thiruvAimozhi – 2.7.12 – dhAmOdharanai

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Full series >> Second Centum >> Seventh decad

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Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the twelfth pAsuram – AzhwAr says “Even for brahmA et al who are desirous to gain true knowledge about bhagavAn, it is difficult to know emperumAn“.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, AzhwAr says that the favours done by emperumAn to him cannot be comprehended by even the most knowledegable persons.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nampiLLai‘s introduction.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s introduction as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

Twelfth pAsuram. AzhwAr says “as said in ‘eRparan‘ (fully focussed on me) – only those who were favoured  like me by emperumAn can see him and it is not possible to see him for those [brahmA et al] who think that they can know bhagavAn through their own efforts”.

pAsuram

தாமோதரனை தனி முதல்வனை ஞாலம் உண்டவனை
ஆமோ தரம் அறிய ஒருவர்க்கு? என்றே தொழும் அவர்கள்
தாமோதரன் உரு ஆகிய சிவற்கும் திசைமுகற்கும்
ஆமோ தரம் அறிய எம்மானை என் ஆழி வண்ணனையே?

dhAmOdharanaith thani mudhalvanai gyAlam uNdavanai
AmO tharam aRiya oruvarkku? enRE thozhum avargaL
dhAmOdharan uru Agiya sivaRkum thisai mugaRkum
AmO tharam aRiya emmAnai en Azhi vaNNanaiyE ?

Listen

Word-by-Word meanings (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

dhAmOdharanai – having the simplicity of showing total subservience towards his devotees [as krishNa – dhAmOdhara]
thani mudhalvanai – having the greatness of being the singular cause for all worlds
gyAlam uNdavanai – one who has the ability to protect all during praLayam (annihilation)
tharam – analyse
aRiya – know
oruvarkku – for anyone
AmO – is it possible?
enRu – saying thus
thozhum avargaL – those who worship
dhAmOdharan – for such dhAmOdhara
uru Agiya – servitors who are the prakAram (mode/form) of emperumAn
sivaRkum – for rudhra
thisai mugaRkum – for brahmA

Like storing an ocean in a mustard seed,
en – in me
Azhi vaNNan – placing his ocean of auspicious qualities
emmAn – my lord who accepted my service
tharam – measure
aRiya AmO – is it possible to know?

Simple translation (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

rudhra, brahmA et al , the servitors who are the prakAram (mode/form) of emperumAn, worship emperumAn saying “is it possible for any one to analyse and know bhagavAn who is having the simplicity of showing total subservience towards his devotees [as krishNa – dhAmOdhara], the greatness of being the singular cause for all worlds and who has the ability to protect all during praLayam (annihilation)?” For such rudhra, brahmA et al is it possible to measure and know how my lord, who accepted my service, placed his ocean of auspicious qualities in me (like storing an ocean in a mustard seed)?

vyAkyAnams (commentaries)

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s vyAkyAnam

See vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s translation.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

brahmA et al glorify emperumAn by saying “Who can know ‘dhAmOdharan’, ‘thani mudhalvan’ and “gyAlam uNdavan’?”

  • dhAmOdharanai – Is it possible to understand as to how he stays totally subservient to his devotees [like being bound and beaten by mother yaSOdhA]?
  • thani mudhalvanai – As said in chAndhOgya upanishath “sadhEva sOmya idhamagra AsIth …” (Oh SvEthakEthu who is qualified to drink sOma juice! Before creation, sath only existed alone [since there is no name/form] without anything else to bear it), bhagavAn is the three types of causes [upAdhAna kAraNam – material cause, nimiththa kAraNam – instrumental cause, sahakArikA kAraNam – ancillary cause] – is it possible to understand this state of bhagavAn?
  • gyAlam uNdavanai – Not just creating them and leaving them alone, he also stands as the protector when everyone is in danger during annihilation. Is it possible to understand this state of bhagavAn?
  • AmO tharam aRiya oruvarkku … – They (brahmA et al) would think that they know everything and say “Would anyone else understand these aspects of bhagavAn?” Is it possible to understand for brahmA, rudhra et al who are subservient to bhagavAn like body is subservient to soul and who worship saying “Is it possible to understand these for any one?” Is it possible to understand bhagavAn for brahmA and rudhra who think that they are different from others and that they know bhagavAn better?

When asked as to who are they trying to understand,

  • emmAnai en Azhi vaNNanaiemperumAn who revealed his nature of being filled with auspicious qualities to me like placing an ocean in a small area created by a foot step. Thus, one can understand emperumAn only when he reveals himself and those who try with their own efforts cannot understand him.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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