I have to say anything to you in this regard [you, being bhagavAn, already know everything]?
  • pAlaya – Please protect me; please mercifully consume this.
  • mA sma jIhapa: – Whether seeing my previous faults or your completeness, in either case you cannot abandon me.

In the next article we will enjoy the next SlOkam.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

archived in http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org

pramEyam (goal) – http://koyil.org
pramANam (scriptures) – http://granthams.koyil.org
pramAthA (preceptors) – http://acharyas.koyil.org
SrIvaishNava education/kids portal – http://pillai.koyil.org

Leave a Comment