thiruvAimozhi – 4.1.3 – adi sEr

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

Full series >> Fourth Centum >> First decad

Previous pAsuram

selvapillai-3

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In third pAsuram – AzhwAr says “Those emperors who lived without caring for the other kings who surrendered to them, will lose their wealth and live without being respected by others”.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction. AzhwAr says “Thus , surrender unto the divine feet of the enjoyable krishNa”.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

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

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

pAsuram

adi sEr mudiyinarAgi arasargaL thAm thozha
idi sEr murasangaL muRRaththiyamba irundhavar
podi sEr thugaLAyp pOvargaL Adhalil nokkenak
kadi sEr thuzhAy mudik kaNNan kazhalgaL ninaiminO

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

adi – at their feet
sEr – united
mudiyinarAgi – having crown
arasargaL – kings
thAm – themselves
thozha – worship
idi sEr – thunderous
murasangaL – drums
muRRaththu – in the yard outside
iyamba – making noise
irundhavar – staying (with least bother for those who surrendered and hearing that noise)
podi – with a small portion of an object
sEr – united
thugaLAy – to become a piece of dust
pOvargaL – become worthless;
Adhalil – thus
nokkena – immediately
kadi sEr – having fragrance,
thuzhAy – decorated with thiruththuzhAy (thuLasi)
mudi – adorning crown
kaNNan – krishNa’s
kazhalgaL – divine feet
ninaimin – meditate

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

Those (emperors) who have at their feet the other kings themselves worshipping, will stay (with least bother for those who surrendered) hearing the thunderous noise of drums [being played] outside; such emperors would become worthless to become a piece of dust in a small portion of an object. Thus, meditate upon the divine feet of krishNa whos is adorning a crown which is decorated with fragrant thuLasi.

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

  • adi sEr mudiyanarAgi – This emperor who was prideful that those other kings who considered equal to him, placed their crown at their feet [bowed in front of them] .
  • arasargaL – kings
  • thAm thozha – They worship fully understanding the situation, but he does not even bother to think “this person has worshipped me with great reverence”. The other kings only think “we are fortunate to bow down at his exalted feet”. They are not worshipping emperumAn who was stuck with agony when thinking about bharathAzhwAn who begged SrI rAma to return and he did not fulfil that desire as said in SrI rAmAyaNam yudhdha kANdam 24.19 “SirasA yachanasthasyavachanam nakrutham mayA” (Even after bharatha begged having his head at my feet, I was unable to fulfil his desire).

When the king bowed at the emperor’s feet, what did he do?

  • idi sEr … – The emperor would announce that “this particular king will offer me tribute on this day”, would welcome everyone to the grand assembly, prepare a big drum using the trees and spreading animal skin over it, will have that drum sound thunderously and (being focussed on the music band) will least bother for the king who is worshipping. The emperor feels that he should be famously known as the one who conquered many kings, invited them to his court and insulted them by watching music/dance programs.
  • irundhavar – He remained indifferent with those worshipping kings as if they are indistinct from the pillars in the court.

What would happen to such emperors? AzhwAr says “they will become a particle of dust eventually”.

  • podi sErth thugaLAyp pOvargaL – They will become so fallen that they will not even have their own space, and will be like a piece of dust attached to another piece of dust. Those respected emperors who did not care for the kings who worshipped them, will become so lowly that, when some one steps over them, those who stepped on them  will not even bother to think “Oh! I have placed my foot on his head by mistake”.
  • Adhalil – As this is the nature of worldly wealth,
  • nokkena – immediately
  • kadi … – When crown is given, that should be accompanied with the garland which decorates the crown. Meditate upon the divine feet of krishNa who is having very fragrant thuLasi garland (the fragrance of which increases as days go by) on his divine crown and who is easily approachable by his devotees. [Is meditating sufficient? Is it not necessary to worship?]  The sweetness of the divine feet is such that, it will make one drown in such experience just by thinking about it [this explains bhagavAn‘s divine feet being the goal]. By thinking about the divine feet, one’s bondage will be completely severed [this explains bhagavAn’s divine feet being the means]. As said in SrIvishNu purANam 3.71.14 “madhusUdhana prapannAn” (those who are surrendered to madhusUdhanan emperumAn), they will acquire great respect which is feared by yama (controlling deity of death) and his followers.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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