SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
avathArikai
When asked as to what we should do to fulfil the purpose of taking this birth, AzhwAr says that only reciting the divine names of the consort of thirumagaL (mahAlakshmi) instead of claiming ownership of others’ possessions will be the purpose of this birth and the activity that we should carry out. He says that instead of treating wealth as purushArtham (goal), enjoying emperumAn is the only apt activity for everyone.
Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:
emakkenRu irunidhiyam EmAndhirAdhE
thamakkenRum sArvam aRindhu namakkenRum
mAdhavanE ennum manam padaiththu maRRavan pEr
OdhuvadhE nAvinAl Oththu
Word by Word Meaning
irunidhiyam – great wealth
emakku enRu – thinking that it is for oneself
EmAndhu irAdhE – instead of feeling arrogant
thamakku enRum sArvam aRindhu – knowing the entity which will always protect us
namakku enRum mAdhavanE ennum manam padaiththu – having the heart with conviction that “it is only emperumAn who is everything for us at all times”
maRRu – on top of that
avan pEr – his divine names
OdhuvadhE – to recite with tune
nAvinAl Oththu – apt for our tongue to recite like vEdham.
vyAkyAnam
emakkenRu irunidhiyam EmAndhirAdhE – one who thinks that wealth is for him instead of knowing about those who do not think of wealth as important
irunidhiyam emakku enRu EmAndhirAdhE – Considering others’ huge wealth as one’s own. Later, praising emperumAn and getting emboldened to keep one’s legs on the head of yama (lord of righteousness). Just as it is mentioned in thaiththirIya upanishath Anandhavalli 9 “Anandham brahmaNO vidhvAn na bibhEthi kuthaSchana” (one who knows the happiness of emperumAn will not be afraid of anything), one who is without any fear. Is it apt to consider emperumAn’s wealth as one’s own? When emperumAn who is the epitome of happiness is there, would one desire a little bit of gold? The mere thought of wealth will bring in sadness. But in the case of one who thinks of emperumAn, he becomes fearless as mentioned in thaiththirIya upanishath Anandhavalli 6 “athasO bhayangathO bhavathi” (he becomes fearless).
thamakku enRum sArvam aRindhu – think that it is only emperumAn who is the refuge. Thinking that the only permanent refuge for us is emperumAn. emperumAn thinks of the jIvAthmA as being always for him, even when the jIvAthmA does not know what is apt for him.
namakku enRum mAdhavanE ennum manam padaiththu – having the heart considering that it is only thirumAl (consort of SrI mahAlakshmi) who is our refuge. Having the heart, considering that it only thirumAL who is apt to be enjoyed. Hasn’t it been mercifully mentioned in nAchchiyAr thirumozhi 12-1 “mAdhavan enbadhOr anbu thannai uRRirundhEn” (I had strong desire for mAdhavan)!
mAdhavan – it is said that it is only emperumAn who is with pirAtti (mahAlakshmi), who is apt to be attained.
manam padaiththu – It has been prayed for in jithanthE SlOkam 1-11 “vigyAnam yadhidham prAptham yadhitham sthAnamArjitham, janmAntharEpi mE dhEva mAbhUth thasya parikshaya:” (Oh emperumAn! There should be no shortcoming in any birth to the knowledge and the deep belief that I have that you are the means for attaining you and you are the fruit of my attaining you). There is no need for emperumAn to create them (jIvAthmAs) now. Aren’t they existing already!
maRRu avan pEr OdhuvadhE nAvinAl Oththu – Only reciting his divine names is the activity with the tongue. It is the activity for the tongue to keep reciting about the twin entities of emperumAn and pirAtti. It is said that this is the manthram (vEdhic hymn) to be pronounced. In harivamSam 183-8, rudhra says “harirEkas sadhAdhyEya:” (hari (emperumAn) is the only one who is apt to be meditated upon always). In thirunedundhANdagam 4, thirumangai AzhwAr says “mandhiraththai mandhiraththAl maRavAdhu enRum vAzhudiyEl vAzhalAm mada nenjamE” (Oh humble heart! If we constantly remember manthram (emperumAn) with the manthram (hymn) without forgetting, we can live happily).
We shall take up the 39th pAsuram next.
adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan
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