Arththi prabandham – 4

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

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Introduction

The physical body that was described as an impediment in the previous pAsuram, is now described in this pAsuram as a prison in which the soul dwells. maNavALa mAmunigaL requests Sri rAmAnuja to get him liberated from that prison. In this pAsuram, he adds that only Sri rAmAnuja can do that.

pAsuram 4

indha udaRchiRai vittu eppozhudhu yAn Egi
andhamil pErinbaththuL AguvEn – andhO?
irangAy ethirAsA! ennai ini uykkai
parangAN unakku uNarndhu pAr

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Word-by-Word Meanings

ethirAsA! – Oh yathirAja!!! The leader of all yathIs (sanyAsis)
eppozhudhu – when
yAn – do I
vittu – get liberated from
chiRai – the prison called
indha udal – this physical body
Egi – and ascend viaarchirAdhi way to paramapadham (archiRadhi way is the route that a liberated soul takes to go to paramapadham – the eternal abode of sriman nArAyaNan)
AguvEn – (when) shall I?
pErinbaththuL – enter the place of eternal happiness called paramapadham that is described as
andham – end
il – less
andhO? – Alas!!!
irangAy – (Oh! yathirAja!!!) Please bless
ennai – me
ini – From now on
param kAN – it is only possible
unakku – for you
uykkai – to protect me (and the like)
uNarndhu – (Hence please) think
pAr – and ponder about it
 

Simple Translation

maNavALa mAmunigaL describes the physical body as a prison in which the soul dwells. A soul is considered to be liberated or set free only when it is released from the clutches of bondage of births and death and ascends to paramapadham via the archirAdhi path. Until then the incessant sufferings of the soul would continue. maNavALa mAmunigaL requests Sri rAmAnuja that only he can do something to get the soul liberated from him. He requests Sri rAmAnuja to think over it and protect him by liberating.

Explanation

The body as described by Sri krishNa in HIS Sri bhagavath gIthA as a “field” (idham SarIram – Sri bhagavath gIthA 13.2). The field called body is described in this pAsuram as a prison that acts as the greatest obstacle for a soul to be liberated. maNavALa mAmunigaL realizes as to when would the body fall and soul be liberated and ascend to the ultimate place that is also known as “parama padham”  or the eternal abode of SrIman nArAyaNan. It is a place filled with endless happiness eternally. The path to reach there is also very resplendent and is known as “archiRadhi”. maNavALa mAmunigaL yearns to be in paramapadham in the company of elite devotees there who are characterized by infinite knowledge and people upon whom the mundane bondage of this world has no impact whatsoever. maNavALa mAmunigaL express his anxiety and lets out an “alas”!!! He immediately thinks of Sri rAmAnuja as always and exclaims “Oh! yathirAja!!! You are the leader of yathIs (sanyAsis – mendicants). In addition to that, you are also the leader and master of all refugees like me who does not have any other place to surrender except your lotus feet. Even SrIman nArAyaNan did not protect some people including me and the like and dismissed us as “kshipAmi (Sri bhagavath gIthA 16.19)”. Even HE could not protect the likes of me and much more because of the innumerable accrued sins.  There is no other place to go for me (and many people like me) except you and your lotus feet. Hey! yathirAja! Only you can save me. Please ponder over this”.

adiyEn santhAna rAmAnuja dAsan

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