Arththi Prabandham – 24

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

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paramapadham

Introduction: In this pAsuram, maNavALa mAmunigaL describes the events from the time when the mortal coil is shed to the extreme fortune of being  amidst the glorious AchAryas.

pAsuram

indha udal vittu iravimaNdalaththUdu yEgi
ivvaNdam kazhiththu idaiyil AvaraNamEzh pOy
anthamil pAzh kadandhu azhagAr virasaithanil kuLiththu angu
amAnavanAl oLi koNda sOdhiyum peRRu amarar
vandhu edhirkoNdu alankariththu vAzhththi vazhinadaththa
vaikuntham pukku maNimaNdapaththuch chenRu
nam thirumAladiyArgaL kuzhAngaLudan kUdum
nAL enakkuk kurugum vagai nalgu en ethirAsA

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Word-by-Word Meanings

en ethirAsA – Oh! ethirAsA! my master! The leader of yathis!!!
nalgu – Please bless
enakku – me
kurugum vagai – that the days between today and that opportune day, shrinks rapidly.
kUdum nAL – That opportune day is the day when I join
nam thirumAladiyArgaL – our masters (who are actually servants of Sriya:pathi SrIman nArAyaNan)  who are known as ‘nithyasUris’
kuzhAngaLudan – and be one in their group.
indha udal – (This happens after) this mortal body of mine that is replete with impurities
vittu – discards itself
iravimaNdalaththUdu yEgi – and transgresses the solar orbit and
kazhiththu – transgresses
ivvaNdam – this universe
idaiyil – that is in between
AvaraNamEzh pOy – (after which) it transgresses the seven oceans
pAzh kadandhu – only to continue transgressing the “mUla prakruthi”
anthamil – that is described as never ending or abysmal.
azhagAr – Finally, it reaches the very beautiful
virasaithanil – river called “vrajA”
kuLiththu – takes a holy bath
angu – there
amAnavanAl – and gets lifted by the touch of a person known as “amAnavan”
oLi koNda sOdhiyum peRRu – and as a result, get a divine body that oozes with resplendence.
amarar vandhu edhirkoNdu – Thereupon, the nithyasUris come and greet
alankariththu – decorate
vAzhthi – praise
vazhinadaththa – and lead me (in the new body) in
vaikuntham pukku – the path towards SrIvaikuntham
maNimaNdapaththuch chenRu – and reach the altar known as “thirumAmaNi maNdapam”

Simple Translation:
In this pAsuram, maNavALa mAmunigaL asks SrI rAmAnuja to bless him that the days between now and the day of joining the nithyasUri ranks, shrink rapidly. maNavALa mAmunigaL goes ahead and describes the journey after the mortal body falls. The soul transgresses multiple locations including the solar orbit, universe, seven oceans and finally reach the river that is known as “vrajA”. In that holy river, it takes a bath upon which a person known as “amAnavan” lifts and the soul gets a new resplendent body thereupon. The nithyasUris come, greet, decorate and usher him towards thirumAmaNi maNdapam where Sriya:pathi SrIman nArAyaNan is seated. maNavALa mAmunigaL requests that the duration between now and his reaching the eternal abode of nithyasUris diminish quickly.

Explanation:
maNavALa mAmunigaL says, “Oh! My master! The leader of yathIs (sanyAsis)!!! This mortal body of mine is something that is replete with impurities as they say “immAyavAkkai (thiruvAimozhi 10.7.3)”. This body is not something to be desired and hence should completely be destroyed as per the phrase “manga ottu (thiruvAimozhi 10.7.9)”. After this the soul crosses multiple worlds and universes starting from the solar orbit as described by the phrase “mannum kadum kadhirOn maNdalaththin nannaduvuL (periya thirumadal 16)”. After this, it transgresses the worlds that are occupied by people who are known as “AdhivAhikas”.  Subsequently, it crosses the world that measures 1 crore yOjanAs and are inhabitated by dhEvas , as revealed by the phrase “imayOrvAzh thanimuttai kOttai (thiruvAimozhi 4.9.8)”. After this, it transgresses the seven oceans to reach the neven ending “mUla prakruthi” that is described as “mudivil perumpAzh (thiruvAimozhi 10.10.10)”. After crossing these, the soul reaches the most beautiful river called “vrajA”. It takes a holy bath in it after which a person who is known by the name of “amAnavan” comes and gives his hand to help come out from vrajA river. When this touch happens, the soul gets a new body that oozes with bright resplendence as per the phrase “oLikkoNda sOdhiyumAi (thiruvAimozhi 2.3.10))” and that which is often described as “panchOpanishath mayam” (made of five spiritual elements). After this, the nithyaSuris come and greet the soul (in the new body) as per “mudiyudai vAnavar muRaimuRai edhirkoLLa (thiruvAimozhi 10.9.8). They decorate him, praise him and usher him to the holy place known as “SrIvaikuNtam”. They take him until the altar that is famously known as “thirumAmaNi maNtapam”, along which there are numerous devotees”. maNavALa mAmunigaL asks SrI rAmAnuja, “As they say “adiyArgaL kuzhAngaLudan kUduvadhu yeNrukolO (thiruvAimozhi 2.3.10)” and “mathdhEvathai: parijanaisthava sankishUya:”, when will I get a chance to be amidst those great devotees? Those devotees are our masters. They are the servants of Sriya:pathi SrIman nArAyaNan and their proof of their very existence is established through their doing kainkaryam to HIM. Hey ethirAsA! Please bless me that the day between today and that day when the aforementioned list of things happen, actually shrink.

Translation by santhAna rAmAnuja dhAsan

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